For many of the communities that Mbedza supports there is one priority - food. Rural households grow their own food, they eat what they grow. They supplement this with any available work but this is limited. In recent years this has become even more challenging. In 2023 Cyclone Freddy destroyed many homes and ruined crops. In 2024 erratic rains and the cost of fertiliser resulted in poor harvests.

Mbedza provides interventions to reduce the vulnerabilities that households face. Right now we are training farmers and households in the Tiyeni method - a more sustainable agriculture based on compost and manure that doesn't require expensive chemical fertiliser.

https://mbedza.org/blog/vw3czm06e8klz2fvujv7gpovtj9jkw

We build Esperanza stoves to reduce the cost and time of cooking on open fires improving women's livelihoods. We are creating tree woodlots and provide trees to households to create a more sustainable environment.

https://mbedza.org/blog/this-project-always-creates-smiles

Our health intervention provides free HIV testing and counselling with the aim of eradicating HIV completely. Our youth group, the Hope Ambassadors, perform outreach activities in the community to support this goal.

https://mbedza.org/blog/zisinthe-let-it-change

Alongside this programme we are making washable sanitary kits and providing girls with the means to not have to miss one week of school every month. Girls also receive vital sex and relationship education.

https://mbedza.org/blog/empowering-girls-and-listening-to-their-questions

In Malawi only 15% of young people complete secondary education and in rural areas where we operate that is only 10%. In rural areas only 27% complete primary education. The cause of this is poverty. Secondary education is not free, fees have to be paid as well as the cost of all the resources needed to be at school. Our Orphan Education Programme supports children who otherwise would not be able to be in school.

https://mbedza.org/blog/determination-to-pursue-education-is-amazing