Accounts

Community members share their stories, experiences and tell us what their needs and dreams are for the future

As our food and nutrition security project in Mzuzu enters its final year, here are a few updates on recent progress.

In the photo, the Programme Manager (Mary) from our local partner - Ungweru Organisation - is carrying out a training with women on the idea of village savings and loans groups (VSLs).

Through these groups, farmers are encouraged to regularly save a small portion of the little cash they have, so that together, over time, they can access small loans to invest in improved income-generating activities.

These VSL groups have received intensive training over recent months and, through the project, will receive access to a 'revolving fund' to kick-start loans for households with a small enterprise plan. Without this support, households are unable to access formal loans and remain trapped in a cycle of low-productivity and low-profit activities. ... See more

We've been a bit quiet on Facebook lately and thought it was about time to give a few updates on what we've been doing lately.

First up, some exciting news from Malawi, where we've been working with two communities in Mzimba District to help them achieve their dream of producing more higher-value crops, like tomatoes, cabbage and onions.

Traditionally, households in the area rely heavily on maize and are dependent on the right amount of rain coming during the wet season that comes once a year. It is partly for this reason that Malawi remains one of the very poorest countries in the world, with one in two people living below the poverty line.

Thanks to your support, we were able to help a community purchase a (climate-smart) solar powered pump to irrigate their fields during the dry season. With the new technology and the training they received, they will be able to produce additional crops that they can sell for a higher price in local markets to improve their incomes so they can pay for things like school fees and health costs. ... See more