Sensitisation Workshops

Over the last six weeks or so we have been holding sensitisation workshops in the area within a 5 km radius of the Edinburgh Girls School.  The purpose is to engage the local community in the proposed developments we want to bring to the area.
The workshops were intended to raise awareness and understanding of what development means - it is a hand up and not a hand out and the people have to be involved and the develpoment proposals must fit in with what they want for their area. 



Workshop at Engcongolweni

 We got off to a good start with almost 100 people turning up for the first meeting which was held at Engcongolweni with the Inkosana and the village chiefs in attendance - this was important to give credence to the meetings. We followed up with similar meetings in Chisangano and Enthongeni.

The Chief reporting on his group discussion

At each meeting the facilitator first introduced the days events, held a tutorial session then sent the participants off in groups to discuss their needs and come back for a plenary session. Everyone took part and the resluts were very positive and encouraging.


Each village has it's own Village Development Committee (VDC) but it was part ot the programme that they were encouraged to form one committee to oversee the developments within the 5 km radius and to unite them rather than having them pulling against each other.  At the end of the workshops it was becoming obvious that we were achieving our aims.


It was then agreed that all future meetings would be held in the new classrooms of the Edinburgh Girls High School and this is now the focal point.  We suggested a meeting for Training and Advocacy to be held at the school and asked for 200 representatives from each of the VDC's.  We were delighted on the day to have almost 40 people in attendance.


1st use of the new class room

 Our new classroom was an ideal venue and we were happy to be able to make use of the premises.






This was a morning session and at the end of the morning it was agreed that a committee would be formed with representatives from each of the VDC's.  This committee will attend all future meetings and report back to their respective villages.

Training in progress

Question and answer session

The proposed projects are goat and pig farming and tailoring classes.  These will be income generating activities and eventually the groups will be encouraged to set up working co-operatives.

The programme has been drawn up for the small scale livestock projects and sessions will begin next week and continue over the next two months.  Farmers will be indentified for goats and for pigs and will be trained in feeding and caring methods.  Suitable secure pens for the animals built in preparation for the handover of the livestock which will take place in March next year.

The staff house is now completed and with the onset of the rainy season construction work has come to a  halt.  We have been on the receiving end of some very generous funding from Singapore and will be in a position to continue with construction once the rainy season is over - around April next year.  We have sold the Trust vehicle which served us well for the past four years but with a mileage of over 300,000kms it was considered time to look for something else.  So we are now scouring the markets for a suitable vehicle.

The Trust office in Mzuzu is now closed for the Christmas holidays and I'm taking what I think is a well deserved break and returning to Scotland for 9 weeks.  I know the weather has been extremely cold with heavy snowfalls so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there are no airport closures next week and I reach home safely.

To all out followers we wish you a Happy Christmas and all the Best for 2011................Blogs will be back next year but for now follow us on on The Chesney Trust Facebook page and join us if you haven't already!