In Mchilawengo, a community located in Mzimba in the northern region of Malawi, the Ungweru Organisation is working with vulnerable communities hard-hit by the shocks of climate change and challenges due to Malawi’s ongoing economic crisis. Poverty, hunger and malnutrition have all been on the rise, leaving many families in dire situations.
In response, Ungweru (a Community Based Organisation affiliated with St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, a Misean Cara member) has initiated a project in Mchilawengo that addresses the root causes of hunger and poverty in the area. With funding from Misean Cara, the “Improved Income, Food and Nutrition Security through Sustainable Agriculture” project is tackling income and food security challenges faced by 320 households in the community with initiatives that are training local farmers in sustainable agriculture methods, distributing climate-resilient seeds and small livestock to boost household nutrition and income levels, and introducing village savings and loan groups to build economic resilience. A solar-powered irrigation facility has also been installed to improve access to water for crops during times of poor rainfall.
In the accompanying video, hear Rose and Nelson Chisale describe the positive changes for their family that have come about from their participation in the project.
“Whenever my household lacks food I am rest assured that the chickens which Ungweru gave us will provide us food. Additionally, I have the opportunity to sell some of my chickens to provide school fees for my children.”
-Rose Chisale, participant in the ‘Improved Income, Food and Nutrition Security through Sustainable Agriculture’ project.
