Tiny loans go long way in Malawi

Valley teacher raising money for impoverished African nation

MOUNT DENSON — Christie Hartlin has a lot of good news about the progress of a project she has helped organize in Africa through the Nova Scotia-Malawi Association.

The Valley guidance counsellor began working with local women concerned about the needs of orphans and HIV/AIDS victims in Ekwendeni, in northern Malawi, as a volunteer teacher in 2005.

Since then, Ms. Hartlin, of Mount Denson, has returned to the African town three times. She has helped to plan the construction of food mills for residents and their livestock, and a complex to feed and educate orphans and assist families affected by HIV/AIDS.

Two barns have been built; chickens, pigs and goats have been purchased; several hectares of land have been developed for farming; and fruit trees have been planted.

During her most recent visit, in March, 27 small-business loans worth C$50 to C$250 were awarded to guardians of the orphans and people living with AIDS. Many of the recipients and other people from the community are also attending workshops to learn basic business skills, such as budgeting, and agricultural techniques.

Ms. Hartlin said in a recent interview that many of the loans have already been repaid and the funds are being lent to other small businesses.

"It’s helping a great number of people and the numbers are continuing to grow," she said. "It is going to change the future of these people."

She said donations from the Mary Mueller Foundation and a number of Valley schools and service organizations are being invested in the long-term development of the community, because the project is being designed to become self-sustaining.

"Those who give are really giving long term because we are helping these people help themselves. As they become self-sustaining, they won’t need our help anymore," Ms. Hartlin said.

"And many of the children we are helping now will go on to help other children when they become adults."

The project has faced challenges. She said drought in some parts of Malawi and flooding in other areas has affected crop yields, doubling or tripling prices in Ekwendeni for staples such as maize and beans.

Ms. Hartlin said she hopes more money will be raised to deal with these increased costs. But she feels optimistic about the future of the project because of the pride and sense of ownership and accomplishment she sees in the people of Ekwendeni.

"We never dreamed this could happen in our community," one Malawian man told her.

"We are just so grateful to the Canadians who have helped us do this."

Decline in Women fertility shocks Malawi

A lengthy research done in Malawi to find rates of human fertility particularly in women, published this year has revealed interesting facts.

Compiled by Ministry of Health, the findings reveal that women living in some parts of the country are more productive than their counterparts living in other parts.

The report says there is high decline in fertility in urban settings than in rural.

The research which was published under Total Fertility Rate (TFR), shows ranges of 4.8 to 7.2 birth I remote lake districts of Mangochi for example, than those living in city sides like commercial capital Blantyre.

While in Blantyre the research says TFR can be an average of 4.8, it says in Mangochi average can be at 7.2.

And Malawi’s population density is estimated at 105 per square meter, with population projected to be rising to 13.6 million than was in 2000 when it was at 12.3million albeit yet to be confirmed after the Population and Housing Census being carried out country wide. With these figures Malawi’s fertility rates are only Second to Uganda the whole East Southern Africa though with a big gap between them.

Urban population rate, all the four main cities of Zomba, Blantyre, Lilongwe (Capital City) and Mzuzu combined, at 15.4 percent, indicated a 2.1 growth rate. This figure is much lower compared to other countries in Southern Africa countries.

But the trend is not upward, rather it is downwards. In 1984 when the trend was first examined fertility rate was 7.6 in urban settings. In 1992 it slightly went down to 6.3. It was 6.3 in 2000 and 6.0 in the year 2004.

But critics want clarification whether decline in women fertility means decline in men fertility as well. But the report says nothing on men.

An expert in Demography who did not wish to have his name published said, the slow decline in fertility in remote areas is because high interaction between men and women within the confines of families is part of entertainment in remote areas where as in urban sites, people are engaged in so many advanced entertainment activities and do not take their conjugal rights as part of entertainment.

“Despite the decline Malawi remains the highest in Women fertility the whole Eastern and Southern Africa, meaning in Malawi Women easily give birth,

“The figures are only lower than Uganda with an average of 6.9 children per woman even in urban settings,” says the report.

Malawi’s Northern Region has a rate of 5.6 children per woman. Adoption and use of contraceptive is also higher in the region. While Central region which houses Capital City Lilongwe and Southern region where we find commercial city of Blantyre, the use of contraceptive is at three percent only.

Life expectancy at birth is stuck at 38.1 for males and 37 for females.

Young Scot To Film Malawi Kids' Plight

YOUNG Scot winner Aimee Gilmour is going to Malawi to make a documentary about children's lives there.

The 12-year-old will spend two weeks being filmed living in amud hut, working in maize fields and going to school in the village of Mulonde.

Aimee - crowned Community Champ at this year's Sunday Mail & Lloyds TSB Young Scot Awards - will be an ambassador for Scots actor David Hayman's Spirit Aid charity. Aimee, of Rothesay, Bute, said: "I'm so excited about going and can't wait to meet Malawian children and see how different life is for them.

"There have been lots of documentaries made by adults but never by someone my age."

Trial And Retribution star David added: "The film Aimee brings home will be invaluable for raising awareness of Malawi's plight among her peers."