Malawi

Context at a glance

Malawi is a country of immense beauty. Mountains mark the fabulous rift valley while Lake Malawi extends for most of its eastern border. Yet, in the midst of this beauty is extreme poverty; the country is among the least developed in the world.

With around 90% of its population living in rural areas, the economy is mostly agricultural. But Malawi depends on substantial international assistance. Three quarters of the population live on less than £1 a day.

Because of this widespread poverty, an estimated four out of five families and their children live in substandard homes. Tragically, they have little hope of ever being able to afford a decent house.

A typical village hut of wattle and daub also has a dirt floor and thatched roof requiring frequent repair. Such awful conditions put families at risk of all kinds of diseases. Leaky roofs make houses damp and mud floors attract insects and intestinal parasites.

Habitat for Humanity Programme

Habitat for Humanity Malawi (HFHM) opened its first community-based office in 1986. Today, 18 affiliates operate across the country - both in urban areas, such as Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu, and rural areas including Kavukura, Mpherembe, Embangweni and Bumbunyika.

HFHM houses are made from kiln-fired clay bricks, glass windows, air vents for good ventilation, a cement tile floor, and a sheet metal roof. Each home has a foundation of large stones, brick or cement, and costs just £1,277 to build. Homes in rural areas are typically 15 x 18 ft and all Habitat houses include a pit latrine to improve sanitation. By offering better homes to families, HFHM helps reduce malaria, respiratory illness, and parasite problems usually found in children under five.

At HFHM, we're proud to take part in several exciting projects. The Home Improvement Loan project was launched in 2002, helping families improve their conditions one step at a time. For example, a family living in a thatch house may receive a small loan for a good roof, better floor, latrine, or doors and windows. Once paid off, families can apply for another loan. The loan periods are short and based on agricultural seasons to make paying for them easier.

Families on particularly low incomes can benefit from HFHM's 'Building in Stages' programme. In stage one, the family builds a house with only two rooms, measuring 4 metres by 5 metres. Once they repay the first loan, they can then apply for another to double the size of the house.

Country Facts

Location: Southern Africa
Climate: Tropical
Population: 12.6 million
Economy: Industries include tea, tobacco, sugar production, sawmill products, cement,
consumer goods
Government: Republic
Religions: Christianity, Islam
Languages: English, Chichewa, Tumbuka, Ngoni, Yao, Lomwe, Sena

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