Help us to create a sustainable and self-sufficient farm near Zomba, Malawi

Details

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  Description

  Hello friends,
  I'm so excited to share what we can offer you here at our place in Malawi, in a rural area called Gologota about 25 minutes drive from Zomba on the Zomba/Blantyre Road.
  
  A working holiday is a fantastic way of travelling and experiencing new cultures while saving money. Our programme offers free accommodation and meals in exchange for about 4 hours of work a day, 5 days a week. Here you can immerse yourselves in the local community by working and interacting with locals on a smallholding farm where we also run a café/bar and events garden. The café/ bar is open daily and generates income for the on-going projects. You will not be required to serve customers or to wait tables but you can get as involved as you would like. At the moment, this is the area that requires the most work as we are currently trying to set up different outdoor seating areas to accommodate the different needs of our clients/ customers. So if you are outdoorsy and are good with DIY, this could be just the thing for you.
  
  We are flexible with the type of work that our Workawayer's engage in depending on what their wants, needs and strengths. We aim to make the whole Workaway experience mutually fulfilling, rewarding and enjoyable. We welcome new, innovative ideas and aim to create an inclusive environment where all people feel welcome, important and needed.
  
  The setting is idyllic with lots of trees and shade, lots of interesting bird-life and frequent visits from the squirrels and monkeys!
  
  This is a social enterprise that offers the opportunity to:
  - Immerse yourself in a setting where the main language is Chichewa (although most people can also speak English) so if you want to learn the language, this is the best place to show case your skills with getting involved in our current and proposed projects:
  1. Re-purposing current buildings into accommodation for our guests
  2. laying out a campsite with potential for glamping options
  3. help to create an on-site gym facility
  4. help tend to our many fruit trees i.e. guava, lemon, mango, apple, plum, peach, mulberry etc.
  5. help to make local jams and preserves for sale in our little cafe (again to generate income).
  6. help to build and create an outdoor 'pagoda' space
  7. help to manage our social media platforms
  8. Yoga/ meditation facilitator/teacher
  9. Solar power to make us more eco-friendly
  
  We have a lot of wood and materials that can be re-purposed and used. So if you feel you can offer your skills
  in helping us achieve any of the above, we would love to welcome you to our little haven.
  
  We also work closely with a local nursery school for 4 and 5 year old children where our Workawayers can volunteer to teach and to engage in arts and crafts projects.
  
  As an occupational therapist, I encourage people of all ages (whether taking a gap year or retired), backgrounds, capabilities, disability, those who are still looking for their purpose in life or even those feeling like life is passing them by to take the plunge and see what a difference your contribution will make.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Elderly Companionship

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Interests

  

  Charity work

  

  Farming

  

  Sustainability

  

  Events & social

  

  Pets

  

  Self development

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Gardening

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Animals

  

  Team sports

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Hiking
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  In this rural environment, you would get the opportunity to experience rural life in Malawi. I speak Chichewa and can help anyone wanting to learn the language and anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the Malawi culture. I enjoy cooking so this is also a good way of enjoying some local cuisine.
  I enjoy doing Yoga and yoga in the woods/outdoors in the early morning is special. This place also offers tranquillity and calm that we call crave from time to time. So if you are facing burn-out or feeling overwhelmed, please do reach out and come away.
  Zomba, the old capital city is only a 25 minute drive away and highly recommended. Zomba is a market town and home to Zomba Plateau and Malape pillars (often compared to the Grand Canyon!) are also in the vicinity.
  Lake Malawi is about a 3 hour drive away and and Mvuu Camp (safari) is about 1.5 hour drive away.
  Majestic Mount Mulanje is about a 2 hour drive away so if you enjoy hiking or just want to admire the mountain from a safe distance Mulanje is definite a must-see sight.
  This is a mutually beneficial arrangement for us and for Workawayers as there are many learning opportunities: to share lived experiences, a beautiful place to heal, to reflect and to feel heard and listened to. This is not just about work but about friendship and sharing.
  We would like for all Workawayers to leave at the end of their visit, knowing that they have made friends for life and knowing that their visit was impactful.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  I am a qualified occupational therapist, currently spending more time in rural Malawi and predominantly live on my own although my children visit from time to time. I currently pay for labour in developing this not-for-profit venture that will create employment for local people in the community and will enhance the livelihoods of the local community.
  
  I am requesting support with developing this project. Your help of working 3-4 hours a day, for 5 days a week in return for free accommodation and 3 meals a day would enable me to achieve this. I am inviting you to help me in the following areas:
  * DIY skills/ building/ general repairs/ improvements of the house, café and events garden
  * I am in the process of setting up a small events garden and café to generate income for the on-going projects
  * Support with social media presence and advertising
  * Animal care - I have several dogs that are always looking for love and attention
  * support with making the smallholding more sustainable and self-sufficient through things like using solar energy etc.
  * support with teaching/ doing art projects at a local nursery school
  * ideas / projects to engage local youth to enhance their livelihoods in the villages

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Chichewa, Chewa, Nyanja: Fluent
  French: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I am bi-lingual (English and Chichewa) and I learnt French as a subject over several years but lack the confidence to speak it. I would be happy to teach Chichewa/English and to learn more French if that were possible.
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  Accommodation

  I have a fully furnished 3-bedroom farmhouse with single and double beds (depending on your needs), one bathroom with shower and bathtub, electricity and a lovely surround veranda on three sides. All beds have mosquito nets and bedside lights.
  I have a fully furnished kitchen with a gas cooker and electric oven. I am flexible with meals so you can cook independently if needed or we can cook together and share. I would just want for you to come and experience rural Malawi, learn a bit of the language and perhaps use this as a base for you to go our and explore Malawi a bit more.
  All Workawayers would be accommodated in the farmhouse in bedrooms with single/ double beds etc.

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  What else ...

  Thondwe market is about a 20 minute walk away but also there are bike taxis if you prefer to be a bit more adventurous. The market offers lots of local produce and local crafts. There is a local church and lots of nice walks in the area. If you prefer to venture further afield, we have a car that we can let you use for a small fee.
  Other local sights:
  Zomba - the market, the plateau and Malape/ Chikala pillars
  Liwonde- a town close to Zomba where you can access Mvuu Camp for a safari
  Mulanje - the home of Mulanje Mountain, the third highest peak in Africa. This is approximately 1.5 hours drive from Gologota

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  I have an office space for people wanting to work on their own online projects whilst staying with us.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We can offer travellers in campervans a parking space and they can use our bathroom facilities if/when required.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  We can accept cats and dogs

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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