Seeds for Malawi – A Brief History
The table shows contributions to AAA-Malawi from the SSI Garden Club between 2003 and September 2010; the activities funded each year; and estimated annual beneficiaries (excluding the beneficiaries of emergency food aid funded during the famine in 2005/06).)
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 Young beneficiary with squash field  Project volunteers Delirah Phiri and Gilda Muntahali |
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A Brief History and Description
Mary Bomford
In February 2003 the Salt Spring Island Garden Club approved a proposal to raise $500 to support AIDS widows and orphans living in an isolated rural area of Malawi to grow their own food. This grass-roots initiative arose from personal contacts between Larry and Mary Bomford of Victoria and Teddy Phiri, a professor of community development at the university in Mzuzu, through their work on a rural development project in Malawi.
At home, the Bomfords were involved in the Victoria-based African AIDS Angels which, in 2002, agreed to raise funds to assist AIDS widows in Malawi with food sustainability; meanwhile Teddy Phiri organized a group of volunteers to create the AAA-Malawi project. Susan Evans, a SSI Garden Club member and a friend of the Bomfords, learned of the project with its focus on food gardens, and proposed that the Club join in this fundraising. From this modest beginning, the Garden Club’s S4M project has sent $84,000.00 to Malawi over the past 8 years to fund a range of activities.
The project is run by volunteers in Malawi and in Canada. Our African partners in AAA-Malawi are Teddy & Delirah Phiri, and Gilda & Vincent Munthali. They decide on project activities and capacity, making a budget proposal annually. AAA-Victoria is the society through which we send our money to the project; Mary Bomford is their Board liaison with AAA-Malawi.
Students and teachers with Peggy Frank of Victoria's Positively Africa - January 2010
AAA-Malawi Activities In Africa
Seeds, fertilizers and hand tools provided to AIDS-impacted households are used by them to grow maize, beans, pumpkins, Irish potatoes, cabbages and fruit – all staple crops for food sustainability. The average household is estimated to include six people.
In 2005/06, after receiving a special donation from the Salt Spring Island Apple Festival earmarked for education, S4M started to fund school fees, beginning with 5 poor secondary school students. The next project year, Steering Committee member Josie Lake committed to support 15 students annually, and she continues to do so to this day. The Apple Festival also provides an annual donation of at least $500 for education.
For three years (2006/09), S4M funded a pilot agricultural training project for youth no longer in school which enabled them to earn a living and help their households by producing food. The project had some real successes, but our volunteer partners in Malawi found that the youth required more supervision than they could offer.
From time to time as funds permit, S4M donates to other grass-roots projects in Africa that are in some way connected to Salt Spring Island, usually related to food security.
Seeds for Malawi activities in British Columbia
Because this is a “brief history”, all of the creative fundraising initiatives of the past eight years can’t be included.
S4M Mill Bay Chapter: (l - r) Barb Kohlman, Sharon Martin, Ali Morris, Elaine Scott
Plant and seed sales are a core activity requiring many volunteer hours. A cadre of dedicated Salt Spring gardeners maintains a large inventory of plants (Plant List Salt Spring), diversified by generous donations of interesting plants from Carol Dancer of Victoria. These are for sale year round by appointment, and at Spring and Fall public plant sales. We are blessed to have a “Mill Bay Chapter” which holds an annual plant sale on the last Saturday of April in addition to offering year-round sales by appointment (Plant List Mill Bay). On many occasions island gardeners have opened their gardens to visitors as a fundraiser, and many other garden clubs have thus supported the project over the years.
Artisan creations are another thrust of our fundraising. Angels, art cards, garden spirits, wall dolls, knitting, sewing, basketry and art prints are just some of the items made and donated by S4M supporters. The peak event is the Fulford Christmas Craft Fair, but some of our wares are available through our Gift Catalogue, at the SOLID Exchange store in Ganges, and at community events.
We thrive on our wonderful collaborations with other community groups. The SSI Weavers’ and Spinners’ Guild has twice held fashion shows to raise money for S4M. We deeply appreciate the opportunity to offer our merchandise through the SOLID Exchange, and the consistent generous support of the SSI Apple Festival.
Private donations and sustaining donors also feature importantly in our fundraising. And the Salt Spring Island Garden Club supports the project in countless ways.
Peter Kepkay
Vera Algoet
The establishment of a S4M website is opening up new avenues for fundraising and for sharing stories about the Malawi project and its people. Launched in late 2009 with the help and encouragement of supporter Peter Kepkay of Vancouver, we are delighted to welcome the volunteer services of web developer Vera Algoet of Salt Spring to the day-to-day management of the website.
The S4M Steering Committee (l-r) Joyce Prothero, Donna Cochran, Elna Gravelle, Susan Evans, Venu Fitzgerald, Margaret Munk, Juliette Laing. Absent: Elaine Scott, Josie Lake, Susan Dann
A profound thank you to all those contributing to the project, both in Canada and in Malawi.
Prepared by Susan Evans, S4M Coordinator gro.i1329962728walam1329962728rofsd1329962728ees@n1329962728asus1329962728 on behalf of the S4M Steering Committee: Donna Cochran, Susan Dann, Susan Evans, Venu Fitzgerald, Elna Gravelle, Juliette Laing, Josie Lake (Hon.), Margaret Munk, Joyce Prothero, Elaine Scott
Jan. 2011
Thanks for sharing the history of this worthwhile project. It reminds me of the old saying, give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach him how to fish and he can feed his family for a lifetime. I would be happy to post a link to your site on my website.So important for the women in this poorest country to get a chance to improve their lives. I have always loved using your plants and will continue to support your good work.Good luck !