Greening the Future Project Launched

This week, the Greening the Future (GTF) project, implemented by YASD in strategic partnership with Hlanganisa Community Fund, South Africa, officially launched its activities on the ground at GVH Mlezi, TA Chitukula. The launch featured a two-day training session attended by 50 rightsholders from the villages of Nkhalamba, Mlezi, Nduwo, and Mwalala, with oversight and support from our Executive Director, Edward Chidombe Msiska.

Hlanganisa Community Fund, a regional development partner from South Africa, supports initiatives that advance sustainable agriculture, women and youth empowerment, and climate resilience across Southern Africa. Their strategic partnership with YASD allows the GTF project to combine local knowledge with regional expertise, introducing practical, cost-effective solutions for rural farmers while fostering community-led development.

During the training, participants were introduced to green skills such as producing crystallised human urine fertiliser and agroecological practices including composting, mulching, crop rotation, cover crops, and natural pest control. Our Project Officer for the project, Ellah Tambalaweko, guided the session, emphasizing how these practical techniques can help reduce reliance on costly chemical fertilisers, restore soil fertility, and enhance resilience to climate shocks.

The partnership is particularly significant in advancing the vision of Malawi 2063, which aspires to create an inclusively wealthy, self-reliant, and sustainable nation. By equipping communities with climate-smart agricultural skills, the GTF project is fostering resilient livelihoods, sustainable food production, and empowerment for women and youth, marking a positive step toward long-term development goals.

Following GVH Mlezi, the project will next be implemented in GVH Chigonthi 1, extending its reach and impact, and strengthening the foundation for sustainable, climate-smart, and inclusive rural development.