Malawian orphan succeeds against all odds

Nicola Taylor • July 24, 2019

Another JTS / KASFA Partnership Success Story

This is Mac Milan Mwafulilwa. He is a double orphan who has been brought up by a disabled sister. Due to this, he had no prospects in life, both have had to struggle through most of their lives supporting each other and raising their younger brother. He was destined to a life of poverty on the streets. This would have been tragic as Mac Millan had so much potential, he was a bright boy who wanted to create a brighter future for himself, his sister and his younger brother. He worked hard and was determined to be the best that he could be and it was this determination that changed his life.

JTS buy the award winning Kilombero rice from KASFA (Kaporo Smallholder Farmer Association) in Northern Malawi. We have worked closely with them for the past 10 years and have set up a bursars fund for children just like Mac Millan who have no family to support him or pay for his education. KASFA saw the potential in Mac Millan and have supported him all the way through secondary school and college. They sent him to a technical college to study Electrical Installation, he has now just completed his level one course and come out with a grade 1 trade test.

Mac Millan now wants to be an electrician in the local villages as his way of giving back to the community of farmers who helped him and his sister throughout these past few years.

If you want to be a part of helping children in a similar situation to MacMillan, you can do so by:

Giving to the JTS fund
Buying Kilombero rice from JTS ( shop online)
Undertaking the 90kg Rice Challenge which gives rice farmers enough of a sustainable income to enable them to send their child to secondary school for a year.

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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.