Above 50 percent of Malawians are living in extreme poverty and that poverty has been credited to many factors; climate change and its effects being the prominent. Being a country in extreme poverty ranked number 8 poorest country in the word and one of Africa’s smallest nations, Malawi’s economy—largely dependent upon rain-fed crops—remains vulnerable to weather-related shocks. Food insecurity in rural parts is extremely high while Ranked 174 of 189 on Human Development Index. Hunger and malnutrition prevents learners from getting quality education as the abscond classes due to hunger, food insecurity related diseases or even in order to look for the next meal. Even the vegetables are expensive once rain season is over. This is why Green Sounds promote back yard garden.

Back yard garden initiative trains students in secondary schools and learners at primary schools to have gardens in the home back yard. This initiative was piloted at Mponela CDSS and yielded positive feedback as it:

  • Saves the money that could used for buying vegetables and use it for something else for instance buying writing materials
  • Save time as students don’t travel distance to go to the market to buy the vegetables. As the result the time is used for studying purposes
  • Improves the nutrition of learners and other people in their homes. This reduces absenteeism
  • Improves air recycling which enable learners in their homes to refresh, think and focus
  • Its a form of Reuse which is waste management. The sacks and plastic basins which are used could have polluted their environment
  • Above all also beautifies their homes
Egg plants
Mponela CDSS student in Her Back Yard Garden