my peace corps projects in Malawi
Cooking demonstration
Hosted a cooking demonstration with 16 women from the Nkhowe Model Village group. I trained the women to cook new recipes that were created using locally available materials. The goal was to train the women to conduct their own food demonstration to the rest of the group and showcase the new recipes. Not only did this build women empowerment within the community, it also encouraged participants to use the recipes at home to incorporate a more diverse and nutritious diet. We had 71 participants attend the food demonstration and they were all able to sample the recipes and vote on their favorites. I am very proud of this project, it was a great success!
Nkhowe Model Village, Malawi
Peanut butter competition
Trained 12 women on peanut butter making to encourage use of locally available materials and to increase dietary diversity. Then to promote home practice, I organized a peanut butter making competition with the first and second place prize winners receiving home gardening tools and seeds to promote the development of nutritious home gardens.
Nkhowe Model Village, Malawi
Tree nurseries
Planted 2,300 seedlings in community based nurseries to promote reforestation, increase dietary diversity via fruiting species, create income generating opportunities, and provide erosion control.
Rhumpi District Agricultural Office, Malawi
Solar oven demonstration
Trained 115 participants on solar oven benefits and construction in an attempt to reduce cooking cost for community members and ultimately combat deforestation.
Nkhowe Model Village, Malawi
Bamboo demonstration and distribution
Trained 86 adults and primary school students in bamboo grove management and uses and also distributed 750 bamboo seedlings to three separate communities groups to combat erosion, provide income for school books, and fight deforestation.
Rhumpi Women’s Group, Malawi
jam making demonstration
Trained 24 participants how to make jam from locally harvested produce to decrease food waste and increase dietary diversity, and provide a potential income generating activity.
Nkhomboli Primary School Wildlife Club
Wildlife clubs
Taught 97 primary students in wildlife clubs at the Lura and Nkhomboli Primary Schools, focusing on wildlife education, solar oven building, conservation, and deforestation.
Chivwanuma Women’s Empowerment Group, Malawi
S.O.L.I.D. Training
Over the course of 7 months, I conducted a Sustainable Opportunities for Leaders of Internal Development (S.O.L.I.D.) training program for the Chivwanuma Women’s Empowerment Group. I was partnered with the local nonprofit Project Inspire and we worked to educate the group following Peace Corps S.O.L.I.D. training manual. Twenty individuals graduated and obtained a certificate along with specialized training and assistance for a group run mushroom farm initiative.
