My skills are helping to improve people’s lives

"Isaac Mwakafira of Mategula village T/A Mlumbe Zomba. He is the second born in a family of 3. Isaac is 25 years old. He has 3 half-brothers and 3 half-sisters making him the 9th to the extended family.

Isaac is one of our stove builders. He loves his job because his skills are helping to improve people’s lives. The burn injuries caused by the old Mafuwa (three stone) way of cooking are now a thing of the past and food is cleaner with the new stove (with the old method ash would blow into the food). He is happy that those who couldn’t access the stoves are now having it for free and as a result it is helping the environment.

Isaac says the project has improved his life as an individual because he can now help his single mother by contributing to his mother’s farm garden, settling her debts and bringing food to the table. In the past they could have one meal per day and his sister could go to school on an empty stomach but all this has changed because of him getting a job with MPS Malawi. Isaac used to sleep on a mat but now he has managed to buy a bed, mattress and chairs for his small hut. To him this is a great achievement.

He also commented on his healthy life saying that now he looks hygienic because he is well dressed and eating well.

Recently, Isaac has been helping his brother to build their mother’s house and after this he plans to build one of his own.

Isaac is also a good Samaritan because sometimes he buys a carton of soap and shares it with the neighbourhood in his village.