Kayesa Women Group: Empowering Communities Through Education and Reforestation
Their mission is two-fold: to combat climate change by replenishing the lost greenery and to enhance children's educational outcomes.
Mchinji, Malawi - Traditional Authority Zulu in Mchinji district has long grappled with the twin challenges of deforestation and limited access to quality education for its children, writes Royal Kasiya.
The depletion of forested areas due to rampant tree-cutting and charcoal production has not only harmed the environment but has also led to significant economic losses in a region heavily dependent on agriculture, especially in the face of climate change.
To address these pressing issues, the Kayesa Women group, engaged in orphan care and poultry farming, has taken proactive steps by initiating a tree-planting project on Mlirasolo Hill.
Their mission is two-fold: to combat climate change by replenishing the lost greenery and to enhance children's educational outcomes.
Elizabeth Mbewe, the group's chairperson, explained the rationale behind these initiatives, stating, "Deforestation is a major cause of climate change, which has affected agricultural output. Replanting the trees is the only option we have to overcome this challenge. That’s why we have come up with a tree planting project whereby over 5,000 trees have been planted in Mlirasolo Hill to ensure that the environment has been restored."
"In addition to that," Mbewe continued, "we have established an orphan care centre through which we help vulnerable children with educational and psycho-social support. We are rearing poultry, pigs, and bees, which provide us with money to support these children."
Since its inception, the Kayesa Women group, orphan care, has enabled nine students to pursue higher education.
The group also provides early childhood education to 86 children in their community.
McDonald Mphekerere, a guardian benefiting from the group's educational support, expressed his gratitude, saying, "I appreciate the good work that the women are doing. Witnessing my son attain a higher education is a blessing to my family. This would have been impossible without their support."
Group Village Headman Kayesa praised the women for their dedication to supporting vulnerable children and their vital role in environmental conservation, stating, "The tree-planting exercise has helped bring back vegetative cover, which is also protecting soil erosion and providing a home for wild animals."
To sustain their philanthropic efforts, the group has engaged in village savings and loan activities while continuing their beekeeping and poultry farming.
They also plan to purchase a maize mill in the future as part of their income generation strategy.
The Kayesa Women group, orphan care, and poultry farming exemplify the positive impact of empowered women in their community, addressing pressing challenges with innovative solutions and unwavering determination.