Malawi

Laying the Foundations for Lifelong Learning at ACF Nursery School

The most important investments are not always the largest or most complex. Sometimes they begin in a small classroom, with young children, a couple dedicated teachers, and the belief that every child deserves the strongest possible start in life. Each morning, 80 young learners walk through the doors of the ACF nursery school. They arriveContinue reading “Laying the Foundations for Lifelong Learning at ACF Nursery School”

The Heart of ACF: Why the Farm Shop Matters

At Agricultural Community Foundation (ACF), the farm shop is more than a place to buy food. It is where our work comes full circle — from the soil, through member’s hands, and back into the community. The shelves are stocked with fresh vegetables and fruits, eggs, and milk — all produced through ACF projects. WeContinue reading “The Heart of ACF: Why the Farm Shop Matters”

Scotland’s First Minister Meets ACF & SAM

Strengthening Partnerships for Malawi’s Economic Future Last month, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney met with representatives from the African Lakes Company (ALC), Agricultural Community Foundation (ACF) and Saint Andrews Macadamia (SAM) at Mandala House, one of Blantyre’s most historic landmarks. Built in the early 20th century, Mandala House has long served as a cultural crossroadsContinue reading “Scotland’s First Minister Meets ACF & SAM”

Planting Beans and Sweet Potatoes for Healthy Soil

At the Agricultural Community Foundation, sustainability and empowerment go hand in hand. This past rainy season, our team planted beans and sweet potatoes across our micro-farm. These crops are doing more than filling fields—they are laying the groundwork for a flourishing vegetable garden in the coming spring while advancing our mission to uplift women inContinue reading “Planting Beans and Sweet Potatoes for Healthy Soil”

Brewing Prosperity at ACF

In the heart of Southern Africa, Malawi’s rich red soils and temperate highlands are proving fertile ground for more than just maize and tobacco. A quiet revolution is taking root—coffee cultivation—and the Agricultural Community Foundation (ACF) is hoping to be apart of it. Why Coffee? Why Malawi? Malawi, known as “the Warm Heart of Africa,”Continue reading “Brewing Prosperity at ACF”

Welcoming Cows to ACF

The ACF family is growing with the addition of dairy cows to the farm. ACF’s dairy project is designed to give members first hand training and experience caring for cattle and producing milk that will be sold in the farm shop and supply the nursery school’s morning meals. Sales from the milk will be investedContinue reading “Welcoming Cows to ACF”

Graduation Day

Last month ACF saw 24 students graduate from its nursery school. The graduates will attend primary school in September with a head start knowing their letters, numbers and some english . Currently, there are 78 students, aged three to five, at ACF’s nursery school. Students receive daily breakfast and lessons. Starting as a small farmContinue reading “Graduation Day”

One year of ACF

It’s been an eventful first year at ACF. Our few acres have been busy with construction work, planting and planning. As we build ACF from the ground up our core team of five women have developed new ideas and projects. Finishing touches are being made to our farm shop, office and meeting room. As wellContinue reading “One year of ACF”

Adding some spice to the garden

ACF’s garden has been thriving with two harvests of juicy tomatoes, onions, cabbages and rape. These vegetables are staples in Malawian diets. The harvests were quick to sell on the farm but at low value. Most of ACF members have been growing these vegetables since they were children. To increase ACF’s revenue through its vegetableContinue reading “Adding some spice to the garden”

First Honey Harvest

ACF was a buzz with its first honey harvest this week. None of ACF’s members had worked with bees before, so the process of setting up the hives, working with the bees and harvesting honey was a huge learning curve for us all. Through a series of trainings ACF learnt each step of beekeeping. Finally,Continue reading “First Honey Harvest”