Latest News
Happenings and people
Currency Devaluation
Early in November Malawi’s currency—the kwacha— was suddenly devalued by 44% - a huge loss of banked resources for us, but a real disaster for villagers struggling to afford food and other essentials.
Many in the rural areas are still reeling from the effects of the destructive cyclone earlier in the year, with hunger rampant, this will cause even more hardship....
After the Cyclone....
During the night of Sat 11th March Cyclone Freddie hit us. After the initial shock, and sharing emergency supplies with the vulnerable, our attention turned to community reconstruction…..
During the next few months we built and repaired houses, replaced collapsed toilets, provided clean water for thousands, constructed bridges, bought in food and set up agri-projects for the hungry. All amidst a broken country in crisis…...
Cyclone Disaster
Our area in Malawi experienced the full fury of Tropical Cyclone Freddy last week. The violent, deadly storm hit us on Saturday evening and kept raging till the following Wednesday, pouring 50cm of water onto saturated ground in just 72 hours, with wind speeds of up to165mph. The Gov. declared a “state of disaster”, schools were closed, electricity supply lost, buildings collapsed, areas flooded, roads and bridges were ripped apart, leaving over 500 dead, many injured and more still at risk of floods & mudslides. The World Meteorological Org. declared it to be one of the strongest and longest-lasting storms ever recorded.
Locally, many houses collapsed completely, others lost outside walls, roofs have caved in, water supplies are broken, and hundreds of toilets have been destroyed, especially challenging in the current cholera crisis.
Help in Hunger
Yesterday, more than 450 families (about 2,000 people) received soap and maize from our 2 distribution points in rural Malawi. It’s the “hunger period” so these meals are life-changing for many.
A Gift of Mosquito Nets
Thanks to a special donation we bought a pile of mosquito nets this month that will protect 145 vulnerable villagers of all ages, just as rains are about to begin, causing the malaria numbers to soar.
Internationally, Malawi is among the top 20 countries with the highest malaria prevalence and mortality rates—over 6.9 million cases were recorded in 2020, and 2,551 deaths, with children under the age of five representing more than half of those lost.
Past Progress...
An archive of development in the form of Newsletters—just a couple a year, but interesting to chart progress. Hunger, our Food Programme, education, and clean water supply feature in most reports. But there’s also some fascinating glimpses of the birth and growth of other projects.
(a) is reporting the first half of the year, (b) the second.
2023
(a) Cyclone Freddie devastated rural Malawi—hundreds died, many thousands were affected. In our area many buildings collapsed and so our reconstruction programme rebuilt and repaired houses, provided toilets, restored safe water and bridges, and alongside promoted agri-projects to get food on the table—fast!
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2022
(a) Cyclone chaos, Community Centre restored, reconstruction of homes and toilets—increased Food Programme to 30 tonnes—9 borehole pumps repaired=3,650 people—more Moringa Grove groups
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(b) Food Programme distributed to 450+ vulnerable families - more borehole pumps repaired giving another 7,500 people safe water - Irrigation Veg project extended - roofs replaced - first piglets
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2021
(a) Coronavirus continued, schools struggling— repaired 9 borehole pumps=5,500 people—bought in 26,500 kgs of maize for two districts—moringa training and 1st 3 groves established. 14 roofs replaced.
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(b) Hunger—introduced village pump maintenance strategy, 1st 3 pumps repaired on the scheme—1st public toilet built, all goats rehomed—68 students.
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2020
(a) Covid challenges: soap & 7 pumps repaired = 20,000 people (social distancing) Food Programme + reforestation—veg distributed & Food Tokens increased.
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(b) Hunger—Moringa Groves introduced; compost made —7 pumps repaired=4,000 people—schools reopened.
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2019
(a) Cyclone Idai: 25,000 affected locally—rebuilt 60 toilets—repaired 7 pumps (+ 2 schools)=8,000 people —improved reforestation—dismantle dairy goat herd?
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(b) Gov award for toilets—goats milk to nursery schools —community water scheme; pipelines, taps, pump repair and infrastructure—25,000 benefit—12 roofs.
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2018
(a) Built 2 Community Centres—Milk & Phala (fortified porridge)—7 borehole pumps restored=10,000 people —small business loans—staff—motor-trike.
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(b) Built a Community Centre, 3 bridges, 2 houses— restored 55 roofs—repaired 12 pumps=10,000 people— new national nutrition policy challenges milk programme.
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2017
Site closed but we still distributed maize & milk
2016
(a) Extra maize—Milk & Phala—Elderlies Luncheons—Msikita Community Centre built—water infrastructure + 6 pumps repaired—income generating schemes.
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(b) 2 new milk drops added—7 pumps repaired=10,000 people, well dug—trained to make washable sani-wear, conservation farming, bible for pastors & computer.
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2015
(a) Disastrous cyclone destroyed houses, sanitation & infrastructure-rebuilt 50 toilets—repaired 5 borehole pumps—reforestation & moringa processing.
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(b) Built our 1st Community Centre + 3 houses—Milk & Phala—livestock passed on—reforestation, tree nurseries & training—8 pumps repaired=30,000 people
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2014
(a) Hunger critical: 70% hadn’t eaten for 2 days— moringa powder distributed, along with crops—veterinary goat training—1st rabbits distributed—site building.
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(b) Added 4,000 meals—training in agriculture, IT & rabbit keeping—prioritising moringa—extended water line + 5 taps—repaired 5 pumps=6,5000 people—100 students.
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2013
(a) Storms & flooding—rebuilt 6 houses—severe hunger— milk:50 babies– cassava pass-on—site security.
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(b) Community livestock projects—seed multiplication & training—1st Elderlies’ Luncheon & Phala Programme (fortified porridge) for toddlers—Built 3 houses for the frail.
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2012
(a) Saanen goats arrive from South Africa—AIDS still increasing—1st “milk” baby now 5—Basic Utility Vehicle —training in conservation farming and planting moringa
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(b) Livestock, agriculture including moringa—building of Processing Unit to prepare moringa powder
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2011
(a)
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2008
(b) Move to our new centre..
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