Environmental
Volunteers, Malawi, Africa
We
have quite a number of environmental projects, including tree planting,
fruit tree propagation, vegetable gardens, fish farming, bee-keeping,
fuel-efficient wood-burning stove making, etc. Our environmental projects
are not just located locally and could be anywhere within Nkhata Bay
District, an area of 4,000 sq.km. We encourage communities and local
Malawians to take ownership of these projects and, consequently, it
can be difficult to provide full-time volunteer placements. One of the
main problems, however, is transport which can be time-consuming and
costly; for example, our environmental projects office is based in Chintheche
which is 25km north of Mwaya. However, we would be happy for any of
our volunteers who are working in education or healthcare to become
involved in some way with one or more of our environmental projects.
If
you are looking for a full-time volunteer environmental placement, we
would need to discuss with you on the phone or via e-mail what your
skills are and what opportunities could be available. Previous volunteers
have been involved with, for example, in-depth studies related to fuel-efficient
wood-burning clay stove usage and benefits, and community vegetable
gardens for the benefit of HIV/AIDS sufferers. We will be placing great
emphasis on environmental awareness training in the future.
How
to apply: Click here. |
Clubs
and Groups
There
are a number of clubs and groups organised by former volunteers which
are either running at present or have been discontinued, and we hope
future volunteers will be willing to lead or reinstate one or more of
these. Some do require funding, while others just need imagination and
initiative. Examples of some of these are listed below: |
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Environmental
and Wildlife Clubs: Following the establishment
of the tree nursery, primary and secondary school students can
be educated about the problems associated with deforestation.
However, over-fishing, bilharzia awareness and permaculture
could also be covered in the future.
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Women’s
Clubs: Members of the North Mazembe Women’s
Club have been making simple cloth bags and clothes to sell
to tourists through some of the local Lodges on the lakeshore
and, in February 2005, RIPPLE Africa bought them a sewing machine.
The South Mazembe Women's Club were involved in making cassava
chips to sell at the Lodges which has now become an income generating
business. A peanut butter making business has also been set
up, and work is continuing to perfect fruit drying.
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| • |
The
community Library,
the funds for which were raised by three English volunteers, was
officially opened on 28 November 2005, and it is important
to continue to solicit book donations from abroad to stock the
Library. A future project could be a Literacy
Club for both children and adults to improve English
reading, writing and speaking skills. |
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Health
Club: This is a primary school club run by one
of the teachers. However, any help from the volunteer health care
assistants will be welcome. |
| • |
Arts
and Crafts: Teaching both primary and secondary
school students how to draw. Some former volunteers also enlisted
the help of local artists from Kande and Chintheche to teach
students how to make traditional tribal artefacts.
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| • |
Nutrition
and Cooking Club: Teaching reading skills through
recipes, maths through measurements, and increasing nutritional
knowledge and food variety awareness with affordable and locally
available food preparation. Following the start of the mbaula
(fuel-efficient wood burning clay project, this club could be
used to promote the use of mbaula throughout the local community.
Another possible goal is to produce a cookbook.
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Organic
Gardening Club: With the creation
of the vegetable garden at the tree nursery, it
will be possible to run training courses for local students
using only locally available and affordable seeds, tools, etc.
Possibly focusing on growing ingredients for herbal mosquito
repellant, food for the Nutrition and Cooking Club and/or food
to be sold at the local markets.
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| • |
Small
Business Entrepreneurs Club to be led by a volunteer
with a strong background in accounting or business. Working
with interested students to explore small business opportunities
in the village and surrounding area and gaining insight into
the fundamentals of small business practice, including bookkeeping,
stock control and cash flow. Possible practical experience through
the distribution and sale of the Nutrition and Cooking Club’s
cookbook and/or sale of the Organic Gardening Club’s produce
or herbal mosquito repellant.
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• |
Hosting
Festivals to promote
the work of the various clubs and involving local young people
in awareness workshops based around traditional dancing, singing
and drama.
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