FROM ORPHAN TO NURSE

Nicola Taylor • January 17, 2019

How Kilombero Rice is Changing Lives in Malawi

Violet Favour Msukwa was born in 1993 and, against all odds, is well on her way to fulfilling her lifetime dream of becoming a qualified nurse. She is Howard Msukwa’s eldest neice. Some of you may have met Howard, the smallholder farmer from Northern Malawi when he was over with Webster in September last year. They toured the country doing talks about Kilombero Rice, climate change, and life in Malawi.

Violet’s mother Beatrice, who was teacher by profession, passed away in October 1998 and her father Paul, an orthopedical clinician by profession, passed away in 2004.

Violet has two brothers Dickson and Paul Junior and life became very difficult for them at this pivotal stage in their lives when they became orphans. In Malawi, Violet would usually be expected to take on the role as mother to her younger brothers, however, this would mean giving up any chance of achieving her dream of becoming a nurse. Instead, she would have to try and earn a living to support herself and her brothers.

Thankfully Violet’s Uncle Howard took the three children into his home and became their guardian. As Howard is a smallholder farmer and a member of KASFA, his niece qualified for educational support from JTS. This is the only reason she has gotten through her nursing course. As a result, after completing secondary school, Violet joined St John of God College of Health Sciences. She is only one month away from completing her nursing course. Dickson is now a second year student at university of Malawi studying Agronomy while Paul is still in secondary school.

“As a smallholder farmer I couldn't have managed to pay for her education and support her and she would have ended up rotting in the village like so many others” explains Howard, and this is the harsh reality for many young people in Malawi. Paul Tofield of Dumfries, who has an interest in agriculture both at home and in Malawi and is a great supporter of fair trade and, is now paying for Dickson's degree in Agronomy so that he can improve the farming methods used in his village. When he completes his degree, he will be able to teach others how to improve the soil and seeds on their farms to help increase the productivity and quality of their harvests.

This family is just one example of the impact your donations can make through KASFA.

WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO ARE SUPPORTING US AND FOR PLAYING YOUR PART IN CREATING A BRIGHTER FUTURE

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A woman standing at church fair trade stall with lots of delicious fair trade products available

How to Run a True Origin Fair Trade Stall at Your Church

By Nicola Taylor • July 3, 2026

A Fair Trade stall is about so much more than selling tea, coffee and chocolate. Every purchase supports smallholder farmers and producers who are working incredibly hard to build sustainable livelihoods in the face of climate change, rising fuel costs and an unpredictable global market. For many of the communities we work with, having reliable customers is essential. By running a True Origin stall at your church, you become part of that support network, helping to create regular demand for products that often aren't available in supermarkets or high street shops. Whether your church is passionate about global justice, caring for creation or simply making a practical difference, a Fair Trade stall is a simple but powerful way to turn those values into action. Start Small You don't need a huge team or a large budget to get started. Begin by talking with your church leaders about the idea. Many churches are happy to provide a small loan or donation to purchase initial stock, particularly if it can be repaid gradually as sales grow. Remember that most of the income from a stall is best reinvested into buying more stock rather than raising money for church funds. This helps keep the stall sustainable and ensures producers continue to receive orders. If you're new to running a stall, don't worry, you won't be on your own. The True Origin team and experienced Fair Traders are always happy to share advice and practical tips.