Story by Mabvuto Kalawa, Correspondent, Malawi News Network
As part of efforts toward sustainability and self-reliance, the Franciscan Sisters are engaging in livestock rearing to improve the financial and economic status of their convent and empower communities around it.
Speaking to this reporter, the Mother Superior of the convent said they started rearing livestock in order to raise funds for the nursery school located within the convent compound.Mutharika Applauds Lions Club for Transforming Lives Through Humanitarian Work
Sister Priscilla added that they are not only keeping broiler chickens, but also pigs and local chickens.
They are doing this to sustain activities at the convent and reduce dependence on donations and begging from others.
“We also use chicken droppings for manure, which we apply in our vegetable garden,” she said.
“For pigs, we haven’t started slaughtering them yet because they are not enough. However, we use their droppings for manure, which we apply to our maize fields,” she continued.Mutharika proves that he is not hospitalized in South Africa
She said the challenges they face include difficulty finding a market for broilers due to high competition, customers who fail to pay after taking chickens on loan, and the high cost of feed.
On successes, Sister Priscilla narrated that they are happy to supply chicken meat to surrounding communities and to feed their schoolchildren without depending on well-wishers.
“In future we plan to slaughter the pigs, especially the older ones, and sell the meat to communities,” she said.
“We also intend to establish a biogas plant for cooking because charcoal is expensive and it destroys the environment,” she added.
She requested assistance from any companies or institutions that deal in biogas production to help them achieve their goal.Activist Suleman Chitera Fires Strong Warning at HRDC Over ‘Destabilization Agenda’
“We are also planning to start assisting vulnerable communities, especially women, with broiler rearing,” she said.
Apart from rearing pigs and chickens, the Franciscan Sisters also run a fee-paying nursery school.
The Franciscan Sisters are based in Nathenje Parish and Likuni Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe. Their headquarters is in Zambia.
They follow the principles of St. Francis of Assisi of assisting vulnerable and marginalized communities.MEDF Must Break from the Past, Enforce Discipline — Mwanamvekha