Earlier this year Temwa started a variety of projects focusing on people who are living with HIV/AIDS in Usisya. These are being funded by UK based organization, The Joe Franklin Trust, and are part of a nation wide program in Malawi to reduce stigma and discrimination amongst people with HIV and AIDS, as well as helping to providing the necessary skills to improve their quality of life. The projects consisted of horticulture and home based care training sessions.

The horticultural training sessions are primarily designed to promote a healthy balanced diet, but also equip the trainees with the ability to sell any excess produce to generate income for their family. The third and final horticulture training session for people living with HIV/AIDS was conducted in June. The first two sessions focused on vegetable field management and food and nutrition training, whilst the third session concentrated on agri-business. This involves looking at creating business plans, organising and managing a business, marketing and also basic finance and accounting. This module supports the skills already learned if participants want to start selling in local markets.

Part of the PLWA group in their own garden after their training

The primary aim of the earlier modules was to focus on improving nutrition to boost the immune system, which is essential in delaying the progression of HIV into AIDS. A healthy diet is also necessary if the participants are taking Anti-Retroviral drugs (ARVs) as they are basically ineffective if used along with a low nutritional diet. However, if the farmers feel they can produce more than enough good food for themselves and their family then they can use their new skills as an income-generating activity.

Training participants harvest the spoils of their labour

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