Introduction

From 22nd August to 25th August 2022, Youth Action for Success and Development (YASD) successfully conducted a five-day Green Innovations and Agro-ecology training in Traditional Authority Nkanda, Mchinji District. This initiative was supported by ActionAid Malawi ,and was skilfully coordinated by the KACODO organization based in Kapiri, where a total number of 60 women including young women got equipped and nurtured with green skills and an understanding in the agro- ecology concept. Similar activity took place in the same District of Mchinji in TA Dambe where 30 youth were trained. As for Dedza district where the activity was also supported by ActionAid, 30 youth got trained in the same areas of Green skills and Agro- ecology.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the training were as follows;

  1. To empower 60 participants with practical knowledge and skills in Organic Fertilizer Making as a climate smart agriculture approach.
  2. To provide training in Bottle Cutting as a means of upcycling and waste reduction.
  • To impart skills in Tree Nursery Management for sustainable afforestation.
  1. To equip participants with the techniques of Briquette Making for alternative fuel sources.

Discussions

  • The training sessions were designed to be interactive and hands-on, facilitating active participation from the 60 women attendees.
  • Mrs Banda, One of the participant’s said that it was such a great pleasure to learn hard skills /practical skills from experts (YASD) unlike the soft skills which were commonly being provided to the communities by alangizi (agriculture advisers)
  • YASD partnered with Youth Progressive Environmental Solutions to lead facilitation of Tree nursery Management as they are experts in forestry sector.
  • The training based much on advancing the green skills and agro- ecology concept as model of mitigating and adapting to climate change, fighting gender injustices as well as economically empowering the youth.
  • All the resources were made available as Action Aid provided them all in advance.
  • The representative of TA Nkanda expressed her gratitude to the organisers of the training as this opened new opportunities to the area.

Lessons Learned

  1. Community Engagement and participation. There was a good participation of all the participants for the training as this was fostered by one of the local leaders who was attending the session . Building local support is crucial for the successful implementation of green initiatives among all other interventions.
  2. Eager to utilize the knowledge and competence gained in the training. The participants expressed their willingness to bring the lessons learnt into practice.
  3. The importance of adopting and using the holistic approach. The integration of various aspects, such as organic fertilizer making, bottle cutting, tree nursery management, and briquette making, showcased the need for a holistic approach to address environmental challenges as well as draw the attention of the attendees.
  4. The power and passion of women in agricultural/ farming activities. Women are passionate about farming mainly in the rural areas as it is one of the key drive to feed their families.
  5. Provision of practical skills empowers the women including youth girls not only to contribute to environmental sustainability but also to create livelihood opportunities for themselves.

Successes

  1. The active participation and enthusiasm of the 60 women participants demonstrated a keen interest in adopting sustainable practices.
  2. Participants successfully acquired skills in organic fertilizer making, bottle cutting, tree nursery management, and briquette making, fostering self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
  • Community Collaboration and coordination. The coordination with KACODO organization and support from ActionAid Malawi strengthened community collaboration, ensuring a more impactful and sustainable intervention.
  1. YPES and YASD successfully implemented the concept submitted to ActionAid.

Mrs Kanthiti, chair of Nkanda women’s group advising her fellow women during training.

Challenges

  • Time management was a big challenge as the participants had to walk and ride long distances to the venue.

Recommendations

  1. Taking into consideration of accommodating the participants from hard to reach areas.
  2. There should be a continuous of supporting such initiatives including refresher trainings.

In conclusion, the Green Innovations and Agro-ecology training proved to be a significant step towards fostering sustainable practices and empowering women in Traditional Authority Nkanda. YASD expresses gratitude to ActionAid Malawi and KACODO organization for their support in making this initiative a success. Likewise, YPES played a very important role In the facilitation process since KACODO mainly acted as a wheel of mobilisation in the Area. We remain committed to promoting environmental stewardship and sustainable development.