Jenda, Malawi!

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Well I have been in Malawi for less than 24 hours and woke up at 6:30 this morning had breakfast and headed to the guesthouse with Paolo to pick up another MicroLoan volunteer and their new in-country employee Gerald.  Gerald and I will be working very closely while I am in Malawi!

We set off on a long ride to Jenda to visit one of MicroLoan Foundations new branches.  We met with one of the loan officers, Eznart and then got into the car and headed out to visit our first group.  The group, Chasefu, was comprised of 17 women who were all using their loans for farming.  They lived in a remote village about 35 minutes away from the main road.  We all introduced our selves and Gerald and Esnart translated for the women.  We then watched them as they had their bi-weekly meeting with Eznart who was there to see how everyone was doing and to collect loan repayments.  We then received a tour of the village which included all the different pieces of farm land.  I let like I was back at Medway Community Farm!  The women in this village were mainly growing maize, tomatoes, irish potatoes, bananas, pumpkins and beans.

Jenda Village School

Gerald and Paolo

Beans

Irrigation

Tomatoes

Villagers Taking us on Tour of Fields

Bannans

We then sat down with the women and engaged in a dialogue about some of the challenges they were facing and how MicroLoan Foundation could better assist them.  They spoke of the distance and cost to take their crop from field to market.  They women leave their village at 2 AM in order to make it on time for market days and the oxen and cart cost them money to use.  By the time they arrive to the market and have paid for travel, they leave with little profits.  We are not seeking a better way to serve our clients and are looking into giving loans for oxen and  carts so women have their own unpaid transport to market and could then sell their services to others allowing them to make more profits.  

Chasefu Loan Group

Following our meeting we were welcomed into the village headman's house where we were given a traditional meal which had been prepared prior to our arrival.  When we sat down we had a bowl placed underneath our hands where one of the women poured water over them allowing us to wash up.  I did not know this was done as we would be eating with our hands!  The covers were removed from the dishes and I took a look at what I would be eating, salima, a doughy corn ball and a cooked chicken from the village.  The food was very good!  I cannot wait for my next visit and chance at some more salima!  Less than 24 hours in Malawi and already managed to have a traditional meal and I almost forgot, used a village outhouse!

Traditional Meal: Salima & Chicken

Outhouse

Outhouse

After our first meeting with Chasefu, Eznart then brought us to another group Tipaniko.  They were comprised of 12 women and we met at their bi-weekly meeting spot which was under a tree next to the local church.  We engaged in another dialogue and the women spoke of the same problem, transportation costs to market.  We are going to continue to investigate this problem and seek an alternative to alleviate the cost burdened by our clients.

Tipaniko Loan Group

Have a meeting in Jenda tomorrow!  Will report more!

Jimmy