John & Robyn Cashman

The Cashman familyJohn and Robyn Cashman moved to Blantyre, Malawi in October 2007. They work for CURE International joining the staff of a new childrens' orthopaedic hospital. They have asked Firelighters to assume a pastoral role for them as they are in Malawi.

CURE's aims are to provide excellence in orthopaedic care to the children of Malawi.

  • To assist in training orthopaedic surgeons and nurses in Malawi.
  • To deliver holistic and comprehensive care to patients and their families - physically, emotionally and spiritually.
  • To eventually become largely self financing by devoting 8 inpatient beds and 20% of its work to treating adult private patients, and thus to underwrite the costs of the children's work - 'adults pay a fee so children walk free'.
  • For their financial provision and the sale/rental of their house in Bath, in order to balance the books once in Malawi.

John presides over the National Clubfoot programme which is doing well, albeit with some minor difficulties, and has had a recent cash injection from the Australian Government, which is wonderful news. The new hospital buildings that many friends gave very generously towards are now in an advanced state. The 3rd operating theatre is now completed and almost fully fitted - it looks great and will be a huge boon. The physiotherapy unit is still under construction, but has walls and will have a roof soon!

Robyn's main role is as mother to their 2 girls Hannah and Rachel, but she also spends her time managing two microfinance projects she has established.

In Malawi, the country had had, and is indeed enduring, it's own share of problems: There has been a national shortage of Foreign Exchange leading to hard-hitting diesel and petrol shortages and in problems distributing the all important inorganic fertiliser to the poorest subsistence farmers in the country. Without this many go hungry because of poor yields at maize harvest. With increasing poverty in the face of increasing prices come escalating concern over success of businesses and employment prospects leading to hardship for many and rising thefts and problems with domestic security.

Read more on the relevant webpage on www.malawilink.org.