Getting involved with the projects

We’ve started getting more involved in our projects which is exciting for us so I’ll give a little debrief of what’s been going on these past few days:

Monday (Ben, David & Laurie) [written by Ben]

We went south of Salima, past some beautiful mountains and along a bumpy track, to a village which has been working with AGREDs since June 2012. After almost getting stuck in a muddy rut, we arrived at the village of Nyalira. The first thing we noticed was that the maize here was a lot taller than everywhere else, and densely packed. We were warmly greeted by the local farmers at their community meeting shack. About 40 farmers (a good mix of men and women) were at the club meeting, and they were very happy to answer our questions.

I asked them about the ‘Inputs Procurement’ project, which is where farmers are asked to contribute towards the costs of fertiliser and maize, and AGREDs help. Last year, most farmers contributed 20% of the cost of a bag of fertiliser and received 2 bags. This year most farmers paid for one bag of fertiliser and were given a second one. Carrying on this trend, farmers should soon not need any such assistance in the future.

Laurie, Ben, David and the farmers Nyalira

David asked the club about the ‘Goats Procurement’ project. The club owns three goats, but aims to have six more soon. One of the goats is pregnant and the first kid will be given to the family that looks after the goats and the rest will also be owned by the club. The manure from the club goats is given to the neediest in the village and the goats are not sold but kept so they can breed and grow in number.

Tuesday (Lois, Jonny & Nia)
The three of us went to a rural village called Chindungwa to speak with local farmers about three projects: Rehabilitation of Water Points (Jonny),  Water Safety Plan (Lois) and Tree Nursery Establishment (Nia). The surroundings were very different to that in Salima town, with houses made of mud bricks and straw roofs, and maize fields were either side of the dirt track (the car wasn’t enjoying the bumpy, pot holed route). We individually asked the community committee questions about the projects that AGREDS have started up in the village: the aim of the project, the benefits, techniques, training provided etc.

In the Tree Nursery Establishment project, AGREDS have trained community members on sowing seeds and how to maintain them and this has meant that they’ve been able to sow 9,000 seeds. The feedback was so positive and the community said that they were very grateful for the training they received from AGREDS.

The village, with AGREDS’ guidance, have set up a Water Point Committee that’s responsible for fixing and maintaining their water point. The village has also set up a maintenance fund so that they can all purchase equipment to fix the water pump if it ever breaks. This has improved self-sufficiency within the community.

Rehabilitation of Water Pumps

Lois thinks that it’s amazing how AGREDS has empowered the village committee to take on the responsibility of maintaining the safety of their water supply through providing training and support.

The community members were really welcoming and as we were leaving the ladies followed us to the car and started singing, dancing and clapping- so cool! (although we hope it wasn’t because they couldn’t wait to get rid of us and they were celebrating our departure!!)

Spot the azungus!

Wednesday (Lois, Laurie, Nia & David)
We all attended a HIV Youth Leaders Training Course in the capital, Lilongwe. Around 20 youth leaders were on a 3 day course learning about what the virus is, its symptoms, prevention etc, and it was really interesting. We were super swotty with our notebooks and I’m sure I wrote about 6 pages of notes!

Outside the HIV training course venue in Lilongwe

Office Work
Being out of school/uni for a few months I don’t think any of us feel prepared for report writing but this is a part of what we’ll be doing during our 5 months. However, after a good debriefing on projects and visiting the villages we’ll be working with, report writing doesn’t sound too bad at all! These reports will then hopefully get published so that AGREDS can receive funding for these projects to continue running. Pressure is on ey!? Jokes, it’s good to know that we’re doing something that’s really useful and valued to AGREDS.

A hard days work at the office!

GamesOften when we get back to our lodge from our days’ work we have a group of children waiting outside the gate waving at us and these past few afternoons, we’ve taken a football or frizbee over and played games with them. The small original group of about 7 children has now morphed into about 40 children and women, and our most recent game of netball was really enthusiastic and exhausting and Ben threw the ball smack into Lois’ face and her lip went all puffy- Ben sure knows how to improve their team leader’s relationship!

Just a nice little picture of the boys in their Sunday best

The highlights of this weekThere are some excellent sign posts that we've spotted around Salima town. Here are some of our favourites...

‘God is with us motors’
‘The only place in Africa you can have delicious food’
‘God is gracious fashion wear’
‘Let God be God shop’

It’s become a bit of a team hobby to be on the lookout for brilliant cheesy God related signs and shop names!

Another funny thing this week is Lois and Laurie have been locked in their room because their door knobs faulty! I’ve had a few texts and yells from them asking me to set them free. However, this one time all six of us were locked in the room together with no one to let us out!! It was a bit of a ‘aaaaa this is really funny but what are we gonna do???’ kind of moment. Thankfully, Ben has the landlady’s number so he texted her to come and save us from our distress. Huzzah!

Much love, Team Malawi xxx