1. Five new small businesses sponsored in Malawi!
Last week, five new entrepreneurs attended a day-long workshop with Small Business Fund local coordinator Canaan Gondwe to plan their new business ventures. Over the course of the day they formed Business Plans and described the roles each family member would play in the business. Help me in welcoming:
Uncle Gly Stationery and Computer Cafe (Read more about rural electrification in Manyamula Village)
Elias Grocery Investment
Emily Zimba Shop (Grocery)
RW Mgenezulu (Grocery)
Austin Maluso Carpenter and Joinery Shop
New business leaders in Manyamula Village, Malawi, received SIA grants this month!
2. Run-raiser
We’re going to write the name of Spirit in Action all over Alameda, CA! When I say “we,” I mean SIA friend Joshua Brooks. 🙂 Joshua is going to trace SIA’s roots (Alameda is where Del lived and our first office was located) and run a solo half-marathon on March 18th to raise money for the SIA Small Business Fund! I hope to have details about how to follow along in real time soon. To contribute to the campaign, click here.
3. Crops threatened in Malawi
“The outbreak of fall armyworms has erupted in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi and follows a crippling El Nino-triggered drought which scorched much of the region last year.” The armyworm caterpillars are attacking the maize corn crop, which is the staple food and is essential to the diet in Malawi. (Read more about the effects of the armyworm in Malawi.)
So far, the crops in Manyamula Village are mostly unaffected. The crops will be harvested in April/May and so we pray that they will be fine until then!
Canaan Gondwe’s crop of “groundnuts” (peanuts) is about read to harvest!
4. Fresh manna
SIA Board Member Barbara Deal sent this to me, remarking how closely it resembles the language that Del used to talking about needing “fresh manna” each day.
“I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day. I do not need my freedom when I’m dead. I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread.”
-Langston Hughes
