Story of Mateni

Ever wonder if there is a story behind what happens when you participate in a Hoops of Hope event and raise $40 to feed a child for a year in Malawi?  Well, there are many, many, thousands of stories.  Here is one...

Mateni is a 12 year old boy living with his sister, Alinafe in Malawi. Mateni was recently tested and found out that he is HIV positive. He has to face this new challenge in his life without parents to support him - it is just he and his sister.

After both of their parents died, Alinafe married a young man, though she was only 14. When she became  pregnant, her husband left her and their child behind. So now, Mateni, Alinafe and her baby have to fend for themselves.

When the feeding center opened in their community in early 2011, it gave hope to Mateni and Alinafe. Both of them are now receiving a meal everyday at the center - and Alinafe's baby is being fed as well.

Now Mateni and Alinafe have hope. Mateni has hope because even though he is HIV positive, he is able to receive treatment. He also has hope because he knows that he will have at least one meal everyday at the feeding center. Because he has enough to eat, he is doing much better in school, and now has the hope that he can finish his education.

Thank you so much for participating in Hoops of Hope. In 2012, we'll be feeding 550 children just like Mateni and Alinafe. But, we have word from the field that there are another 950 children that need food in the same village. January - March are the hardest months as the harvest is not yet ready. Malawi is the third poorest country in the world.