Anike Foundation Helps Mtende Homecraft Foundation Secure Grant For Food Production Training & Equipment In Malawi

While Malawi is a country rich in culture, people, and beautiful landscapes, it is also among the world’s least developed countries. With the majority of the population living in rural areas, many communities need support to alleviate poverty.

A village in Malawi

Anike Foundation helped Mtende Homecraft Foundation secure a grant from Friends of Malawi to purchase six pieces of bakery equipment and training materials for use in its Food Production and Catering Training Program.

What is Mtende Homecraft Foundation?

Mtende’s premises

Based in Livingstonia (in the Northern Region district of Rumphi in Malawi), Mtende Homecraft Foundation is a nonprofit, non-government organization (NGO) that supports and improves the livelihood of vulnerable people in their community. With a focus on women, children and youth, their intervention programs include education, environmental management, health and HIV/AIDS, women and youth economic empowerment, and water and sanitation. And their reach is vast! Working in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA), and other stakeholders, Mtende Homecraft Foundation operates the Mtende Community Vocational and Entrepreneurship Project, a community training center for youth and women to acquire entrepreneurship skills and knowledge for job creation and sustainable business management. The center provides training in tailoring and fashion design, knitting, food production, carpentry and brick layering.

Project Achievements

Mtende’s training center offers a Food Production and Catering Training Program where 23 students currently learn food processing and catering services. Students produce baked goods that are sold at the center for the community. The profits of these sales help support the program. 

The Friends of Malawi grant allowed Mtende to upgrade its equipment with the addition of a solid hob, built-in oven, 2 food processors, hand mixer and microwave oven. This equipment will increase the efficiency of food production and catering services and allow 55 additional students who have indicated an interest in receiving training in food production to participate.

Women packaging peanut butter

This Mtende Homecraft Foundation Project offers both nourishment and employment opportunities to participants, their families, and their community members.

Long-Term Impact

The funds from Friends of Malawi helped Mtende Homecraft Foundation to upgrade and add to its equipment. This will allow more students to participate in the center’s Food Production and Catering Training Program. With growing interest, this project has an opportunity to flourish and enable aspiring caterers to obtain employment, gain economic independence, and support their families.

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