Malawi, 2009

What difference can pumps, pigs, goats and tilapia make? In five communities in Malawi, the answer is “A Lot!” for 8700 people who are healthier because they invested in their environment.

In the late 1990’s, five communities of 8700 people in northern Malawi experienced extreme poverty. Families went hungry year after year, people died of malnutrition, children went naked, families relied on government handouts. That was how it was before facilitators from Outreach International began bringing members of the community together to discuss options for life and health.

In the meetings, the issues of greatest need were fresh water and food security, as there were many - children especially - dying of water-borne diseases and malnutrition. The land yielded little, and community members realized that their land was not productive or healthy, and they needed to invest in their environment if they were going to survive.

So community members explored farming methods that used fertilizer and irrigation systems. They looked to pig, goat, and poultry projects and tilapia fish farms to provide milk and meat. Pig and goat manure could be recycled and used as fertilizer for the community gardens. Irrigation systems could bring needed water to grow vegetables and grain. And fresh-water wells could provide clear, clean water closer to the communities.

As a result, the 12 wells have reduced water-borne disease in the five communities by 60%. Improved irrigation to fields increased crop yields by 45%. Seven fishponds, five goat projects and one pig project benefit 4600 people. The vegetable gardens and crop fields give them all fresh food and extra to sell in the market for clothes and school supplies.

After a few short seasons, these environmental solutions have brought health and life back to these five villages in northern Malawi.

And the community members are celebrating the return on their investment. One place to see the joy is to watch when the goats are let out of their pens and into a containing area. When this happens, the whole community gathers around the fencerow to watch as the goats. The goats run free, the children chase and play with them, the adults sing and their joy is evident. Land, water, and animals are an investment in the environment that gives big returns.