The Mbewa Self-Help Project is a set of activities run by the residents of Mbewa village, which sits by the Likhabula River at the foot of Mulanje Mountain.
Malawi is one of the world's poorest countries. Life expectancy is just 39 years and under-5 mortality is 140 per 1000 live births (over 20 times the rate in the UK). This project in Mbewa village, population about 3,000, is helping to improve people lives.
The current priority is to purchase a sheller to run alognside the maize mill which began operating in May 2011 and is generating income for a social welfare fund (to assist AIDS orphans and other vulnerable people in the village), to invest in other small projects and to recoup the capital invested for repaying loans and saving for the next large-scale project (link on the left).
The youtube film below of Mike's 2009 visit tells you more.
For a report on what happened in the two years since the above film, culminating in the completion of the first phase of the maize mill project, click here to download a pdf file (if you have contributed to the project you should have received a copy of this report along with the accounts).
There has also been coverage in the Warrington Guardian (Click image for a large version):
Click on the links at the side to make a loan towards the maize mill project (note: the irrigation project is fully funded for the present growing cycle).
The projects are overseen by committees elected by village members and backed by the Chief. The first projects began as a result of the friendship of one of the porters and guides resident in the village, Francis Atiya, with Mike Brady who taught at Mulanje Secondary School from 1992 to 1994, and was then the Maintenance Supervisor for Ministry of Health in neighbouring Thyolo District from 1994 to 1996.
Francis and Mike together organised the first Mulanje Mountain Porters' Race in July 1996. This was an opportunity for the porters and guides and members of the Mountain Club of Malawi (which sponsored the event) and others to share their love of the Mountain, completing the 25 km course, followed by a party for the porters and guides as a thank you for their service over the year.
The event was taken up by others after Mike left and is now an annual event involving around 300 runners, both local and international.
Francis and Mike kept in contact, more recently by email, and were reunited for the first time in 13 years in June 2009.
This site shows some of the projects that are underway.If you are interested in contributing, please contact Mike or make a pledge using the shopping cart buttons.
A project supported by Mike Brady with contributions from friends, family and the public.
