Words from the Communities

Interview by: Stanley Mpasa (District Manager - Mulanje)

Several areas of positive change have been realized through the Let's Fight AIDS in Malawi project activities. Orphans, vulnerable children, HIV support groups have been given support items like sugar, porridge flour, beans and others items. Farmers have been given farm inputs like fertilizer, seeds, sweet potato vines and cassava cuttings. Knowledge on best practices like manure making, ridging and crop spacing among others has been cultivated.

The chronically ill have not been left aside, rather they have been taken care of by making available Home Based Care (HBC) Kits and training HBC providers. As such two of ADRA beneficiaries in Mulanje explain how they have benefited from LEFAM Project.

Excerpt of interview to Esther Mohammed.

Q: What are some of the activities that are done by ADRA in this area?

A: ADRA has helped us form Farmers Clubs, taught us modern farming methods and gave us maize, groundnut and soya seeds and some fertilizer. This has helped us to harvest more food for our families. This year they have also given us potato vines and cassava cuttings.

Q: Why do you think ADRA decided to form these Clubs?

A: To help the sick, orphans and the poor in the area to produce enough food to last them the whole year

Q: How have you and your family benefited from being a member of the Farmers Club?

A: The knowledge of modern farming methods, the seeds provided and the use of manure have helped us increase the food production.

Q: Apart from farming, what else does ADRA do?

A: It has helped us gain more knowledge through the formation of  Men’s, Women’s and Youth Groups  which regularly meet to discuss issues relating to HIV and AIDS, rights of Children, Women and HIV Infected people and other relevant topics. The groups also help spread the message about HIV and AIDS and how to prevent its spread. The Organization has also provided training and medicine to people who look after the chronically ill.

 

Excerpt of Interview to Nellie Mawindo

Q: How have you benefited from the activities done by ADRA in this area?

A: They have helped us increase our harvest through the new farming methods and manure making that has been taught to us. ADRA also provided seeds to the farm clubs. ADRA has also taught us about HIV and AIDS which has enabled us to make better decisions regarding our sexual lives. They have taught us about our rights and they help us to look after the people who are suffering from AIDS in the village.

Q: What do you think is the aim of ADRA for doing this?

A: To help fight the spread of HIV and AIDS and to improve the lives of those suffering from the disease and those affected by it like orphans.

Summing up the benefits of the collaboration wiht ADRA, the beneficiaries indicated that in order to maximize opportunity to enhance their livelihood, there is need for them to be at the centre stage of all activities being implemented. Communities have acknowledged that information becomes power when it is put into practice like the case of beneficiaries in Mulanje.