30 December 2009

Nkhata Bay, Malawi: During an official mission to Malawi, UNV Deputy Executive Coordinator Naheed Haque visited the Functional Literacy for Integrated Rural Development (FLIRD) programme in Nkhata Bay.  The programme started in 2002 and is a unique approach to social and economic empowerment.  It brings together components of literacy, skills development and income generation.  Twelve UNV volunteers work with the FLIRD programme as Community Exchange Workers in 12 districts around the country, which is implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Community Development.

"The programme has adopted a concept called Regenerated Freirian Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques (Reflect)," says Nkhata Bay FLIRD Coordinator Prince Kaunda. "The villagers now understand a number of development activities, and are working together to improve their livelihoods and deal with HIV/AIDS issues." According to Kaunda, the programme has also cultivated a better understanding of gender issues in people of the area.  Currently, the programme covers 65 villages and is planned to run until 2011.

"In this project, functional literacy is the entry point to improving the quality of life and economic status of beneficiaries.  Through learning how to read and write, people can start income-generating activities," Ms Haque said.  "The spirit of community participation in this development project is commendable, and is, at the end of the day, what we aspire for," added Haque.

UNV programme activities started in Malawi in the early 1980s and since then the focus has mainly been on areas such as grassroots development, agricultural and health training, as well as decentralization processes and development planning.

Currently there are 93 UNV volunteers serving in Malawi and about 40 are under recruitment.  UNV volunteers serving in Malawi work in three major areas of intervention: capacity development in the fields of public health, agriculture and education, support to the decentralization process and socio-economic empowerment.