Major Achievement

Harisen wrote:

John,

Everything is ok, but there has been very little rain for a week. In some parts of the Central and Southern regions of Malawi, there has been no rain for more than three weeks now, a condition not good for maize.

In the picture, adult literacy women from Salisbury Line have cleared land and planted maize in Sonda.

The network is bad but will try to send more pics

Harisen

These women formed a self help group in early September, saving tiny amounts of money at first. Gradually the savings grew and now they lend to each other, in the group. With the loans they start little businesses, pay back and then borrow more. They alone decide, on loans,terms, interest rate, in fact all decisions are made by them, with a little advice and training from outside.
They planned to grow maize and we loaned them this piece of land we were not using. They cleared it and have their maize planted.
Now this group of 18 women are the poorest of the poor, who are now inspired, empowered (from their adult Education classes and the SHG) and on the move. They have regained their dignity, grabbed their voice and performed the impossible.
We love them, they are what we came to Malawi for.
They will soon join other groups in a Cluster, looking at community needs. At that stage they (as a cluster) will make proposals to us on water, food security, and education and we will plan a better future together.
The real sisters doing it for themselves