As of July 31st, 2009 we now have seventeen more certified Permaculturalists in Malawi!  Kristof, along with two other local PDC trainers, Isaac Siska and Davie Nyamu, just completed facilitating a two-week Permaculture Design Course (PDC) in the southern part of the country, Neno District.

The graduates

This training was organized and supported by an organization called Partners in Health (PIH), who are working with the Neno District Hospital, surrounding health centers, and local community-based organizations.

The 17 people who were trained will now be hired by Partners in Health’s Programme for Social and Economic Responsiblity to work at local health centers throughout the Neno District implementing Permaculture ideas and establishing demonstration plots to help teach about nutrition, food security, HIV/AIDS care, local medicines, and more!  This programme also includes a community outreach component to assist households throughout the district to establish Permaculture at their own homes.  It was a great training and we are looking forward to Neno becoming a role model for the rest of the country. (below is a picture of the proud certificate holders)

It has been another exciting period for Permaculture in Malawi.  The country is preparing to host the International Permaculture Convergence (IPC9) in November of this year.  We have been working with a local cultural center and lodge near the capital city of Lilongwe to prepare the venue for hosting what could turn out to several hundred people.  For more information regarding IPC9, please click here.

Earlier this year, Stacia and I received our Permaculture Diplomas signed by Bill Mollison himself!  This has to one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to us.  This was due to a visit to Malawi by the internationally recognized Permaculutralist, Ali Sharif, from Brazil.  As a diploma holder himself, and one of the first student to have been trained by Bill Mollison, he was able to verify our qualifications and facilitate the process.  We owe Mr. Sharif a great debt of gratitude.  He has also helped to raise the standards of Permaculture in Malawi as we now have five people who hold diplomas in Permaculture design.  Ali Sharif was also instramental in organizing IPC8 in Brazil and has now been giving Malawi advice and assistance in our efforts to set up IPC9.

The proud couple

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What a great day together at Pa Nthunzi Permaculture centre in Blantyre!  13 members of the executive committee and newsletter editing team met, thanks to GTZ, ReSCOPE and PaNthunzi, to improve the committee’s planning, implementing and overall organizational skills.  See their picture on Permaculture Network in Malawi link.

Please check out the new page on the “Model Village”.  It contains updated before after pictures of the progress and an in depth explaination of the developments over the last two years.

We are also proud to announce that our work has been highlighted in the Summer ’08 No. 56 issue of the Permaculture magazine from the United Kingdom.  For more information on this magazine, or to check out thier new on-line subscription option, go to www.permaculture.co.uk

Now that we have a bit more access to the internet, we’ve updated a few things:

1)  Permaculture Schools page.  Don’t be fooled by the title – the ideas can be applied to any setting anywhere.  Do take a look no matter where you are and be inspired by our colleagues!

2)  Presentations for Downloading.  A whole new page that will be dedicated to sharing presentations.  There is one presentation on the School Health and Nutrition Programme’s Permaculture Pilot.

Enjoy!