Rural Leaders ― a Travel Log Vol. 20

A journey to meet ARI graduates in Zambia & Malawi, 2024

We are sharing with you a series of travel logs written by ARI staff member Steven, who visited Africa in August.
In this log, we would like to share with you the activities of ARI graduates who gathered at the conference. Although I am sure that behind the great deeds described, there were dozens of times more hardships hidden, I feel that the learning at ARI is indeed contributing to improving the lives of people in the community.
Let’s get started on our trip to Africa!

【An African journey to visit ARI graduates, Day 20-23 Part 2】

AFARI ARI Graduate Convening
The American Friends of ARI (AFARI) organized a convening of ARI graduates in tandem with the conference. In this way graduates could benefit from the resources of symposium and also learn, share and just get to know each other. Three participants of the AFARI Tarr Fellowship program were flown in – Saidath “Sailove” Murorunkwere (2020) from Rwanda, Patrick Kullie (2019) from Liberia, and Mambud Samai (2018) from Sierra Leone. Graduates in the region were also welcomed, with AFARI paying for the conference fees, lodging, and meals, while they managed their own transportation costs. Two joined from Zambia, John Nyondo (1983 / 1993 TA) and Judy Daka (2001). This is the couple that kindly drove us the height and width of their country just a week before. There were another six from Malawi – Venitta Kaduya (Veh) (2018), Cecilia Mpinga (2016), Ernest Maganga (2014), Enet Nkasikwa (2013), John Chinkhata (2013), and Fr. Njala Banda (MacDonald) (2010 / 2016 TA). John Nday (2010) from the DRC (but working in Mozambique) also signed up, but couldn’t make it because of visa delays. From outside of Africa there were Sherry DeLeon AFARI staff, Bev Abma AFARI board member, and Steven and Kai from ARI. There were 13 of us in total. Sorry for the jumble of complicated names. Don’t worry, there won’t be a test.

During the days we attended conference events, and in the evenings, met for discussion. This was AFARI’s second Graduate Convening (I think), and the first one I was a part of. I really appreciated the atmosphere of this gathering as it meshes perfectly and the goals of my work in graduate outreach which are “Bringing the ARI Family Together,” and “Building a Global Community of Learning.”

A few updates from a few ARI Graduates
Here I will share a few words from a few graduates. This is by no means a complete account of their work and some of it is a repeat from above. It is meant to be a tiny window peep into their lives. Don’t worry, though, if you want to know more, we also have video interviews up and coming! Yep, I’m gonna become an awesome video editor just for you, and because their amazing stories need to be shared!

Cecilia from Malawi
“If you have a goat, people think you are rich!” I jotted these words down because they enlightened me as to why she chose to start a goat project. By village standards it is a clear action of moving forward economically.

Ernest from Malawi
Ernest works for the Hygiene Village Project (HVP) as a Program Officer, a position to which he was promoted after his ARI training. Unfortunately, we missed seeing his work firsthand, due to cancelling our trip to Blantyre. As indicated by the name, this organization focuses on water sanitation and hygiene under the motto “Everyone forever.”

They introduce eco-san toilets and teach people the hygienic importance of not using anywhere in the bush as a bathroom. I recalled seeing signs around the area saying, “this is an open defecation free zone,” and Ernest said these were placed by HVP. They also dig boreholes to give people access to clean water sources. Many people still get their water directly from rivers, which causes all kinds of health problems. According to the Malawi National Vision, universal access to clean water and education should be available by 2030, and by 2063 every Malawian should have achieved a middle-class standard of living. Ernest noted the challenges of climate change, especially the desertification that is happening all across the country. “Nature is fighting back, now,” he stated, citing the massive destruction of Cyclone Freddy.

“I lead by example. I don’t stand around. I have to get involved.” With these words, Ernest emphasized the importance of the leadership training he got at ARI. Before ARI he would go to a village and perform a needs-based assessment. Essentially, he would go in and tell them what to do. Now, he sits with the villagers to analyze the problems, hear what they think, and develop a plan together. By this method, the people have more ownership of the project. This is the approach of PLA (Participatory Learning and Action) that he learned in Tomoko san（An ARI director）’s class.

“The gap between the people I am leading and me has narrowed,” continued Ernest. “If I just decide, command, and collect reports, the people don’t own the project. The leadership approach of ARI brings oneness of achievement, when we plan and work together. I am even influencing the top management to lead in this way, and it is gradually sinking in.”

Enet from Malawi
After ARI, Enet became a full-time farmer, supported by her husband and the whole family. Through farming, she can raise her family and spread her knowledge through the community.

Judy from Zambia
Judy trained “home based care workers” to administer TB pills to community members who had contracted TB. The reason for this is because, even if given medicine, people often won’t take it. Because of the work of these volunteer health workers, there is now no TB in the community!

John from Malawi
After hearing Judy’s TB achievement, John was excited to share his. When he was still with the Hygiene Village Project, he went to a place near Lake Malawi that had a high rate of cholera. After working with them to build latrines and drill boreholes there was not a single new cholera case. He repeated the same scenario in another area with 78 villages!

Mambud from Sierra Leone
Mambud’s Farming on Crutches program has reached 350 amputees around the country. Recently they had a comprehensive training session for 60 amputee farmers. The amputee football team he started about 20 years ago, called SLASA (Single Leg Amputee Sports Association), was the first amputee football team in all of Africa! They compete internationally and were even invited to an exhibition event at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Sailove from Rwanda
Sailove shared about her one chicken per child project which is modeled after a national program called One Cow per Family. She wanted to do something for children because “my childhood was not good.” She was orphaned during the genocide killing spree and after that she never smiled and rarely talked, due to the trauma. Seeing her now, you would never know this side of her. Hardly a moment can pass in her presence without seeing a smile.

The children are each given a chicken and an avocado tree to care for, with a goal of nurturing leaders for tomorrow. Any child can participate regardless of religion or tribal affiliation. “There is no discrimination,” says Sailove, placing great emphasis on that point. So far 100 children have been provided with chickens and avocado trees. This whole idea was initiated by Sailove, and her organization has been a big support.

On Saturdays 500 kids gather to learn farming, arts and crafts, and do bible studies. Sailove herself is Muslim but the organization she works in has a Christian basis. This program is meant to help keep kids, especially girls, in school rather than going to get married at a very young age.

“When I came back from ARI, I started to think big. My eyes were opened.” Sailove also started a reusable sanitary pad project. Using cotton fiber from banana fiber, they make washable sanitary pads that are much cheaper than disposable ones in the market and can be used for two years. This idea came from sanitary pad class she had at ARI.

She also excitedly spoke of starting organic farming and teaching her colleagues and community how to do composting. “Thank you, ARI, that I became an organic farmer.”

Patrick from Liberia
Patrick explained that before he went to ARI, he was a teacher inside the classroom, but after ARI he went outside to teach hands-on with the kids. His first project was called “farming for education” in which he taught children how to grow small gardens to raise money for school fees. This later inspired the raised bed nurseries he presented about.

With money from the Tarr Fellowship he is starting vocational training for women and was able to buy an addition six sewing machines to add to the three they already had. He is also teaching them casava and vegetable production.

Written by Steven Cutting (Graduate Outreach Coordinator)
Travelling with Kai Shinoda (Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator)

Click here to read the series of articles

Vol.0 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Prologue】

Vol.1 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 1-2】

Vol.2 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 3】

Vol.3 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 4】

Vol.4 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 5】

Vol.5 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 6】

Vol.6 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 7】

Vol.7 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 8】

Vol.8 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 9】

Vol.9 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 10】

Vol.10 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 11】

Vol.11 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 12】