Stories and News

Meet Efelo Nyirongo, a 47-year-old small-scale business owner at Target Market in Mchengautuwa East Ward, Mzuzu city. She is among the 320 beneficiaries of the ‘Cash for Work’ initiative under the ‘Strengthening All-Inclusive Disaster Preparedness and Linking Early Warning to Early Action’ project in Mzuzu City Council. Habitat for Humanity Malawi (HFH Malawi) is implementing this two-year project in three Malawian cities: Mzuzu, Blantyre, and Zomba. The project aims to protect livelihoods in these urban centers through enhanced, all-inclusive disaster preparedness. It seeks to build resilience, empower communities, and foster proactive measures at community, city, and national levels to create safer and more resilient urban environments in Malawi. Efelo Nyirongo, a mother of four, has actively participated in community initiatives on drainage clearing and waste management in her neighborhood. She volunteered to assist with local artisan work, such as providing water at drainage rehabilitation sites. Previously known in her neighborhood for her involvement in sex work, she decided to change her life after experiencing repeated gender-based violence from her clients. “I used to suffer severe beatings from cruel customers who often didn’t pay me,” she said, her face filled with regret. “I was involved in prostitution for survival, to ensure my four children never went to bed hungry,” she added. Year after year, her rented house, located near the drainage rehabilitation works, was affected by floods due to poor drainage. She decided to assist with the construction work, supplying water for a daily wage of MK2800 over 10 days, totaling MK28,000. She saved this money throughout the construction period and decided to leave prostitution. She started a small business selling tomatoes, onions, fruits, vegetables, and cooked groundnuts. On a good day, she could earn between MK5000 and MK6000. When another opportunity arose, a cash-for-work initiative within the project where communities were clearing waste, she also benefited. Through the initiative the communities were receiving MK1800 for four man-days of work. ‘I used all of my earnings to expand my business,’ she said with a smile. She added that she used the waste she collected from the drainage to make manure for her small-scale backyard vegetable garden. “I am grateful for this project. It has transformed my livelihood. I no longer struggle to pay rent, and I have a stable small-scale business.’ She added that the drainage rehabilitation has made her home safe from the effects of flooding.” Through the project, HFH Malawi is targeting 12 wards in Blantyre, Zomba, and Mzuzu, focusing on 4 wards per city. In Blantyre, the wards are Bangwe, Blantyre South, Ndirande, and Matope. In Mzuzu, they are Mchengautuwa East, Mchengautuwa West, Nkholongo-Lupaso, and Zolozolo West. In Zomba, the project operates in Likangala, Chambo, Chinamwali, and Sadzi wards. With a key focus on establishing risk-informed urban early warning systems linked to early action. The project aims to significantly reduce the risk of injuries, deaths, and property loss/damage resulting from disasters experienced by the population in these cities by the end of 2024. At least 18,725 beneficiaries have been prioritized in each of the cities: Mzuzu, Blantyre, and Zomba

Habitat for Humanity Malawi on 30th March 2024, bid farewell to the Legian team of Global Village Volunteers from the Netherlands. The team, which stayed in Malawi for 7 days, provided support in constructing two houses for vulnerable families in the T/A Kabudula area of Lilongwe district.   During the farewell ceremony, the team officially handed over the two houses to the beneficiary families. To add excitement to the event, they had the opportunity to savor traditional Malawian food and experience the local culture through various traditional dances such as Chimtali, choirs, Gulewakhulu, and others. The Legian team also showcased their own dances, providing a glimpse into Dutch culture for the Malawian communities present. In recognition of their dedicated efforts to uplift the livelihoods of vulnerable communities in Malawi, Habitat for Humanity Malawi presented each member of the Legian team with a certificate of appreciation. Senior Chief Gwirize, in his remarks, highlighted the collaboration between community members, chiefs, and volunteers from the Netherlands as a shining example of what can be achieved when people unite for a common cause. He emphasized that regardless of our origins, we can make a profound impact by working together towards a shared vision of a better world. HFH Malawi is delighted to resume hosting teams of Global Village volunteers after the program’s closure in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The second team of Global Village Volunteers is expected to arrive in Malawi on April 6, 2024, to provide support in constructing two houses in the T/A Kabudula area.    

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.