Malawi September 2026 Missions Report

Malawi

Coordinator Name: Lois Grant

Project Name: Thyolo Prison Mother and Baby Project – Phase 3

1. Introduction / Opening Greeting

The construction of the room at the prison is nearing completion. Most of the required work has now been carried out, and we are currently working on the final stages. We are thankful for the support received for this project and look forward to completing the room and seeing it put to use.

2. Monthly Summary / Key Accomplishments

We are also pleased to report that we have started supplying vegetables to a local sports club. The sports club has indicated that they would like to have a constant supply of fresh vegetables throughout the year. This presents an encouraging opportunity for us to develop a reliable market for our produce and to increase the sustainability of the gardening project. As the garden continues to grow and production increases, we hope to strengthen this relationship and explore other potential customers who may require a regular supply of vegetables.

3. Current Challenges / Goals for the Next 90 Days

As the vegetable garden continues to expand, we are beginning to face some challenges that will require additional investment.

Irrigation: As the garden becomes larger, there will be a need to purchase additional pipes to ensure that all areas of the garden can be adequately watered. We also need to invest in a water pump to improve the irrigation system. At present, we are using a petrol-powered pump, but the increasing cost of petrol is making this option expensive to operate. We would therefore like to explore the possibility of acquiring a solar-powered water pump, which could provide a more affordable and sustainable solution for irrigation.

Fencing and Security: Another growing concern in the long term is the security of the vegetable garden. We have experienced a few break-ins, which have resulted in crops being taken from the garden. As production increases, it will become increasingly important to protect the garden.

We therefore need to consider fencing the garden to reduce the risk of theft and protect the investment being made in the project.