Kettie Mkhaza is 68 years old and is regarded as one of the village elders. She loves her Changu Changu Moto cookstove as it uses less wood and produces less smoke. She said, “Look at my age. I am living longer because there is oxygen in the air as we are preserving the forests. Our cookstoves are saving wood and saving lives.”
She cooks for her husband and seven grandchildren. She believes lives are saved because epilepsy is common in Malawi and she knows of neighbours who have had seizures and fallen in to a traditional three stone fires.

Because the Changu Changu Moto fuel-efficient cookstove contains the flames, there is substantially less risk.
Kettie has had her Changu Changu Moto for five years. Having to only collect mud from behind her house to maintain it, she loves it. She said, “It is so easy to build. There is nothing I don’t like. It cooks faster, there is less smoke and it is safer for my grandchildren.”

It is all about empowering communities in Africa. Click on Kettie’s photo to read about the Changu Changu Moto Fuel-efficient Cookstove project.

Clement Chirwa has been a fisherman for seven years and, during that time, has often struggled to come home with a decent catch. In the past couple of years, his catch has improved enough so that he has been able to build his family a home with iron sheets, and pay for school uniforms for his four children. He is used to catching catfish so he was not expecting to catch a Chimwi fish nor one so big.

With only a dug-out canoe, Clement will venture into Lake Malawi during the early evening to set the hooks, returning the next morning. He said, “I was so excited when I saw the big fish. This is the first time that I have ever caught something so big. I usually only catch a few catfish, and sometimes I return empty handed.”
The Chimwi fish weighed 3.6 kg and measured 63 cm long, and Clement said, “People in the village were shocked to see such a big fish again. Many had not seen this species of fish for more than 15 years and for some it was their first time to see this fish.”

It is all about empowering communities in Africa. Click on Clement’s photo to read about the Fish Conservation project.

Zela Mwale is a Forest Conservation Committee member, educating others on the benefits of preserving the trees. She said, “I learnt about the importance of trees on the radio in 1987. I thought if I can protect my own trees, I will not have these problems. I decided then to create my own protected forestry area.

The problems associated with deforestation are obvious, soil erosion, which is causing silt in the lake. The distances and time women spend walking to find firewood could be spent with their families. The trees provide shade and they act as a wind break to protect our home. The leaves provide a natural and free fertiliser, enabling mushrooms to grow during the rainy season.

There was a lack on understanding in our community which is why I joined the Forest Conservation Committee that Ripple Africa created. We learn more about deforestation so we can encourage others to stop burning and cutting down trees.”

It is all about empowering communities in Africa. Click on Zela’s photo to read about the Forest Conservation project.

Ascherveen Chirwa joined the Disabilities and Rehabiliation at the age of 18 months old. He was born with Cerebral Palsy and is cared for by his grandmother. When he joined the group, he was unable to sit unaided but Matilda, the project coordinator, has dedicated time to teach his mother various exercises. It requires dedication from the guardians to find time out from their busy day to carry out the exercises but Ascherveen has had that fortune and he has not only learn to sit unaided but has also learnt to crawl. The next step is to help him learn to walk so a bespoke standing frame has been built and delivered to his house. He spends time across the day standing in it so he can build strength in his legs with the hope of him being able to walk in the future. His grandmother said, “I am so grateful for the support we receive from Matilda. She has helped us so much and we are working hard so that Ascherveen can one day walk. He loves playing with his cousins, and I believe he will reach this next milestone.”

It is all about empowering communities in Africa. Click on Ascherveen’s photo to read about the Disabilities and Rehabilitation project.