Youth Club in Malawi Takes Up Waste Management to Reduce Deforestation
Youth Club in Malawi Takes Up Waste Management to Reduce Deforestation
The Chulu Youth Club is making briquettes, door mats, and handbags using waste paper collected from primary schools.
Malawi: A 33-member youth club in the village of Buamtete in Mchinji, Malawi, is taking a stand against deforestation with a waste management program focused on the production and use of eco-friendly energy sources, writes Brenda Sanudi.
The Chulu Youth Club is making briquettes, door mats, and handbags using waste paper collected from primary schools.
The club's mission was sparked by the findings of the National Charcoal Strategy (2017-2027), which revealed that over 90% of households in Malawi rely on charcoal and firewood as energy sources, resulting in widespread deforestation.
"This community relies on charcoal and firewood for heating and cooking, so, when World Vision brought the waste management training, we saw it as an opportunity to reduce deforestation in the community," said Henry Banda, chairperson for Chulu Youth Club.
World Vision Malawi joined the fight against deforestation by training the youth in waste management, hoping to reduce the dependence on charcoal and firewood.
Ruth Charles, a 16-year-old member of the club, said she feels a responsibility to reduce deforestation in her community.
She said: "In the community, a fire is made by a woman and we fetch firewood and make charcoal in the forests, so in a way, women contribute a lot to deforestation, that's why I joined the cause to make a change."
25-year-old Alick Malachi is also a member of the club and is working to popularize the production and use of briquettes.
He believes that the making process is disability-friendly and easy to do while seated.
"The briquettes are easy to make since we do the job while seated, no need to stress. Secondly, even people with disability can make the briquettes as they do not require a lot of mobility as is the case with charcoal making and firewood picking," he said.
The club is spreading awareness through campaigns, teaching villagers how to make the briquettes in their own homes.
"These youths are now able to make the fire briquettes on their own which are easy to make since they are just a combination of littered notebook papers and other forms of paper like flip charts," said Faith Magalasi, World Vision Malawi WASH Development Facilitator.
With the goal of reaching every school and village in their community, the Chulu Youth Club intends to promote the use of reliable, safe, and affordable energy sources to fight against deforestation.
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