Author name: IT Admin

We are back! Habitat for Humanity Malawi is thrilled to announce the resumption of hosting teams of Global Village volunteers after the program’s closure in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.     Meanwhile, HFH Malawi from 23rd to 30th March 2024, is currently hosting the first team of Global Village volunteers from the Netherlands, known as the Legian team. Furthermore, yesterday, the Senior Management Team (SMT) of HFH Malawi paid a courtesy visit to Kabudula, where the GV team is volunteering in the construction of two houses. The purpose of the visit was to appreciate the team’s support for vulnerable communities and to interact with them. During their time in Malawi, the team will construct two houses for two vulnerable families in the area of T/A Kabudula in Lilongwe District.

In its commitment to addressing the root causes of water-related conflicts among communities, Habitat for Humanity Malawi is excited to join key stakeholders in the water sector as part of the two-day (Water Services Association of Malawi (WASAMA) 2024 National Water Conference and Exhibition at BICC in Lilongwe.   The conference, which is currently underway, is being held under the theme of the 2024 World Water Day Commemoration: “Leveraging Water for Peace.” The two-day conference provides a forum for stakeholders to share experiences and generate innovations and solutions that will help Malawi achieve the goals of Malawi 2063. Furthermore, the conference focuses on the indispensable role water plays in sustaining life, fostering growth, and promoting peace among individuals’ livelihoods. Among other things, to spice up the event, different stakeholders showcased various innovations that they are implementing to ensure water security among the communities they serve. In addition, the Guest of Honour, Hon. Abia Sidik Mia, Minister of Water and Sanitation, toured various pavilions that the stakeholders were showcasing. During the tour, HFH Malawi had the privilege of showcasing its pavilion to the Minister. The pavilion features a solar-powered, grid-connected water supply system designed to supply water to the 8 communities (villages). This is part of the “Strengthening the Resilience of Vulnerable Rural Communities through Improved and Sustainable Water Management in TA Masumbankhunda” project that the organization is implementing.”

As we continue with the Loss and Damage Conference in Lilongwe, we also celebrate International Forest Day today. We recognize that environmental sustainability is central in combating climate change. Therefore, embracing reforestation and afforestation initiatives is key to securing a greener future for generations to come. Climate justice actors joined hands to plant trees at the Botanic Garden in Lilongwe to commemorate International Day of Forests. During the planting exercise, Professor Sosten Chiotcha led the team under the theme for the 2024 #IDF: “𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅.” Did you know that forests help to store carbon and save different types of plants and animals, which is very important for life on Earth?Let’s come up with new ideas to help forests and make sure they are protected for the future.

In a bid to create a conducive environment and productive young people in Malawi, Habitat for Humanity Malawi in 2019 embarked on a project aimed at equipping youths with vocational skills at its Skills Resource Centre in Salima. One of the beneficiaries of the program in the district, Andrew Dausi from Katambo village in T/A Salima said he has experienced a life-changing journey through the Centre’s carpentry program. At the Centre, Andrew, aged-24 learned the foundations of carpentry, from basic techniques to advanced craftsmanship, honing his skills through hands-on training. “Through practical learning experiences and real-world projects, I gained valuable hands-on experience, allowing me to develop the precision and diligence required in the trade. The mentorship provided by Habitat for Humanity Malawi’s skilled carpenters who offered guidance and shared their expertise plus internship opportunities that I got further nurtured my growth,” Andrew narrated. Furthermore, Andrew said the program not only equipped him with technical skills but also instilled in him a sense of responsibility, professionalism, and pride in his craft. Apart from supporting himself and the family, he has also hired his fellow youth to help him in running a barbershop business. Through his profession, he can support himself and his family with their needs. ‘’Before acquiring these carpentry skills, I was struggling financially. Now, I am singing a new song because through it I can get money from various clients, enabling me to support my family,” he explained. Months after Andrew graduated from school, he got his first job which only helped him secure more clients. It was from the savings he got from his first few jobs that he started his own barbershop business. He still does piecework for various clients whenever they are available. He also outlined some challenges that young people trading in vocational skills profession are facing. Among the challenges are insufficient capital, some clients are not honoring their payments in time, excessive cost of carpentry tools, rental issues, and high cost of living in Malawi. Andrew’s story exemplifies the potential that lies within individuals when provided with the right opportunities and support. He appeals to Habitat for Humanity Malawi to expand the range of vocational programs and provide ongoing support and mentorship to young people in Malawi and ensuring that individuals have the tools and resources necessary to succeed. Habitat for Humanity Malawi was implementing the vocational skills training program in Salima with support from the European Union (EU) through SOS Children’s Villages Organization.

It’s Friday! As we swiftly move toward the weekend, in case you haven’t heard anything beautiful, we are here to share with you our interventions towards the promotion of equal access to homes for all. Within the week, under the #HomeEquals initiative, we interacted with leadership for residents of informal settlements from Area 27, Lilongwe, emphasizing the importance of empowered participation. During the interaction with communities, the HFH Malawi team also shared how the organization is developing and creating long-lasting change in housing in a quest of ensuring that people living in informal settlements have safe and secure homes.   Apart from engaging with the communities, the HFH Malawi team highlighted how the #HomeEquals campaign works to improve health, increase safety, enhance security, and create a brighter future for individuals and communities. Habitat for Humanity is actively advocating with local leadership to ensure inclusive and empowered engagement of all stakeholders in decision-making processes related to the community.

In Malawi, 90% of housing is built through informal construction using traditional building materials. Yet, houses built using traditional building materials with poor quality bricks are mostly affected by recent disasters. Furthermore, burnt bricks for example, exacerbate deforestation. In 2018, through the Sustainable Construction Materials Regulations of 2018, the Malawian government banned the use of burnt clay bricks in commercial and public building projects, in an attempt to spur the adoption of more environmentally friendly construction materials. However, implementation of these measures have been hampered by lack of accessible affordable sustainable construction materials across large parts of the country. As part of addressing these challenges, Habitat for Humanity Malawi in partnership with Habitat for Great Britain and other philanthropists, have set up the Production and Resource Training Center, aimed at fostering the use of eco-friendly materials in the construction industry. The center is situated in Machinjiri, South Lunzu, in Blantyre. The Center has been equipped with two plants to produce cement blocks and Soil Stabilized Blocks (SSBs). The center is one of the state-of-the-art which has installed the Hydraform Conventional and Interlocking Machinery which has the capacity to produce 48,000 SSBs and Cement blocks every month. Within two years, the center is expected to support 541 houses which can be built from the SSBs or Cement Blocks that are produced through this project. 200 disadvantaged youths and other vulnerable groups will be engaged through the Resource and Training department of the center. Habitat is expected to start producing these eco-friendly construction materials early March 2024. Meanwhile, construction of the center is nearly completion. To ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the production, Habitat Malawi has engaged experts from the Hydraform to conduct an onsite training for the newly recruited staff in Blantyre. The newly recruited team is undergoing training in various aspects of Hydraform operation, learning the intricacies of sustainable construction practices. This training will empower the production team to utilize the Hydraform machines efficiently, production and maintenance, health and safety thereby contributing to the success of the Centre. Not only will they learn production but also construction using the Hydraform interlocking Technology. The onsite training program symbolizes a step towards a more sustainable future, combining innovation, skill development, and environmental consciousness in the pursuit of housing solutions for vulnerable communities.

At Habitat for Humanity Malawi, our commitment extends beyond constructing houses. We are dedicated to fostering the use of eco-friendly materials in the construction industry.  This week under Promoting Use of Sustainable Construction Materials in Malawi (PUSCM) project, with financial support from Habitat for Humanity Great Britain and an individual philanthropist, we have embarked on a three-week training session for our production team at our Production and Resource Training Center in South Lunzu, Machinjiri, Blantyre. The training aims to empower the production team with expertise in safety protocols, safeguarding, operation of Hydraform International (Pty)’s Conventional Interlocking Machinery, and the nuances of sustainable construction methods, with a strong emphasis on efficiency and environmental awareness.  The training is being conducted by Mr.  Carlos Sigauque from Hydraform.

Community activists in the #HomeEquals Impact Area of Area 27 sector 3 in Lilongwe are committed to seeing the settlement upgraded as soon as possible. To address their concerns, Habitat for Humanity Malawi’s Senior Management Team (SMT) and staff members visited them in a bid to create a conducive environment for communities to improve their living conditions in informal settlements by providing them with access to housing and land rights in Malawi. The project focuses on capacitating residents and informal settlement networks to attain the security of land tenure through participatory land use planning. This will better advocate for access to housing and land for the urban poor, improving their access to housing and land. The project also aims to increase Malawi’s resilience to disasters by enacting a disaster risk management bill and developing relevant policies. In attendance from SMT were Construction Specialist, Programs Manager, Finance Manager, Human Resources and Administration Specialist; staff members were Construction Coordinator, Resource Development and Partnership Coordinator, Advocacy and Communication Coordinator, Procurement Officer, Project Accountant, and Communications Officer.

In pursuit of community development, dedicated individuals play a crucial role in driving positive change at grassroots level. Frank Mayerayera from Matuwale village, T/A Kabudula, who is passionate and committed individual, has become an invaluable village volunteer, dedicating his time and efforts in uplifting his community. Through his selfless and unwavering commitment, Frank has become a catalyst for transformation and a source of inspiration to others. As we are celebrating Volunteer’s Day globally, under the theme: “If everyone did”, Frank, like other volunteers; is playing a vital role in advocating for social welfare within his community. Frank encourages others in his community to embrace volunteerism as one way to help those who are marginalized and vulnerable. He added that through volunteering, individuals have abilities to transform their communities through actively collaborating with various partners like the government, agencies, and stakeholders that are fostering development.

The 39th Annual African Union for Housing Finance conference, hosted in Windhoek, Namibia was a success. The conference was convened under the theme of “Innovation on the Front Line: Making Affordable Housing Happen”. The conference featured presentations and panel discussions on various topics related to affordable housing. It also held a site visit, an exhibition, and the first AUHF Affordable Housing Awards. Habitat for Humanity Malawi (HFHM), Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) and Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) attended the conference and presented on the Home Equals campaign. The campaign aims to advocate for policy changes that will increase access to adequate housing for people living in informal settlements. Under this campaign, HFHM and CISONECC successfully advocated for the finalization and enactment of the Disaster Risk Management bill and was assented into law on 7th June 2023. The new legislation provides a framework that aims to enhance the capacity and resilience of the country to cope with disasters. The enactment of the Disaster Risk Management Act will bring a positive impact on housing finance in several ways. It will help to prevent or mitigate the loss and damage caused by disasters to housing and related infrastructure. The act once fully operationalized will also help to mobilize and allocate resources for housing finance in the aftermath of disasters. The act provides for the establishment of a Disaster Risk Management Trust Fund, which will be used to promote disaster preparedness, risk management and timely and effective disaster response. The act will also help to promote the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in housing finance policies and practices. This can encourage the adoption of standards and guidelines for safe and sustainable construction practices in housing. This can also foster the development and dissemination of innovative housing finance products and mechanisms that are responsive to the needs and preferences of people living in disaster-prone areas. Read more about the #HomeEquals on www.habitat.org/home-equals Read more about the conference on www.auhfconference.com