Food for the Poor of Malawi
Donation protected
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. Over half of the population lives below the poverty line and 25% of them lives in extreme poverty. They need our help.
During the summer of 2019, I will be doing volunteer work focused on permaculture in Malawi, Africa. This will be my 5th time traveling to Malawi (since living there as a Peace Corps Volunteer) to do volunteer projects. Please see “Past Projects” below to read about what I have done there.
Because I lived in Malawi for 2 years, I have close friends there who have devoted their lives to helping the people of Malawi in the fields of education, health, agriculture, religious and community service work. These are the people I spend my time with when I stay in Malawi.
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world and their needs are many. Because of this, it can be very difficult to determine how to best help them during our travels there. One thing I have come to realize is that I want to make sure that the work is sustainable. That is, in my upcoming trips I want to provide long term relief rather than emergency relief.
PERMACULTURE PROJECT (Summer 2019)
With the help of my Malawian friend, Luwayo Biswick , we will implement permaculture systems in Ludzi and nearby villages to help better sustain the population. Luwayo has been a successful permaculture facilitator, consultant and designer since 2009. He has helped people all over Malawi move away from monoculture systems with the dependency upon expensive fertilizers.
In the Ludzi area, we are planning to help the local hospital, school and villages set up permaculture systems that will be focused on each of their needs. In addition, Luwayo and his staff will conduct 5 trainings with 25 very poor farmers each. There will be 60 follow-up visits to assist the farmers at their group sites.
This project is something we would like to continue in the years to come since it is sustainable and cost saving for Malawians.
Please read about the work of Luwayo so you will have a better understanding of who will be leading this permaculture project in the Ludzi area.
Malnutrition in Malawi: Is Permaculture the Answer?
The Malawi Hunger Crisis: Looking Toward Permaculture
There are many articles and videos about and written by Luwayo if you are interested.
MY PAST PROJECTS:
— paying for medical expenses for the poor
— buying blankets, soap, maize, fertilizer for the poor
— assisting vulnerable children, AIDS patients and the elderly with food and medical care
— rebuilding 3 nursery schools for vulnerable children
— building a well to give people in a remote area easier access to water
— buying sewing machines for women in nearby villages so they could start their own business and earn money to help orphans and the elderly in their villages
— buying pigs for villages to help them earn money to help orphans and the elderly
— distributing food to vulnerable children at nursery schools in Mchinji District
— sponsoring needy students by paying for their school fees
** Please take a moment to look at photos and information from some of my past trips to Malawi.
2007 - Trip to Malawi
2015 - Trip to Malawi
BIO:
I was a Peace Corps Volunteer from 87-89 in Malawi teaching math at Ludzi Girls Secondary School in Mchinji District (Central Region of Malawi). Since then, I have traveled back to Ludzi, Malawi to do volunteer work on 4 different occasions. I have traveled with my daughter, mother and former students at these times. Currently I am a math teacher based in Massachusetts. I hope that my love of Malawi will make a difference in my students' lives as I tell them about my experiences there.
During the summer of 2019, I will be doing volunteer work focused on permaculture in Malawi, Africa. This will be my 5th time traveling to Malawi (since living there as a Peace Corps Volunteer) to do volunteer projects. Please see “Past Projects” below to read about what I have done there.
Because I lived in Malawi for 2 years, I have close friends there who have devoted their lives to helping the people of Malawi in the fields of education, health, agriculture, religious and community service work. These are the people I spend my time with when I stay in Malawi.
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world and their needs are many. Because of this, it can be very difficult to determine how to best help them during our travels there. One thing I have come to realize is that I want to make sure that the work is sustainable. That is, in my upcoming trips I want to provide long term relief rather than emergency relief.
PERMACULTURE PROJECT (Summer 2019)
With the help of my Malawian friend, Luwayo Biswick , we will implement permaculture systems in Ludzi and nearby villages to help better sustain the population. Luwayo has been a successful permaculture facilitator, consultant and designer since 2009. He has helped people all over Malawi move away from monoculture systems with the dependency upon expensive fertilizers.
In the Ludzi area, we are planning to help the local hospital, school and villages set up permaculture systems that will be focused on each of their needs. In addition, Luwayo and his staff will conduct 5 trainings with 25 very poor farmers each. There will be 60 follow-up visits to assist the farmers at their group sites.
This project is something we would like to continue in the years to come since it is sustainable and cost saving for Malawians.
Please read about the work of Luwayo so you will have a better understanding of who will be leading this permaculture project in the Ludzi area.
Malnutrition in Malawi: Is Permaculture the Answer?
The Malawi Hunger Crisis: Looking Toward Permaculture
There are many articles and videos about and written by Luwayo if you are interested.
MY PAST PROJECTS:
— paying for medical expenses for the poor
— buying blankets, soap, maize, fertilizer for the poor
— assisting vulnerable children, AIDS patients and the elderly with food and medical care
— rebuilding 3 nursery schools for vulnerable children
— building a well to give people in a remote area easier access to water
— buying sewing machines for women in nearby villages so they could start their own business and earn money to help orphans and the elderly in their villages
— buying pigs for villages to help them earn money to help orphans and the elderly
— distributing food to vulnerable children at nursery schools in Mchinji District
— sponsoring needy students by paying for their school fees
** Please take a moment to look at photos and information from some of my past trips to Malawi.
2007 - Trip to Malawi
2015 - Trip to Malawi
BIO:
I was a Peace Corps Volunteer from 87-89 in Malawi teaching math at Ludzi Girls Secondary School in Mchinji District (Central Region of Malawi). Since then, I have traveled back to Ludzi, Malawi to do volunteer work on 4 different occasions. I have traveled with my daughter, mother and former students at these times. Currently I am a math teacher based in Massachusetts. I hope that my love of Malawi will make a difference in my students' lives as I tell them about my experiences there.
Organizer
Valerie Bedard
Organizer
Marblehead, MA