Parents of Disabled Children Association in Malawi (PODCAM)

PODCAM is an organization formed in   which also boasts of an office and paid staff and has presence in a number of districts in all the three regions of the country. The organization has during the past year increased its visibility as an authentic voice on the rights of children with disabilities.

With support from their partner organization NFU (the Norwegian Association of Children With Developmental Disabilities), the association has been involved in number of activities namely the sensitization of its members, primary school teachers and other members of the communities on disability issues.

POCAM was in the news last year when they took to task a pastor who raped a young girl with developmental disability and this resulted in having the culprit being prosecuted.

It has also continued in collaboration with FEDOMA to provide soft loans to parents of children with disabilities to engage in income generating activities to support their children. With support from UNICEF it also launched the ‘Send a Disabled Child to School’ campaign aimed towards the promotion of educational opportunities for children with disabilities

PODCAM successfully developed a project proposal as part of the FEDOMA DPOs Capacity Building Programme, which has been funded by FEDOMA.

The association, which held its Annual General Assembly in 2005, is currently working with a total membership of 3,214 children with various disabilities.