On Saturday, April 27, we are holding a Spring Bingo fundraiser in support of education in rural Malawi. Read today’s blog article to learn more about how your support will help in promoting education in rural Malawi.
5 Facts About Maize in Malawi
Fresh green corn, enjoyed in an open field under the Malawian sun. Fluffy nsima, spooned onto plates. A well fed family. The energy to work. Maize is ingrained into Malawi’s agricultural, economic, and family life. Here are 5 facts you should know about maize in Malawi:
- Maize is the major staple food crop in Malawi. 60% of the total cropped land is devoted to its production.
- Malawi’s food security depends on maize. If the land yields a poor maize harvest, people will suffer. Think: famine. Think: hunger. Think: how will we feed our children?
- Maize provides jobs. While most Malawian families grow their own maize, they often have to buy more from the market. Because of this, maize accounts for about 25% of agricultural employment. In other words, maize is is an income generating crop.
- There are 29 varieties of maize in Malawi. They grow in all different colors and lengths. Orant’s Field Day Demonstration leads farmers through planting different maize seed varieties. Farmers learn which varieties are drought resistant, which can be planted earlier than others, and which mature faster than others. This knowledge allows them to be more strategic with their planting choices.
- If maize is the only available food for a family, their diet is poorly diversified. As a result, their overall health suffers. In Malawi, this is too often the case. Orant’s irrigation clubs encourage farmers to diversify their crop production. In turn, vegetables like tomatoes and peanuts improve local diets.
To learn more about Orant’s Agriculture & Business Programs, visit here.
The Orant Journal
Women’s History Month with FEM for Women
Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month. In this month, we honour and celebrate women’s contributions to history and contemporary society. In today's blog, we talk with women from our FEM program, and they highlight the roles they play in their families and Kasese community. Read the blog article to learn more!
Congratulations to the Ulemu Scholarship Recipients!
Congratulations to the Ulemu Scholarship Recipients! Orant’s Ulemu scholarship seeks to invest in the education of outstanding, hardworking and intelligent Malawian students by sponsoring them towards getting a diploma or bachelor’s degree. Read their bios here!
Celebrating 5 Years of FEM for Women
Learn how to make this favorite Malawian dish, Mpiru Otendera. One of Malawi’s most popular recipes, Mpiru Otendera (mustard greens with peanut flour) is a nutritious and filling recipe that goes well with many meals.
A Sponsored Student Gives Back
Meet Jonathan Chikaonda, our sponsored student who got the highest points in his Malawi School Certificate Examinations (MSCE). Read our latest blog to learn more about Jonathan’s journey.
Orant Sponsors Laboratory at Malawian School
For the first time in the school’s 26-year history, Ngala Community Day Secondary School has a laboratory with lab supplies and chemicals. Read this week’s blog post to feel the excitement Ngala students and teachers share due to this development!
Transforming the Lives of Women in Rural Malawi
In rural Malawi, pregnant women face many challenges including lack of access to prenatal care, poor nutrition, and lack of safe spaces to deliver their babies. Orant is working to change that with the renovation of our maternity ward. Read about it in this week’s blog.
Congratulations to our sponsored student, Alick Nathan!
Congratulations to our sponsored student, Alick Nathan. Alick recently graduated from Malawi University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering Honors Degree. Read our latest blog to learn more about Alick’s journey!
Growing Malawi’s Economy through Orant’s FEM Program
Read our latest blog to learn more about how our Financial Empowering Microloans (FEM) for Women program serves the Kasese community and helps to lift a heavy burden off the community’s shoulders.
Making Dreams into a Reality: Orant’s Microloan Program in Malawi
Many women in rural Malawi find themselves stuck in the poverty cycle due to lack of business capital. Our FEM Program works with such women, helping them transform their lives as they become independent. Learn more in our latest blog as Sophelet’s shares her story.