Hello friend, this is my charity page! 

With each gift that you share, you may heal and repair.  With each choice you make, you may help someone's day. 

I will soon be returning to the Mother Land - Yep, I am heading back to Africa - I leave in July, 2010.  This time I will be living in Africa for over a year.       

This year, I've decided to challenge myself by trekking 5 days up Malawi's Mount Mulanje (Africa's highest mountain South of Kilimanjaro) to Raise Funds for RIPPLE Africa - funding is going to support environmental projects in Nkhata Bay region, Malawi.  In combination with this trek, I will be spending several weeks on site in Nkhata Bay visiting current projects with the staff of RIPPLE Africa. During this time, I will also have a chance to check out future project sites - where our Canadian generosity will be making a difference in Malawi! 

I don't exactly "hug trees" but I bet it feels neat to do so:  

Tackling deforestation, improving agricultural practices, and jump-starting a fuel-efficient wood stove project is a triple-threat approach to reducing poverty and lessening our impact on our dear old Mother Earth.
  

I've been told to speak out loud for the things that I am proud - Why I care about Malawi - Flashback, 2009:

From the moment I arrived in Malawi, I felt comfortable and safe: like a welcome guest.  While sensing a need to be alert as to the location of my backpack in Zambia, Malawian's I traveled with made the return of my belongings from the bus cargo a priority; I often heard the other passengers encourage the bus driver to "get the mzungu's (white girl's) bag first" in their local language of cheChewa.  Malawian's are known for their friendly personalities; in fact, the country is often referred to as "The Warm Heart Of Africa" because of the tropical climate and the warmth one feels from its people.  I lived in Malawi for two and a half months and loved every minute of it.  As a foreigner in this small country, I received wide smiles, and many people thanked me for visiting their homeland.  

Malawi encouraged me to slow down and look around at the beautiful scenery it had to offer; it is a country of rolling hills, densely populated rural areas, and smiling faces.  Lake Malawi covers a fourth of the country's area and creates a unique tropical feel for a land-locked nation.  The country's white sand beaches, gently breaking waves of the lake, and magnificent baobab trees made the idea of leaving the country seem absurd.  

But the way that it shines may just dwindle with time, with the changes it will confront:

The issue: The main environmental challenges facing Malawi are deforestation and soil erosion, which result from a rapidly growing population and increasing pressures on the land - the vast majority of Malawians live without electricity and therefore the use of wood as a source of fuel is very high.  In the mid-1970s Malawi's forest cover was 4.4 million hectares; it is now fewer than two million, with over 50,000 hectares being cleared each year.  Although some replanting is taking place, at this current unsustainable rate, the woodlands and forests will eventually disappear.  With the disappearance of these forests, the existence of the many magnificent animals of Africa will continue to decline. The people of Malawi will also suffer from an inability to keep up with the fuel demands to cook their food. 

For more info on deforestation in Malawi please visit: http://www.rippleafrica.org/ripple_funding_trees_update2007.htm

This sacred land, it has seen many hands; it has wealth and gold, yet it is fragile and old - The hills are naked:

I witnessed devastating scenes in Southern Malawi.  Treeless, eroding hillsides as far as my eyes could see disturbed me the entire eight hour trip from Lilongwe to Mangochi.  I took the time to speak with locals about the issue.  All of them stressed that the hills were not like this five years ago.  They told me stories of when they were children and the hills were thriving with lush greenery, the forests were plentiful, and large animals roamed and shared the land.  The people are feeling the strain of the situation, they walk many many miles up into the hills to collect firewood to cook their dinner over.   

Malawians wish for their children to live in a country rich with trees, vegetation, and the animals who are unique to this continent.

Look to your soul for these things that you know; for these trees that we see cannot forever breathe, with the changes they will confront:

Having seen this destruction first hand, listening to local people's concern, and knowing that the country cannot keep going on this way: I feel a need to do something about it!
 

It's the small things that many individuals do that can make a Big Difference:

RIPPLE Africa is a UK founded organization working in Nkhata Bay (central Malawi).  Along with school programs, HIV/AIDS education, and health care work, the organization is working to develop locally run tree nurseries and provides seminars to educate the people about why maintaining indigenous forests is so necessary for their survival.  In combination with these reforestation projects, RIPPLE Africa works to help local farmers use sustainable agricultural practices.
 

Check out the projects we are working to fund:

Tree Nurseries: http://www.rippleafrica.org/ripple_funding_trees_update2006.htm

Current Fuel-Efficient Stove (idea will be changing slightly to cut down on costs - we will be working to fund this new project): http://www.rippleafrica.org/ripple_charity_environ3.htm

Providing positive changes (locally and globally):

- reducing deforestation and replanting trees
- trees are planted in woodlots to provide sustainable wood for cooking and building
- income generation - trees are sold by the communities to make the project sustainable for the future
- fruit trees provide income and are a source of nutrition
- improving awareness and providing education to communities on the value of trees
- reducing soil erosion and helping to maintain the quality of farm land currently being used
- improving agricultural production through the use of nitrogen fixing trees
- educating farmers on better land use practices, such as composting
- helping local and global communities by making environmental improvements (global warming is not cool)
- preventing a future threat of mudslides in rainy seasons
- empowering local people to take responsibility for the environment that they live in

Our Goal:

To completely fund new community tree nursery projects in Nkhata Bay, Malawi.  These nurseries will grow approx. 10,000 trees per year!

The total funding required for one tree nursery is $1,500US

Our generosity will go a long way...just for your own information:

- construction of tree nursery/shelter = $75
- seeds, plastic tubes, manure, etc. = $525
- equipment = $225
- awareness materials = $75
- training and awareness activities = $375
- monitoring and supervision = $225

Total = $1,500

* Any amount of donation will make a difference *

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. 

So please dig deep and donate now.  If you know anyone who would be interested in this cause, please pass along this information to them.  

Thank you for your generosity!

All the best in health and happiness,

Jodi Hammond

In these times of trouble, in these times of war.
In these times when our planet it is getting to warm.
Give thanks and smile and take a look 'round.
Of this Earth, of this Earth we can be so proud :)