Extra Mile Development Foundation - EMDEF

Extra Mile Development Foundation, with support from the Nederlands Albert Schweitzer Fonds, launched a two-day training program at Chendasi Primary School, T/A Kabunduli, Nkhatabay district. This initiative aims to prepare residents of Chendasi community for the drilling of a borehole, improving access to clean water for over 500 users, which are the school children and surrounding households. Currently, the school and entire community relies on a nearby stream for water, which poses serious health risks, including waterborne diseases, especially to children. This training equips the water point committee with essential knowledge and skills for the successful implementation and maintenance of the borehole. Alex Mwakikunga, Water Officer for Nkhatabay District, emphasized the importance of the training: “We had a pre-drilling training to show them how boreholes are drilled from the onset to completion.” This hands-on approach ensures the community can monitor during drilling exercise to ensure quality of the works and also to effectively manage the borehole once operational. With only 54% of Nkhatabay District having access to clean water, this borehole project is not just beneficial but essential for improving health outcomes. Patrick Gondwe, Head Teacher at Chendasi Primary School, added, “This training has imparted knowledge on how we will care for the borehole and assess if it meets required standards.” As the Extra Mile Development Foundation continues its commitment to community development, this initiative not only addresses immediate needs but also empowers residents with the knowledge and skills necessary for sustainable health and well-being in the Chendasi Community. #CleanWaterForChendasi #BoreholeTraining #EmpowerCommunities #WaterIsLife #ExtraMileFoundation #SustainableLiving #HealthierFuture #CommunityDevelopment #WaterAccess #ChendasiInitiative

Great day visiting Chendasi Primary School in Nkhatabay, where we're working to improve access to clean water and sanitation for over 500 learners and surrounding community members. At present, the children, teachers and community members access water for various uses from the nearby stream and drink it untreated. The school toilets also do not have doors hence no privacy and learners opt for open urination and defecation in the bush. This contributes diarrhea cases everyday amongst other waterborne diseases and affects their class attendance and performance. With funding from Nederlands Albert Schweitzer Fonds, Our project at Extra Mile Development Foundation - EMDEF shall drill a borehole with an Afridev pump, train water point committees, renovate toilets for both learners and staff, and provide menstrual hygiene kits for adolescent girls and information sessions on handwashing, body hygiene and basic water treatment methods. We all deserve access to clean water and sanitation. Towards promoting health, education, and dignity for learners, teachers and community members. #CleanWater #Sanitation #WASH #CommunityEmpowerment #GirlsHygiene #SustainableDevelopment

On 2nd October 2024, our Programs Officer participated in the stakeholder review meeting of the Catalyst Fund, organized by the Tilitonse Foundation . The meeting focused on reviewing the implementation of the Catalyst Fund, discussing its aims and objectives. Several CSOs also shared their experiences on how funds were utilized the funds and how it contributed to the growth of their organizations. #ShiftThePower #communityleddevelopment

With an aim of achieving gender equality, we are fighting against various systems of oppression and social injustices faced by girls and women in Mzimba north. We partnered with ACT Ubumbano and successfully held an advocacy session at Enthongeni Primary School in Mzimba North, focusing on basic information on Gender Based Violence forms in school spaces and communities and where to report, gender roles and unpaid care work responsibilities and how they affect girls education and letting both boys and girls consider redistribution of unpaid care and domestic work in their households to enable girls have enough time to do their school work. Also thanks to our implementing partners, Citizen Impact Organisation (CIO) , Rise Together and Mzuzu Feminomics Hub #genderequality #genderequity #unpaidcarework #genderbasedviolence

We are glad to have participated in an engagement meeting on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) under Breaking the Barriers project which targeted Mzuzu Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The meeting highlighted on the Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) bill, Diverse Religious views on Abortion, revised communication and Advocacy Strategy for Coalition for Prevention of Unsafe Abortion (COPUA), SRHR legal framework and the role of CSOs in promoting comprehensive SRHR in our communities. The project Breaking the Barriers is being implemented by Malawi Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance in collaboration with Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) and Centre for Solutions Journalism (CSJ) with support from AmplifyChange #SRHR #Safeabortionbill #preventunsafeabortion #TOPbill #maternalhealth

The Mzuzu Youth Leadership summit brought together over 150 young people from various youth clubs and organizations. The summit enabled young people share youth leadership and volunteering experiences, sharing ideas on how we are addressing different social issues in our communities. Our team member Misheck Gondwe was among the panelists sharing more insights on the same. We also had other fun activities like songs, poems, dances, chess games, Video games as a way of celebrating our achievements. Thank you CIVE YOUTH for organising this event and all partners that came through. #youthleadership #volunteerism

The Mzuzu Youth Leadership summit brought together over 150 young people from various youth clubs and organizations. The summit enabled young people share youth leadership and volunteering experiences, sharing ideas on how we are addressing different social issues in our communities. Our team member Misheck Gondwe was among the panelists sharing more insights on the same. We also had other fun activities like songs, poems, dances, chess games, Video games as a way of celebrating our achievements. Thank you CIVE YOUTH for organising this event and all partners that came through. #youthleadership #volunteerism

We organised another eSports and video gaming tournament during the Mzuzu Youth Leadership summit we participated during the weekend which was held at Grand Palace hotel. We awarded 3 outstanding winners namely Glory, Haleema and Palesa who demonstrated their capabilities in playing the games. The winners walked away with medals and cash prizes. We are committed to promoting participation of girls in eSports and video gaming, a space dominated by men, as a way of advancing gender justice. We plan to host more tournaments to enable girls express their capabilities in the space and enable them participate in national and international tournaments. A courtesy of Onside Gaming Fund under Women Win and our our implementing partner Rise Together . #esportsgaming #esports #videogames

We have completed the 3 days training to Chisomo beefarming club members, equipping them with knowledge and skills in beekeeping techniques, harvesting, processing using the honey press, sieves, honey tank and thereafter packaging and branding ready for market. We expect increased quantity of honey to be harvested and processed by the group by December 2024 as we supplied them with additional 40 beehives from their initial 10 hives they had when starting the group in 2021. Much appreciation to our funding partner Mudzi Connect for making this project a success, club members for their cash and In kind contribution and also Extra Mile team for successfully coordinating the project. Nkhatabay #beefarming #beekeeper #womenentrepreneurs #womenempowement #naturalhoney #honeyprocessing

The honey processing unit for Chisomo Beefarming club in Nkhata Bay is completely done and handed over to the group ready for use. The 5 roomed structure will help the members process the honey hygienically and package ready for sale. We also provided the group with equipment to process honey, packaging materials and also bee hives and beesuits. Looking forward to increasing their production level and income sales which will improve the livelihoods of the female headed and poor households. Much thanks to Mudzi Connect for their financial support and the club members for their cash and In kind contribution and also Extra Mile team for coordinating the project successfully. #beefarming #honeyprocessing #naturalhoney #womenempowement #womenentrepreneurs