Communities at Madzanje in the area of Traditional Authority Kwataine in Ntcheu District have applauded Abwenzi a Ana project, being implemented by Save the Children, for equipping them with knowledge on how to effectively run village banks and improve their economic lives.

Chairperson for Madzanje Community Based Development Groups, Biyata Sipiliyano Chimenya, says people have been running village banks for a long time, but they had no significant impact because most members lacked knowledge on how to manage their funds.

She said that before the coming of the Abwenzi a Ana project, they had already been operating village banks for over 10 years, but they had no idea how to multiply their shares.

“So in 2024, when mentors from Save the Children under the Abwenzi a Ana project came into the area, they started teaching us how to properly manage our money by opening bank accounts, how we can borrow the money we are saving, and how to repay the loans,” said Chimenya.

Chimenya added that they are now able to run businesses, buy fertilizer for their farms, and provide for their families, something they could not do before due to lack of knowledge in managing village banks.

Chairperson for Titukulane Group, Blessings Kalitsiro from Kalimwayi Village in the same area, says the modern way of conducting village banks has greatly improved their livelihoods, as they are now able to save money.

Kalitsiro says he now owns a farm and livestock, all acquired from village bank proceeds shared at the end of the year.

However, Kalitsiro says most men do not take part in village banks, as many spend time in drinking places while others are busy with work.

“It is sad to see that only a few men take part in village banks. This is mainly because they are not willing to join us. But they are missing out, because apart from saving money, we also teach each other financial management.

In her remarks, Abwenzi a Ana Project Manager for Save the Children, Esther Gama, says since the start of the project in 2021 in Malawi, they have recorded significant progress in all the areas they are working in within Ntcheu District.

She says the project has several components, including safe families, where families are taught how best to manage their households and children, and child protection, which ensures that children’s rights are upheld and that there are no barriers preventing them from going to school.

She says they are directly working with communities using existing government structures to ensure sustainability when the project comes to an end in 2028.

“We work with existing structures like child protection committees, mother groups, children’s corners, and youth networks. We are confident that the work will continue through these structures,” said Gama.

Abwenzi a Ana project is being implemented by Save the Children in partnership with Youth for Development and Productivity (YODEP) and Future for All in four Traditional Authorities in Ntcheu District, namely Makwangwala, Njolomole, Kwataine, and Champiti.

It started in 2021 and is expected to come to an end in 2028.