Malawi - 6th trip April 2014

Delta flight 200 to JNB was full as always; overnight in City Lodge at the airport. Arrived safely to Lilongwe and stayed with Marinus and Bev Taale at Cluny Lodge. Quite full with other ex-pats on assignments. Off to Zomba and Annie’s Lodge Room 7 as requested. It is a corner with full porch on both sides. When I worked outside, the monkeys were close at hand. I went inside when the baboon appeared. Sakata is trying to become a legal cooperative. I am following another CNFA volunteer, David Daines, who had worked with the group on organizational and registration issues. I was to follow up with financial and bookkeeping. We met in a room provided by WORLEC which is a female-oriented NGO with strong leadership. It receives funding from OXFAM. Class was my Agribusiness Finance. Sakata was considering the purchase (gift?) of a machine to press ground nuts into oil. Financial analysis was not positive. In addition, a professional colleague from Blantyre (Towera Jalakasi) was commissioned by the Ministry to write a paper on the viability of such a project; she also felt it would not be in the best interests of this group. Suggested that the group consider renting a storage facility for ground nuts. We looked at several which are vacant in the village. Met with several government officials – especially helpful was Noel Joseph Shema District Trade Officer from Ministry of Trade. He said that he would work with the group to get certified; it is expensive; WORLEC will ask OXFAM to cover the costs of this special (required) governmental training. OXFAM executives came on the last day of class and were impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the participants. A wonderful group of 26 women and 5 men.

Back to Lilongwe. Unfortunately no time to visit my friends/former colleagues in Blantyre. Home to San Diego and unpack/repack for my trip to Beirut.