In the heart of rural Malawi, where the rhythms of life are intertwined with the land, stories of resilience and change unfold. Land, often inherited, is a precious resource, yet the pressures of rural poverty can lead to practices that, while providing immediate relief, ultimately harm the environment. For Leswika, a mother of four from the Lwafwa watershed, this reality was all too familiar.
"When I grew up, my mother was the single parent at home. This was a big challenge, because she couldn’t always provide for our basic needs," Leswika shares. Her father had passed away, leaving behind a large piece of land—a legacy, but also a burden. "It was actually a large piece of land. We used the land to build a house and a farm. We started cutting down the trees around the land to start a charcoal business. Admittedly, we had cut down a lot of trees.”
Charcoal production is a common practice in Malawi's rural communities. It offers a quick source of income, crucial for families struggling to make ends meet. However, the widespread harvesting of trees has devastating consequences. Deforestation accelerates soil erosion, contributes to drought, exacerbates climate change, and ultimately undermines the very land that sustains these communities.
Leswika's life took a turning point when her pastor invited her to a training session organized by Plant With Purpose in Lwafwa. The title alone, “Creation and Discipleship: God’s Ownership of Land,” sparked her curiosity. She attended the two-day session, and it proved to be a pivotal experience.
"It was a revelation," Leswika recalls. "That day, I prayed to God about how as a family we could treat the land better. I committed to stop participating in the charcoal business and instead dedicated myself to regenerative farming.” The training shifted her perspective, from viewing the land as simply a family inheritance to understanding it as a sacred gift, entrusted to their care by God.
Plant With Purpose works in communities like Lwafwa, promoting environmental restoration and sustainable agriculture. They understand the complex challenges faced by rural families and offer training and support to empower them to become stewards of their land.
"The training sessions I have attended with Plant With Purpose have been transformative," Leswika explains. "They have taught me to be a better steward of God’s creation, and to serve as an ambassador. I can help educate the community about the importance of creation care and sustainable farming.”
Leswika’s commitment to change extends beyond her own land. She is actively involved in nurturing a woodlot provided by Plant With Purpose to her church, demonstrating her dedication to community-wide transformation. "Plant With Purpose’s presence in the community is a tremendous blessing. I am confident that in a few years, our community will be greatly transformed.”
As a church representative, Leswika plays a vital role in promoting spiritual renewal and practical change within her community. "I am committed to facilitating a mindset shift in the community through farming," she emphasizes. "We can end the charcoal-burning business. Our sustainable farming can contribute to our community’s nutrition and health.” Leswika's story is a testament to the power of education, faith, and community support in creating a more sustainable and prosperous future for rural Malawi.
