Walking The Lake

Hi,

Together with my sister Susan and two friends, Charlie and Sarah Pratt, I am walking 50 kilometres (32 miles) in north Wales on Saturday 13th April to raise money for the Capacity Foundation. The distance relates to the narrowest width of Lake Malawi from Nkhotakota in Malawi to Aldeia Nkolongue in Mozambique – ‘walking the lake.’

Capacity’s poverty-relief programme is helping 20,000 people in 40 villages in northern Malawi achieve food security and financial independence. Here’s how Capacity does it:

Every year, the Foundation’s adult literacy and numeracy academy teaches about 100 adults to read and write. Over 600 people have graduated to date.

Rural life in Malawi means growing your own food. The Foundation’s farming improvement team shares knowledge of how to increase yield and variety of crops with organic fertiliser made with locally sourced ingredients. About 450 farmers are currently in the programme, but around 1000 families have benefitted since the programme’s inception - gaining a healthier diet and often an abundance of fresh vegetables to take to market.

A microloans programme is currently helping 52 families start or grow small businesses with microloans starting at £75 ($95). This also generates contributions to a Social Action Fund which, under community control, pays for projects such as repairing bridges and culverts.

The Capacity Foundation’s programmes are delivered by 19 local Malawian staff in co-production with the Trustees.

In the past year, the combined effects of Cyclone Freddy, localised floods and a 44% devaluation of the currency has increased need for Capacity’s services, creating a funding gap that needs to be filled quickly.

See much more detail at www.capacityfoundation.org - and please help us to continue our vital work by supporting 'Walking The Lake.'