Country Overview
Geography. The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. The name Malawi comes from the Maravi, one of the original Bantu tribes to inhabit the area. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast and Mozambique, which surrounds it on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Lake Malawi is sometimes called the Calendar Lake as it is about 365 miles long and 52 miles wide. Malawi is approximately 45,747 square miles in size, with an estimated population of nearly 14 million. Its capital is Lilongwe; the biggest city is Blantyre.
Economy and People. Malawi is among the world's least developed and most densely-populated countries. The economy is based in agriculture, with a largely rural population. The Malawian government depends heavily on outside aid to meet development needs, although this need (and the aid offered) has decreased since 2000. The Malawian government faces challenges in growing the economy, improving education, health care and environmental protection, and becoming financially independent. Malawi has developed several programs since 2005 that focus on these issues. They have yielded improvements in economic growth, education, and health care in 2007 and 2008.
Malawi has a low life expectancy (44 years of age) and high infant mortality (89 deaths per 1,000 births, the 14th highest in the world). There is a diverse population of native peoples, Asians, and Europeans, with several languages spoken and an array of religious beliefs. Although there was tribal conflict in the past, it had diminished considerably by 2008 and the concept of a Malawian nationality had begun to form. Malawian culture combines native and colonial aspects in areas such as sports, art, dance and music.
Politics. Malawi is a democratic, multi-party government, currently under the leadership of President Bingu wa Mutharika. The current constitution was put into place on May 18, 1995. The branches of government include: executive, legislative, and judicial. Malawi is composed of three regions (Northern, Central and Southern), which are divided into 28 districts, and further into approximately 250 traditional authorities, and 110 administrative wards. Local government is administered by central government-appointed regional administrators and district commissioners.
The Malawian flag is made up of three equal horizontal stripes of black, red and green with a red rising sun superimposed in the center of the black stripe. The black stripe represents the African people, the red represents the blood of martyrs for African freedom, green represents Malawi's ever-green nature, and the rising sun represents the dawn of freedom and hope for Africa.
Education and Culture. In Malawi, primary education is not compulsory, but the constitution requires that all people are entitled to at least five years of primary education. In 1994, free primary education for all children was established by the government, which increased attendance rates. Dropout rates are higher for girls than boys. This is attributed to security problems during the long travel to school, as girls face a higher prevalence of gender-based violence. Lack of sanitation facilities for girls, housing for female teachers, and scholarships are also contributing factors. However, attendance rates for all children are improving. Enrollment rates for primary schools increased from 58% in 1992 to 75% in 2007. And, the number of students who begin in Grade 1 and complete Grade 5 has increased from 64% in 1992 to 86% in 2006. Youth literacy has also improved, moving from 68% in 2000 to 82% in 2007. This increase is primarily attributed to improved learning materials in schools and better infrastructure.
Dance is a strong part of Malawi's culture and the National Dance Troupe (formerly the Kwacha Cultural Troupe) was formed in November 1987 by the government. Traditional music and dances can be seen at initiation rites, rituals, marriage ceremonies, and celebrations. The most common sport in Malawi is soccer, which was introduced during British colonial rule. Basketball is also growing in popularity. The native tribes of Malawi have a rich tradition of basketry and mask carving, and some of these goods are used in traditional ceremonies. Wood carving and oil painting are also popular in urban centers, with many of the items produced being sold to tourists.
CARE's Work in Malawi
Overview. CARE was established in Malawi in 1998, and is guided by a long-range strategic plan aimed at improving livelihood security and human dignity by addressing social exclusion and gender inequity. CARE incorporates human rights into all activities, works with local partners to maximize sustainability and impact, shares learning and develops replicable models, and uses evidence to advocate for policies that promote development. CARE works in education, food security, health and nutrition, and economic development. Join My Village will support CARE’s work to improve livelihoods across nearly 75 Malawian villages through the empowerment of women and girls in the areas of economic development and education:
Economic Development. To empower women economically, CARE has been implementing village savings and loan associations (VSLAs) in Malawi since 1999. CARE has established more than 850 VSLAs in Malawi to date, comprising more than 16,850 members with $108,828 accumulated as savings (and $145,164 loaned to members). More than 85% of the participants are women. CARE’s research shows that VSLA programs enable women to increase their families’ income and build self-confidence, independence, and leadership skills in the process.
VSLAs are informal, self-selecting groups consisting of 15 – 20 members. The members contribute small individual savings into an association fund. Each association sets its own “charter,” which specifies loan terms. Savings are accumulated for a period and then the association determines how to loan the money to members. All transactions are carried out at meetings in front of all the members, promoting transparency and accountability. Members pay back the loans based on the guidelines specified by the charter. Loans are generally used to start small businesses or pay for family needs, often related to sending children to school. After a year, the group pays out the total savings in a lump sum payment to each member based on his or her contribution plus interest. This lump sum distribution provides otherwise unavailable sums of money that each member can then apply to his or her own families’ needs.
Education. The World Bank has asserted that girls’ education provides the single highest return on investment in the developing world. An educated girl is less likely to become infected with HIV. Educated girls have fewer and healthier children, and bear them later in life. Educated women have greater control over their financial resources than their uneducated peers and are more likely than men to spend discretionary resources on health, education, and food. They are also more likely to participate in political processes, to earn more, and to raise healthier, educated children. Because education for girls pays tremendous dividends for her and her family in the long run, an investment in girls’ education is truly an investment in the development of a country.
Through the support of Join My Village, CARE field officers will work with the school management committees (SMCs) of approximately 15 primary schools (each primary school serves approximately five villages). They will prioritize the needs of these schools from a list of program modules, including provision of textbooks and reference materials, secondary school scholarships for girls graduating from primary school, construction of sanitation facilities, and construction of housing for female teachers. Field officers will work with SMCs to conduct baseline studies for each school and identify desired areas of improvement. Once the SMC has set a course of action for the school, CARE will support the village in securing the necessary materials and expertise to implement their plan.
General Mills' Commitment to Malawi
General Mills began investing in Malawi with CARE in 2007. Through two programs, Improving Livestock Production for Income and Nutrition Enhancement (I-LINE) and the Post-Harvest Loss Reduction and Small-Scale Irrigation Enhancement Project (PHASE), General Mills will contribute $800,000 by 2010. The two programs will, together, reach nearly 4,000 Malawi households (approximately 20,000 direct beneficiaries). They will provide training to start new businesses, improve the health and nutrition of families, and assist with the development of new farming techniques.
General Mills is also partnering with CARE to contribute technical expertise through its Science and Technology Transfer Initiative. Employee volunteers are working directly with Malawi farmers and a local research institution to improve grain storage techniques. This comprehensive, integrated approach to supporting Malawi was developed to ensure long-term, sustainable poverty relief.
Join My Village is the next step in General Mills’ commitment to Nourishing Lives in Malawi. By inviting consumers to connect with villages featured online, it is supporting efforts to start new businesses and provide young girls the opportunity to go to school. Approximately 75 villages in Malawi will benefit as people engage with the program online and learn about real women and families in Malawi through ongoing updates, stories, and photos.
To launch Join My Village, General Mills has made an initial commitment of $200,000, which is currently at work in Malawi to help lay the foundation for long-term success. Another $300,000 has been made available to be “unlocked” by consumers via their participation in the program. Through Join My Village, General Mills invites everyone to get involved and see that collectively, simple actions and donations can help create real change in today’s world.
Sources Referenced:
CIA World Fact Book, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook
National Geographic, http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_malawi.html
United Nations Development Program in Malawi, http://www.undp.org.mw
When you join a village team, you will be helping people in up to
75 villages in Malawi work toward their goals to create real change.
