A country that upholds
the values of peace
by abolishing its army
A president
who rescued thousands
of refugees’ lives
A former US
vice president who brings
the world’s attention
to global warming
A celebrity
who advocates
for human rights
An animal lover
who works tirelessly
for the defenseless
An international
organization
that provides
humanitarian aid
regardless
of national boundaries
A worldwide
humanitarian agency
that protects human life
and alleviates suffering
(Red Cross)
These are among some of
the distinguished people,
countries
and organizations
in our present day society
that have made
a positive difference
on our planet through
their noble actions.
For the purpose
of recognizing
these caring actions,
and in response to
the reports about many
positive developments
in the world,
Supreme Master
Ching Hai founded
the Shining World
Leadership Award
in March 2006.
The pure crystal award
represents
the shining noble ideals
of the honored
individuals, nations
and organizations
whose pioneering work
and selfless dedication
have significantly
contributed to
the harmony and beauty
of our planet.
“Thank you
for this award
and most significantly,
thank you
for the work you’ve done
and are doing, and are
encouraging others to do
to awaken humanity
to its responsibility – to
live a compassionate life
and to do so in honoring
the spirit in all beings.”
The founder
of the Shining World
Leadership Award,
Supreme Master
Ching Hai,
is a world- renowned
spiritual leader,
humanitarian and artist,
who herself has brought
immense benefits
to the world through
her inspiring words
and shining example.
Supreme Master
Ching Hai’s
own selfless service
and devotion to all beings
have been highly lauded
by world leaders
and governments.
She also brings love
around the world
where there is hate.
She brings hope where
there is despair, and
she brings understanding
where there is
misunderstanding.
We don't have
enough people
like the Supreme Master.
If we had somebody
like her in every country
in the world, we will
have eternal peace,
eternal love.
For decades,
Supreme Master
Ching Hai
has exemplified
unconditional love
through her worldwide
humanitarian work.
Love
your family members
wholeheartedly;
sacrifice for them
whenever necessary.
And to other members of
mankind just show
your love universally,
and help
whoever needs your help.
That is the way of love.
Supreme Master
Ching Hai’s
wisdom and compassion
have been a source of
inspiration for countless
people worldwide.
And she
further encourages
positive work through
the Shining World
Leadership Award.
Thank you,
Shining World Leaders!
Mr. Reagan Kaluluma is
the child
development officer
of Malawi’s Ministry
of Gender, Child Welfare
and Community Services.
He is also
the Program Manager
of the Malawi Social
Cash Transfer Scheme
National Secretariat.
This is a unique
social protection program
which provides
financial assistance to
the lowest-income families.
As a result, many citizens
have been lifted
from poverty and hunger,
and empowered
to help themselves
live a better life.
As the manager
of the Malawi Social
Cash Transfer Program,
Mr. Reagan Kaluluma
ensures that those
most in need are assisted.
The program is implemented
through a number of
district assemblies,
the local administrators who
implement the services.
The Ministry initiated
the process with the
development departments
to say, why can’t
we do something
for these children?
Why can’t we provide
money to the poor
households for them
to live a bearable life?
Otherwise we’ll leave
a incredible percentage
of the population lagging
behind while others are
just thriving,
which is not in line
of government policy.
Households
that are the most in need
are defined as those that
have limited basic needs
and no reliable means
to work to earn a living.
In many of these cases,
the head of the household
is an elderly person,
a child under age 18,
or someone
who is chronically ill.
Thanks to the Social
Cash Transfer Program,
however, such families
have found hope.
Since we started
the program,
giving money to
these poor households,
we have seen a great
improvement in terms of
the nutrition levels of
the households because
they can now afford
to buy nutritious food.
They are able to send
their children to school,
and the performance
of the children
is also better, and
we’ve also seen that huh,
some of them have
started the small scale
businesses,
a small investment.
We are taught to say,
this money,
the government expects
you to improve.
So make sure
the little you have,
apart from spending
on daily basis, if you can,
start small scale
businesses because
we’d like you to be
independent one day.
The cash transfer program
was developed
in collaboration
with the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
UNICEF took the first
initiative to come up
with the feasibility study
and then UNICEF
also came in with
the consultant who
designed the program.
UNICEF contribution
is about 10%
of the total cost,
but my government
are contributing 90%
and UNICEF has been
championing to make
that even more partners
come on board
to make up the program
scaled up.
In addition to being
provided access to food,
the Malawi government
also provides cash
to hire the help needed
to grow subsistence crops.
The government is also
running another program,
which is called
Subsidized Farm Input.
This is the program
where the government
provides the vouchers
for purchasing
of farm inputs like seeds.
Through the Subsidized
Farm Input program,
families now have
greater food security.
In turn,
schools have seen larger,
more stable
enrollment levels.
Also,
through better nutrition,
the children’s performances
in school have improved.
This is the multiplier effect
Mr. Kaluluma
and the government
had worked to achieve.
Children are now
attending school
as required,
and they’re able to
participate in most
of the school activities.
And because
they’re well dressed,
the stigma that was there
before has been removed,
and because of that,
they are able to
participate and
perform better in class.
So money has empowered
the communities,
and their level of living
has also improved.
By the end of 2008 alone,
12,000 households
and 40,000 children
had qualified and benefited
from the cash grants.
Today,
this has grown multifold.
We are supporting close
to 1.6 million households
because that program
is at full scale,
it has been there for
the past seven years now.
So the government
is trying to scale
up the cash transfer,
because what we have
seen is the subsidized
farm input program
complements quite well
with the cash transfer.
For implementing
the Malawi Social
Cash Transfer Program
that has helped
countless families
become more secure
and self-sufficient,
the Malawi government,
represented by
Mr. Reagan Kaluluma,
was honored with
the Shining World
Leadership Award
from
Supreme Master Ching Hai.
When we return,
the Program Manager
shares more about his dream
for his country, Malawi.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
Welcome back to today’s
program honoring
the Malawi government
for its endeavors to raise
the nation’s wellbeing
through a rigorous
cash transfer program.
What happens is
that money goes to
the minister of finance,
and from the minister
of finance money
goes directly to
the district assemblies,
or the district council.
So the district council is
going to transfer money
to the beneficiaries.
So at a simple level
our role is only to see,
is their money enough
to be transferred
to the districts and then
have the districts done
a good job for the money
to flow to the beneficiaries?
And then they give us
reports on a monthly
basis to say, “We paid
two hundred households
here, we paid
twenty three thousand
households here.”
And that’s expense
of the money,
with the signatures
of the beneficiaries.
So there is
a transparency
at every stage,
who has got money,
and who has authorized
money to go where.
So money should
go to the government in
Malawi and government
in Malawi is going
to generate it to the right
people who are the most
needed beneficiaries.
You’d be amazed
to see how $20,000
is going to create
great change
in the living standards
of the people
who are extremely poor
in the countries.
The program’s success
has made it a role model
to other African countries
such as Liberia
and Zimbabwe.
We have a number of
countries who are trying
say if Malawi
a low-income country
is able to provide
such a thing.
What about us?
Malawi is a young
democratic nation,
with a population
12 million strong.
Mr. Reagan Kululuma,
an officer of
the Malawi’s Ministry
of Gender, Child Welfare
and Community Services,
believes in the strengths
of his countrymen
and women.
We are recognized
because we are
hard-working people.
That’s one thing which
Malawi is known for.
And then another attribute
of Malawi is that Malawi
is a peaceful country.
And the Malawians
are friendly, and
Malawians are able to,
are interested to learn more.
Our educational system
is improving.
And also, our
infrastructure development.
We are picking up now,
because of
the same attitude
which Malawi has,
of hard working,
and developing
partnership with our
developmental partners.
Malawi has great
potential of developing.
We have
the natural resources.
We have one of the
largest lakes in the world.
We can use that lake
to grow more crops for
export and consumption
if we invest in education.
So my hope is that one day,
children of Malawi
will grow up
in an environment
which will make them
realize their potential.
Although Malawi’s
development rests largely
on her rich resources
and good governance,
Mr. Reagan Kaluluma
is convinced that
the future of his nation
rests with the children.
Malawi is
a youthful population.
Any investment should
look at the children today.
What are we doing
for children of Malawi?
How can we assist them?
What have we done with
where they come from,
their households?
Households needs
to be supported, because
it's where the children
spend the most of their time.
I'd wish
to see Malawi develop,
I think it's possible.
My hope and the wish
for the Malawi children
and people is that one day,
all children will be able
to realize their potentials
and government
to be able to
provide hope to them,
provide good crops,
investing in them, that is,
investments in education,
investments in healthcare,
investment in agriculture.
To make sure
that the children
come from households
where there is food;
children come from
households where
there’s a comfortable beds
to sleep on;
children are going to
attending schools
where there is
enough classrooms
and the school materials;
children are
attending hospitals when
the equipment are there.
For making strides
toward reducing poverty
and hunger in the country,
and being dedicated
to the development
of her fullest potential,
Supreme Master
Ching Hai
honored Malawi
with the Shining World
Leadership Award.
Accepting the award
on behalf of Malawi was
Mr. Reagan Kaluluma,
who is
the Program Manager of
the cash transfer program
at the core of
helping the most in need.
In an award ceremony
which took place
in Virginia, USA,
Mr. Kaluluma
was presented with
the Shining World
Leadership Award plaque.
He also received gifts,
including
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s
#1 international
bestselling book,
“The Dogs in My Life,”
as well as
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s
lecture DVD
and music CD.
Very much moved
and happy upon receiving
this recognition,
Mr. Kaluluma
expressed his gratitude to
Supreme Master
Ching Hai.
I would like to appreciate
the good role which
Supreme Master is doing.
I feel so humble that
of the many people
who are doing a number
of social support
programs in Africa
and worldwide,
you chose Malawi
as one of the countries
to be honored,
and says Malawi
are doing a good job.
By the time you
honoring us we were
only supporting about
14,000 individuals.
But now we are
supporting 94,000
individuals.
And I feel that
this is a way forward.
And everyone in Malawi
is very happy
that people are watching
what we are doing.
They will know there is
a cash transfer program
which is capable
of transforming the lives
of people in Malawi.
We deeply thank
Mr. Kaluluma and
the Malawi government,
as well as United Nations
Children’s Fund,
for your
enlightened leadership
and genuine concern
for your co-citizens.
By protecting
the long term welfare
of the most vulnerable,
you have also elevated
the well-being
of the whole society
and our world.
May the beautiful people
of Malawi and
her wise government
be blessed, always.
To our viewers,
it was a pleasure
having you with us
on today’s program.
Now, stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television
for Words of Wisdom,
next after
Noteworthy News.
May Heaven bless you
and your cherished ones
with abundant happiness.