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Malawi has fallen victim to several natural and man-made
disasters
including: flooding, famine, drought and HIV/AIDS. The goal of DRR is
to work towards the creation of safer and more resilient communities
and households in disaster-prone areas of Malawi. Disaster risk
reduction is achieved through a variety of interventions - policy
change, capacity building, public education and community-based
mitigation and preparedness. DRR activities are implemented at
community, district and national levels. DRR focuses on prevention and
not relief. Food Security WorkshopsFood security workshops aim to empower villages throughout the months when food insecurity usually occurs. Workshops teach how the various crops can be used over multiple dishes.Agro-forestry ProgramsAgro forestry is a key risk factor leading to disasters such as flooding in Malawi. EIM has facilitated the cultivation and management of tree nurseries, seed cultivation and tree planting along riverbanks to prevent siltation and flooding. This also reduces the amount of time spent on gathering firewood, and frees time to for income-generating activities. Banana plantations have also been started.Food ProcessingChitetezo mbaula ("protective stove") and food warmer technologies reduce the need for firewood and charcoal, in turn decreasing the rate of deforestation. In addition to the use of the fuel efficient stoves, EIM is also training communities in the production of these stoves so that they will be able to make and sell them as an income generating activity.Village Savings and Loans (VSL)The goal of VSL is to provide families with an extra income to rely on when disasters strike and to empower women to become active agents in their own development. VSL clubs help the communities to assist each other to promote small-scale businesses and income generating activities. Through the VSL project, the women in a village form a microenterprise club of up to 35 members. Each member contributes a monthly amount to the club's collective fund. Each club creates and governs its own policies including the interest rate and period of repayment. VSL has been a great success and has been imitated through the initiative of women in neighbouring villages which were not targeted. As a result of the VSL activities in one community, an adult literacy program was started as the community realized the overall advantages of increased literacy among its adults.DRR in SchoolsDRR in Schools is comprised of specialized workshops that incorporate DRR issues into school curricula that ensures that children are aware of potential risks and measures than can be taken to prevent disasters. Workshops have also been held for children who do not attend school to ensure that no one is left out from hearing the DRR message. As part of the Malawi Churches Partnership Program (MCPP) consortium, EIM receives DRR funding from DFID through Tearfund UK. |
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