Apologies for the delay, at long last I’ve had the opportunity (and, perhaps more importantly, the inspiration) to write another update on life here in Malawi. For ‘regular viewers’ out there, this will probably be my last post whilst on this trip, though whether or not it also constitutes the last ever remains to be decided.

Nonetheless, it may be the end of the chapter, but it’s not the end of the book. 3 months have come and gone. Our time as a team in Malawi is rapidly drawing to a close. I’ve already spoken about legacy, so I don’t want to dwell on that too much. Yet, I also mentioned previously about the beginnings of an idea, one that will hopefully translate into reality once I’m back home – it is this that I want now to discuss. 

Education is the backbone of development in Malawi. Nevertheless, many Malawian children are unable to fully pursue their education and fulfil their academic potential. The principal obstacle is cost. Although primary education is free, secondary education remains subject to tuition fees, which immediately exclude learners whose families are unable to financially support their studies.

Hardest hit are orphans. Already victims of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and stigmatised by society, their extended families struggle to meet even their most basic needs, let alone pay for their schooling. Even at primary level, their progress lags behind the other pupils; orphans can represent up to 20% of a school’s intake, but only a third of them will pass their final exams (as opposed to the 50% pass rate of other learners) and hardly any of them will be selected for secondary school (let alone be able to afford it).

These orphans, who have the potential, but not the opportunity, to attend and succeed at secondary school, are the ones whom I wish to target. In essence, I seek to set up a funding mechanism that will enable them to obtain a secondary education and thus break out of their impoverished circumstances. Such an education significantly enhances their prospects, opening up the possibility of university and also a diverse range of career paths; options that would otherwise be unavailable to them. Just £100 would cover one pupil’s tuition fees for the entirety of their secondary education.

Now, some of you reading may be worried that I’m about to make an impassioned plea for your money, akin to Comic Relief or Band Aid. Not so. I write about this venture simply to share a personal conviction and to raise awareness of a forgotten plight. If people want to support this venture then fine, but I do not want to force or guilt trip anyone into doing so. I merely wish to reiterate a point made months ago, about the ripple effect: one small act for good can have huge repercussions, far beyond our wildest dreams. In our families, in our society, in our world - what ripples will YOU make?  

Apparently, so I’m reliably informed, the UK has finally experienced its first rays of sunshine this year. I’d like to take this opportunity to also shed some light on just two of the projects that we’ve recently engaged in, both of which epitomise sustainable development.

This week, we’ve all been busy in the fields, harvesting maize. The stalks can grow upwards of 10 feet and take some effort to cut down, pile together and then strip of the cobs. Nonetheless, it’s given us a great insight into the success of ‘conservation agriculture’. This basically means farming so as to make the most of all the natural resources that are available and thus maximise crop yields. I won’t bore you with all the technicalities, but suffice to say it uses simple methods (like mulching) to achieve stunning results. The villagers we were helping had only just adopted it, yet enjoyed vastly improved yields, some double or triple previous amounts. In a country where 85% of the people live off what they grow (i.e. subsistence lifestyle), this is a welcome step forward. 

We’ve also been passing on skills and knowledge in the area of sanitation. We’ve visited various rural communities and taught local workmen how to construct ‘ecosan’ toilets. These toilets can be easily constructed with readily available materials and tools, but dispose of the waste in a safe, hygienic and environmentally friendly way. The workmen join us as, together, we build a demonstration toilet; they can then use their training to build toilets elsewhere. This equips the workmen with employable skills and simultaneously benefits the wider community, such as by reducing diseases associated with poor sanitation.

Both these schemes provide expertise whose lifespan and benefits will be endure long after we have returned back home. There is no ongoing investment required. To reiterate a common thread that has run through many of these blog posts, the people have been empowered to help themselves. 

Before the London 2012 Olympics, one of the key buzzwords was ‘legacy’. Once the fleeting moments of sporting spectacle had passed, what would be left to show for it all? What would be the long term impact on the surrounding community?

In a similar vein, I’ve been thinking about the ‘legacy’ of our trip out here in Malawi. Maybe legacy is too grandiose a term, but I think it aptly conveys the sentiments that I’m seeking to express. We’ve only one month left in this country, so what will we leave behind? What will be the lasting effects of our time spent here?

Obviously, as brilliant as our collective talents are, we’re not expecting to witness some sort of national transformation in the wake of our stay. Nevertheless, the impact that we’ve had can still be observed, measured and continued.

Much of our work has entailed passing on skills and knowledge to communities, whether in schools, villages or churches. It may be (inter alia) how to manage a business, how to obtain better crop yields, or how to ensure basic personal hygiene. These things, although intangible, will benefit not only the immediate recipients, but also can be passed on to fresh audiences: the ripple effect (cf. earlier blog). It empowers people to help themselves, rather than rely on others for help.

Accordingly, we can start to undermine the insidious dependency culture that has arisen in Malawi (and indeed in much of Africa). We may not have a freshly painted classroom or a gleaming new block of toilets to show for our own efforts, but the success of our trip is not to be measured in bricks and mortar. Our focus has been on people; on equipping and empowering them to break out of the cycle of poverty that has entrapped them.

We hope that our work echoes the ethos of The Big Issue magazine back in the UK, whose slogan is ‘a hand up, not a hand out’. Many Malawians simply need a helping hand to get them on to the first rung of the ladder, the ladder by which they can climb out of their impoverished circumstances and improve their lives. Imparting skills and knowledge is one means of achieving this. Another means, equally sustainable but requiring initial capital outlay, is setting up microfinance schemes.

These projects all concern what has already happened on this trip – our immediate legacy. I hope soon to share information about a new project that will start once this trip has finished, which will, I trust, be a blessing to Malawi too.