Sustainable development starts locally
An integrated poultry and education project strengthens food security, income, and knowledge.
In Mlale, a predominantly rural region in Malawi, the Erich Wesjohann Foundation has supported the development of a project since 2025 that specifically addresses two key challenges: ensuring food security and creating stable sources of income. The aim is to build resilient local structures that can operate independently in the long term and are sustained by the community itself.
The core of the project is poultry farming, currently with around 450 laying hens. The eggs produced are fully marketed, thereby providing a continuous source of income. At the same time, they make an important contribution to local access to high-quality food. Especially in regions that depend heavily on fluctuating agricultural yields, this type of production offers significantly greater predictability and stability.
The economic component is complemented by a practical education offering. Regularly, up to 20 people participate in trainings where basic knowledge on animal husbandry, hygiene, feeding, and marketing is taught. A key focus here is direct applicability: participants should be able to transfer the knowledge they have gained immediately into their own small structures.
The close integration of practical application and knowledge transfer consistently follows the principle of help for self-help. Local stakeholders are actively involved and increasingly take responsibility for operating and further developing the project.
A weak harvest last year has strained the economic situation of many households and is currently leading to cautious demand. That is why the importance of stable, diversified sources of income that work independently of seasonal fluctuations is all the more evident.
In the long term, the project is intended to be further expanded and strengthened in its structure. The goal is to create a robust system that not only generates income, but also multiplies knowledge and enables sustainable development locally.
