Faith groups are being asked by WaterAid to think of the millions in the world without safe water as they plan their harvest fundraising. 4000 children die every day from diseases caused by contamination and poor sanitation.

The Malawi Council of Churches has asked John Tembo, the leader of the main opposition Malawi Congress Party to accept the landslide victory of President Bingu wa Mutharika secured in the 19 May 2009 elections

While Madonna's controversial adoption attempts have put the small and land-locked African nation in the spotlight of global media, the struggles of ordinary Malawians for economic survival have received much less attention.

The Malawi Council of Churches is reviewing its opposition to the use of condoms in the country's anti-AIDS fight, and has said it may support the use of condoms by married couples where one or both partners are HIV positive.

Malawi is one of Africa's poorest countries. It suffers from inadequate education, health and farming infrastructure. 84,000 people die of AIDS each year, and the life expectancy is very low indeed. Almost 40% of Malawi's population is illiterate, and the school drop-out rate is high. It is a country largely made up of farmers, and yet many people cannot get access to sufficient land. Farming is also hampered by both persistent droughts and flooding. Sponsor a child in Malawi

Malawi is one of the ten poorest countries in the world. More than a third of the population of Malawi are illiterate and life expectancy is around 47 years. To find out more about child sponsorship, and sponsor a child in Malawi, visit the World Vision sponsor a child website

While Desmond Tutu and others argue for African action on Zimbabwe's human rights abuses, the Malawi government has rejected church calls to act.