Climate shocks, including droughts, floods, and storms, strongly impact livelihoods and food security in Malawi. In 2024, eating was a daily struggle for over 9 million Malawians owing to El Niño, a climate pattern which brought parching droughts, destroying millions of acres of crops.
Engaging young people in sustainable farming methods is crucial for addressing the challenges of food security in Malawi and two formidable volunteers are helping to make this a reality.
Meet Mary
Mary has been volunteering with VSO for over two years and has extensive knowledge on diversity, inclusion, equity, social justice, accountability, and youth participation. She has applied this knowledge to the ACTIVE project, where she trains young farmers on agriculture in Malawi’s northern region through school and community engagement.
Malawi is one of the youngest countries in the world, with over 51% of Malawi’s population 18 years or younger.1 However, Malawi’s youthful farming population encounters significant hurdles.
Although sometimes they have access to free land, young people may lack agricultural skills and knowledge. They’re also often excluded from decision-making. “Before this VSO project, young people in my community had no voice in community challenges or in leadership roles in Area Development Committees that implement projects. The committees were dominated by elders who made decisions without youth input,” Mary explains.
As a volunteer, Mary ensures that young farmers aren’t relegated to the background by “engaging local leaders, young people, and religious leaders to promote an understanding of youth inclusion.”
“I organise meetings between 22 different youth clubs and conduct training in agroforestry,” says Mary.
Agroforestry is the integration of trees and shrubs into farming systems. This practice offers a host of benefits, including improving soil health and reducing soil erosion. This helps to increase crop yields and protects farmers against poor harvests during incidents like El Niño.
Before this VSO project, young people in my community had no voice in community challenges or in leadership roles in Area Development Committees that implement projects. The committees were dominated by elders who made decisions without youth input”MaryVSO Volunteer in Malawi
“Inflation makes artificial fertilisers expensive and harmful to soil and the environment, so I also encourage people to use chemical-free fertilisers,” Mary tells us.
In addition Mary helps to promote youth entrepreneurship by training young people on how to save and start their own businesses. Since the project’s inception, Mary has mentored 20 young entrepreneurs who have gone on to set up their own businesses. To date, 70% of them are financially self-reliant.
Meet Amina
Amina is another volunteer on the same project. She first learnt about VSO in 2019 when she was volunteering at another youth-led organisation.
“It was the trust VSO placed in me to lead others that drew me in. Learning about VSO’s commitment to sustainable development and community empowerment strongly resonated with my values and goals. This made me even more eager to join the organisation,” explains Amina.
For Amina, VSO is different from other organisations. “VSO emphasises working with local communities, ensuring culturally relevant and effective projects. Unlike some organisations that phase out projects and leave communities behind, VSO maintains ongoing involvement,” she tells us.
“Volunteering is crucial because it directly addresses local needs, improving community well-being and services. It fosters civic engagement and makes us more aware of social issues, prompting us to find solutions. On a personal level, volunteering builds valuable experiences, enhancing skills, confidence, and personal development,” Amina says.
As a community volunteer, Amina is involved in climate action and poverty alleviation. She acts as a focal point by bridging the gap between the VSO offices, community members, and youth clubs.
Volunteering is crucial because it directly addresses local needs, improving community well-being and services. It fosters civic engagement and makes us more aware of social issues, prompting us to find solutions.”AminaVSO Volunteer in Malawi
“My day usually begins with preparing materials for training sessions or monitoring visits with youth clubs. Before a training, I hold a meeting with the youth club leaders to review objectives and engage participants.
"On monitoring and evaluation days, I meet with youth clubs, discuss their challenges and achievements, and visit their projects—whether in irrigation farming, forestry, or other areas. I observe their progress firsthand, record data, and set a date for the next visit. I also prepare a report, ensuring that all activities are well-documented,” Amina explains.
Irrigation farming uses pipes and sprinklers to water crops. This is important as it can help plants thrive in arid conditions and during drought.
Meet Margaret
One community member who has reaped the benefits of irrigation farming is Margaret. Margaret has been supported by both Amina and Mary.
Margaret, a 23-year-old woman, started working with VSO two years ago. Through the irrigation farming initiatives, she started saving through the Village Savings Loan Association (VSLA). VSLAs are small, member-run microfinancing groups enabling those living in poverty to build savings, take out loans at low interest rates, and receive financial education.
“Because of her savings from the VSLA, eventually, she opened her own grocery store and is now independent. Recently, she shared that she’s planning to build a house and has already purchased 40 iron sheets. It’s a powerful example of impact,” Amina tells us.
Mary has also worked with Maragret and, like Amina, finds this success story very rewarding, adding,
“It’s a very big accomplishment from my side because I’m seeing the impact happening on the ground. It started from zero to planning on building a house.”
The best parts of volunteering
The experience has been rewarding for both volunteers. Mary feels this project has significantly contributed to her individual growth.
“I’ve learnt all about leadership and cross-cultural communication skills. Previously, I wasn’t actually associating with diverse people from diverse cultures. Now, I’ve actually had the chance to know what other people are going through and learn from them. I’ve become more resilient and adaptable,” says Mary.
Amina expresses similar sentiments and also mentions that this volunteering opportunity has enabled her to strengthen her advocacy skills and develop her confidence as a leader.
For anyone considering volunteering, Mary recommends that, “they embrace the experience. It’s very transformative and offers a unique opportunity to grow while making a difference.” She also stresses the importance of being open-minded, flexible and adaptable.
Amina adds that it’s also important to reflect on why you want to volunteer as knowing your reasons will keep you committed.
Hopes for the future
Amina hopes that she can progress from a volunteer role to a more permanent role so she can continue building on her skills and experience. She also wants to mentor new volunteers by sharing her knowledge to inspire and guide them.
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