Ngodzi-Matowe Project, Malawi

See the progress you helped make happen in your sponsored community

When the project started, farmers were struggling to grow enough food. Schools lacked classrooms, desks and books and many families didn't have access to clean water. Malnutrition, malaria and other diseases were common as many families didn't know how to prevent them.

Thanks to your support, your sponsored child and other children in the Ngodzi-Matowe community have improved access to education, healthcare and nutritious food and their families have more opportunities to earn income.

Together we've achieved so much

86 percent of children were enrolled in primary school in 2017

This is up from 55 percent in 2005.

  • More children are attending school and making progress with their learning thanks to the project’s efforts to improve facilities in 17 primary schools. This included building classroom and toilet blocks and teacher housing and supplying 2,004 desks and over 22,000 textbooks. 
  • There has been strong improvement in children’s reading skills following literacy skills training for 329 teachers. 
  • There is now community-wide action on preventing child marriage because of awareness campaigns supported by the project. Local leaders have introduced a by-law that prohibits marriage before age 18.

206 water taps were repaired to improve clean water access

A sand filter system has also been added to an existing water pipeline to prevent contamination.

  • Insecticide-treated mosquito nets were widely distributed and families were educated on other ways to protect their children from being bitten by malaria-carrying mosquitoes. 
  • Community health workers and health volunteers are working together to reduce child malnutrition after completing training on maternal and child healthcare. 
  • Because of community health education, many more women are attending antenatal check-ups and delivering their babies in health clinics. They are also bringing their children to health clinics for regular growth monitoring and immunisations.

62 percent of households are producing at least three nutritious food crops

This is up from eight percent in 2002.

  • Farmers have taken part in agricultural training and received improved varieties of planting materials for crops including maize, soybean, peanut and sweet potato. By growing a greater variety of crops, farmers can provide their children with a more nutritious diet and have produce to sell for household income. 
  • Many more families are raising livestock such as goats, chickens and pigs after taking part in a livestock pass-on scheme. Through this scheme, families receive animals to breed and they “pass on” their first offspring to another family in the community to do the same.
  • By 2017, over 1,800 families had joined village savings and loans groups. Through these groups, families contribute a small amount of money each month to a joint fund which they can access in the form of low cost loans to start or build on business activities or meet household expenses.

"We thank sponsors from Australia who funded the Ngodzi-Matowe program through World Vision. We have witnessed transformation taking place in our area, specifically for our children."

- Stanly, aged 42, development committee chairman

Henry reaches new farming heights

Henry is a farmer and father of six who lives in the Ngodzi-Matowe area. For years he struggled to grow enough food to meet his family’s needs.

"I had no idea of how I would educate my children. I was just a peasant farmer with low capital, and was unable to feed, clothe and provide standard shelter for my family,” he explained.  

But things began to change for Henry after he and other farmers in his village were supported by World Vision and the local government to establish a crop irrigation scheme. This meant Henry could plant a greater variety of crops and produce two harvests each year instead of one. 

He now has enough income to provide well for his family and keep investing in ways to improve his farming activities, including adding to his growing herd of goats and chickens.

"I had no idea of how I would educate my children. I was just a peasant farmer with low capital, and was unable to feed, clothe and provide standard shelter for my family,” he explained.  

But things began to change for Henry after he and other farmers in his village were supported by World Vision and the local government to establish a crop irrigation scheme. This meant Henry could plant a greater variety of crops and produce two harvests each year instead of one. 

He now has enough income to provide well for his family and keep investing in ways to improve his farming activities, including adding to his growing herd of goats and chickens.

"I know it is possible to reach any heights if proper farming technologies are followed. I am transformed and able to provide for my sons in school which had been my cry for a long time."

- Henry, farmer