Malawian culture has always been known as a treasure trove of wisdom, and proverbs being an integral part of our rich heritage. These timeless sayings have been passed on through generations, offering guidance, direction, and warnings that shape our values, beliefs, and daily lives. In our upcoming blog series, we will delve into the world of Malawian proverbs, exploring their meanings, contexts and significance. Read today's blog post which serves as an introduction to our journey.
Microloans for Malawian Women
An Interview with Tango Phiri
Orant Charities Africa believes female entrepreneurs will shape and define local marketplaces, paving the way for lasting social change. Our Financially Empowering Microloans for Women Program (FEM) gives women the financial and social tools to succeed in operating small-businesses. This year, Orant recruited its third FEM cohort. The program now supports 38 women total. We interviewed Tango Phiri, FEM Program Manager, to learn more.
How has your FEM journey been so far?
It has been wonderful to see women empowered financially. It’s exciting to see women buying and owning assets, educating their children, and most importantly, being able to feed their families.
What excites you the most about Orant’s FEM program?
Because of our FEM Program’s no-interest microloans, small businesses are launching and blossoming. It’s exciting to see our women entrepreneurs practicing business skills acquired through our training.
The lack of women’s financial freedom and inclusion still persists in rural Malawi. Culturally, it is believed that men have all the autonomy when it comes to making financial decisions. Hence, most decisions at the household level are made by the husbands. Women are at the receiving end. We try to challenge these roles by conducting awareness campaigns and training centered on financial inclusion
Any future plans for the FEM Program?
We plan to incorporate at least 10% men in the program to ensure gender inclusion. We also plan to continue training communities in gender mainstreaming and financial inclusion.
Anything else you would like to share?
Attaining women’s empowerment is a hustle, especially in Africa. This is due to high illiteracy levels, exclusion in decision making, gender based violence, and lack of access to resources. Gender roles have long defined our way of life.
I get to work in a program that is specifically designed to empower women. Knowing that we are really making a difference is a privilege.
Share on:
The Orant Journal
Read today’s blog about the children’s book, “As Big as the Sky”, a Malawian story about a brother and sister whose love for each other is as big as the sky.
“Orant respectfully serves and collaborates with our community in a sustainable way.”
Ever wondered why we always mention village chiefs and their involvement in Orant’s work? If yes, then today’s blog article is for you! In this article, we talk to Village Head of Kasese Village in Dowa, who tells us about her duties and why her involvement with Orant is important. Read today's blog article to learn more.
Recently, we read The End of Plenty by Joel K. Bourne Jr. An honest and sometimes scathing review of the Green Revolution, this book covers how monoculture crops have led to worsening hunger across the world. As the planet warms, the need is ever more urgent for us to find a solution to humanity’s desperate need to feed 9 billion people.
As we have discussed in some of our past blogs, Malawi Vision 2063 has three key pillars that guide the focus of the Vision. These three pillars are meant to build on each other to create the inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation that they envision. In this blog, we will look at the third pillar of MW2063: Urbanisation.
Whether you are planning an African trip or just curious about the things we love about Malawi, read today’s blog to see the best things to do in Malawi!
Holidays are here again and we are so excited! Most of our team is taking time off with their families and loved ones, so please enjoy this blog while we are away. Celebrate the holidays with us the Malawian way!
Introducing you to the culture of Malawi through a series of articles! The culture of Malawi is strong in spirituality and most people are active in religious groups. We’ll tell you about Malawi’s main religions and the people who practice them. Read on for more.
As we have discussed in some of our past blogs, Malawi Vision 2063 has three key pillars that guide the focus of the Vision. These three pillars are meant to build on each other to create the inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation that they envision. In this blog, we will look at the second pillar of MW2063: Industrialization.