Harvest stories

Janet gestures to a pile of muddy bricks, all that’s left of her old house after Cyclone Idai swept through Malawi in March 2019. Her family lost everything. But hope came from an unusual fruit – and an amazing group of women.

In the massive baobab trees near her home, Janet points out the fruit, high up in the branches. It’s this fruit that’s made all the difference to Janet and her friends in the Makande Women’s Group.

Together, the women have united to create a sustainable, innovative, baobab juice-making business.

Through Christian Aid’s partner, Eagles Relief and Development, the group have received training in business and juice making, sustainable equipment and a low-interest loan.

With the profits from the business, Janet has been able to build a new home; the income gives her and her family resilience against the climate crisis.

She says, ‘The vision I have for my family is that we should no longer be poor’, adding: ‘I want us to be a family that will inspire others.’

This Harvest, unite with more people like Janet to find a way out of poverty and protection from the climate crisis.

A church collection could help our sisters join together to:

• access start up money
• train them in the skills they need to run a business
• access sustainable energy