ACTION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY (AFES)

One of the most biggest challenge in Malawi is access to clean water, this problem has compromised the health of many people especially affecting those in rural areas and highly populated areas of cities.

Giving clean water to these people is a permanent solutions to many water, sanitation and hygiene related problems.

Water, sanitation and hygiene projects in communities have led to a decline in the out break of highly contagious diseases like Cholera and improved the health of the biggest number of people especially the youths who makes the highest population composition of Malawi.

AfES in partnership with the Embassy of the United States has engaged in implementing an income generating project for Mpangama Women Association in Makanjira Mangochi district. The project will train the women of Mpangama in puff making, p-nut batter making and entrepreneurship.

Her Excellency Virginia Pulmer  the USA Ambassador to Malawi and our Executive Director Mr. Daniel Mwakameka signing the project grant agreement in Lilongwe on 18th August 2015.

The project is expected to create jobs and improve the income security of more than 2000 women of Mpangama community.

Action for Environmental Sustainability (AFES) in partnership with Vibrant Village Foundation has partnerd with Group Village Headman Kumponda in Traditional Authority (TA) Kapeni in Blantyre District to embark on promoting water,sanitation and hygiene in 4 sub-communities of Kamwendo,Mzwanya, Chiwalo/Maluwa and Kumponda.

The project will maintain 4 mal-functioning water pumps, train 18 local mechanics and establish a sanitation and hygiene promotion group that will work as ambassadors in the community.  

Action for Environment Sustainability (AFES) in partnership with Misuku Bee Keepers Association and with funding from CEPF is working on conservation of Misuku Hills since July 2014. 

Conservation activities

In collaboration with the deapartment of forest, the project has trained 7 Village Forest Areas (VFAs) namely Lupalang’ombe Kapiyira, Mwenga, Nangalamu, Chipala, Arthur and Chiwi which are currently . The project has also  strengthened the capacity of  7 Village Natural Resources Management Committees (VNRMCs) and planted about 50,000 indidginious and exotic trees during the tree planting season in 2015. This initiative has impacted a total land of about 1144 hectors inside and out side the forest reserve.

Awareness Activities

Action for Environmental Sustainability (AfES) and Misuku Beekeepers Association (MBA) is raising awareness of the need for conservation among community members in and around the Wlindi-Matip and Mughese forest reserves in Malawi.

Traditional dances and songs used in awareness event

Village savings and Loans (VSL)

AfES & MBA have also established a village savings and loan (VSL)/Community Bank system to support the sustainable use of natural resources; 20 VSL groups with more than 350 community members have been established in 41 communities around the reserve.

Women of a village savings and loan bank posing for a photo