In the UK, we are increasingly concerned about our carbon footprint, of the impact our reliance on burning fossil fuels and sending waste to landfill is having on the environment. A number of sustainable technologies are now emerging, and we can use them to generate ‘green’ energy whilst protecting the environment.
Over in the poorest regions of Malawi – in which the charitable organisation The Lifeline Fund has set up camp – the focus is more on the cheapest, most cost-effective ways to do things rather than the most environmentally friendly. However, the Lifeline Fund and their use of sustainable technology in Malawi has shown that it is possible to do both.
Case study: the Namisu orphan village
Of all the Lifeline Fund’s charitable development projects in Malawi, the Namisu orphan village is the one that has made the most progress. Orphaned children are housed, clothed, fed and educated, as well as receiving safe, clean water to drink.
The village is so advanced that it has its own farming system so that the villagers can grow their own food and become more self-sufficient. Thanks to the efforts of Lifeline Fund partners and fundraisers, the Namisu farms now benefit from a solar powered irrigation system and windpump. This helps crops to grow better and increases the yield at harvest time, all of which saves money whilst also being eco-friendly.
