This Cover photo is a painting in the Likabulu Village is perfectly suited for this post in many ways.

The Mulanje area is notorious for droughts in winter and prone to cyclones in summer. Hot air rises the sheer cliffs to cool and evaporate into colder and denser air. Add a low-pressure system the size of this country to the mix, well…

These mountains are a magnet for cyclones as granite missives store heat hotter and longer than ordinary rocks. The steep cliffs make it impossible for trees to grow, leaving an oversized ice cone to melt. Furthermore, increasing global warming creates more frequent and more damaging events worldwide. Cyclone Milton caused widespread floods and devastation in March this year. Water ran down vertical slopes like a liquid avalanche, the effects are still noticeable. The government promised help but that’s all they do. No aid and support had arrived yet to this date.

Nenani and best his friend and tour guide Wesley, invited me for dinner the next evening to share the little food they had. I had supported Nenani and his family over the years as I was the guest of honor.

His wife and children were very happy to meet me, although shy at first.

Neighboring kids played outside with handmade toys. The less materials we have, the happier we are.

High-Ten to childish innocence.

Over the next few days, I visited the Likabulu Village area and was invited to meet a classroom of schoolchildren, desperate for education.

Fees are so high that hardly anyone can afford to go to school.

Add transport and food to the equation which is physically out of norm.

No government subsidies are provided either.

Nenani and Wesley approached me about a planned scheme, that will benefit either community on either side of the Likabulu River.

The very poor will be the first to receive benefits if this project gets started. The Trust-Fund had already formed a leading board to plan and oversee undertakings. A location in the village was already chosen for this project. Wesley had sent out letters of information about this undertaking to various companies and even government officials, all without any response. Any idea is worth nothing if you don’t have Capital Investment Funds. One needs money for building materials, money this community didn’t have.

It was a tough decision on whether to sponsor this project or not.

Selfishly thinking, it would take a fair chunk out of my travel money and I still have a long way to go.

Secondly, was my conscience to the animal world. This ‘Pig Farm’ project could help many people in this vicinity. I prefer spending time with animals rather than humans at most times.

But for those humans, I care for, those humans who fight for sole survival every day, those humans that have next to nothing, those humans deserve a fair chance.

The animals will be treated as humanely as possible, this was my strongpoint addition to this project. The whole community would be involved and the whole community will benefit from it. No money would be spent on labor costs, it’s all hands on D.I.Y. This will also keep many people preoccupied and engaged in this neighborhood.

Furthermore, the environment would benefit as well as wood carvers wouldn’t need to illegally chop down native trees. Wood carving isn’t only a skill, it gives many people ‘something to do’ whilst waiting for something to happen.

‘Kuifie in Africa’ did sponsor this project for all the above-listed reasons but added a few clauses to the trust. I trust the board to follow the guidelines and that the money is spent appropriately.

I particularly trust Nenani and Wesley, who gave me their word to follow these guidelines with a handshake.

A handshake to me is worth more than a written piece of paper.

Because without trust, where is humanity going too?

Disclaimer: I have meanwhile received emails from Nenani and Wesley about their progress to this farmery.

The photos say it all, purposefully.

Skills.

lunch