Among WSU’s international ventures are life-changing projects in Malawi, third poorest country in the world.
• Malawi is a narrow East African nation surrounded by Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique.
• At $200, per capita annual income is one of the lowest in the world.
• Due to drought, starvation and HIV/AIDS, life expectancy is 37 years.
WSU President V. Lane Rawlins visited Malawi over the summer. Here he shares some of his experiences and impressions:
“Along both sides of the road, wherever we went, there was a steady stream of people walking or riding bicycles. Small, lithe women gracefully carried loads of thatch, corn, wood or very large baskets on their heads, often while carrying children in slings on their backs with others being led by hand.
“A majority of people still prepare their meals on open wood fires. One task that falls to children in this deforested country is to gather the wood, usually leaving no time for school.
“Although the poverty was obvious, it did not reflect in a poverty of spirit. Everywhere we saw colorful dress, strong and vital people, smiling and waving children.”
First stop
“As we entered the village, we had no idea what we were about to experience. A group of 20 women came out to meet us — colorfully dressed in their native wear — and in beautiful harmony sang songs of greeting. They were eventually joined by the men and children in one of the most moving serenades I have ever heard.
“At all of the locations we were joined by district government representatives as well as what was translated as ‘traditional authorities.’ In some places we actually had the tribal chief, often presiding over more than 100 villages.
“After the songs of greeting, we would gather and listen to the people of the tribe tell us about what they were doing. What they were doing! Not what someone was doing for them!”
Self help
WSU provides and teaches new technologies that may help overcome the relentless cycle of drought, starvation and despair. Rawlins was thrilled to see how quickly these projects are taken over by the village leaders:
“I believe it is more readily accepted because it is often provided through the young Total Land Care (see accompanying article) specialists, most of whom grew up in a village just like the ones they are advising.
“The thing is, we could pull out of these projects and they will carry themselves. The short-term impact is to improve ancient technology and increase productivity, but the longer-term goal concerns the attitude of local leaders who are now thinking about change and progress and becoming eager to find the next new thing.”
Transformation
“We heard many stories of transformation. We were taken inside one of the small houses and shown a little brick and clay stove (a WSU project) that easily can be made from local materials. The woman told us with great passion how this had improved her life. The key is that she can now cook for 10 days with the wood it would have taken for one day on an open fire. The biggest impact of this may be on the children, who can now go to school.”
In another village, “they told us how they had learned that after the rice harvest, at the end of the rainy season, there is enough moisture left in the soil to raise a crop of beans, something they had never raised before. As a bonus, the beans fix nitrogen in the soil so the next rice crop is even greater.”
Local change
Deeply touched by the proud people who spoke so hopefully about improving their lives through education and new technologies, the WSU delegation did not leave the country without visiting the U.S. ambassador to Malawi, the U.S. Agency for International Development director and the Malawi minister of agriculture. None knew much about the WSU projects but said they would visit the research sites in the near future.
“We stressed to them that this was really about education and sustainability. WSU, Malawi and the world are looking … for a new vision of sustainability in the face of starvation, overpopulation and disease. We are actually making a difference.”
