What's happening...
2026 - Another Year of Impact!
(Nalunga dawn, Malawi.)
Greetings from beautiful Malawi. It has been too long since our last newsletter, and I apologise for the silence. The past year has been one of relentless activity on the ground, and the writing has unfortunately taken a back seat. But I am pleased to finally sit down and share what your support has made possible.
It may sound too simple but "one of the key ways in which we can boost production in rural poultry is simply to stop chickens dying". Well in the past year, we have vaccinated almost half a million chickens against Newcastle disease across four districts. That entailed an estimated 37,000 household visits - each a small step towards getting food on the table and keeping children in school. We also trained 37 new community based vaccinators in Dowa West, adding to the network of local experts who are now protecting flocks in their own and neighbouring villages.
Our Farmer Field School initiative at Chadza is taking shape. The store and incubation room are now at lock-up stage, and we have procured and delivered a 960‑egg incubator to the site. Next week, we will begin training a small group of women in incubation techniques, with the aim of helping them establish micro-businesses that generate income for their families.
None of this would be possible without the continued support of our donors. We are particularly grateful for the Australian Government's support through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), under which we have committed to contribute $1 for every $5 we receive from the Australian government. Your donation will allow us to extend our programs.
We also acknowledge the invaluable ongoing support from Malawi's Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development, whose partnership is essential to our work.
As we look ahead, our immediate priorities are to complete the training unit at Chadza and to continue expanding our vaccination and training programmes into more districts. We are close, but we still need your help.
If you are in a position to give, your donation will go directly towards training more vaccinators, further developing the Farmer Field School initiative, and supporting the production of the I‑2 Newcastle disease vaccine in partnership with the Government of Malawi. You can donate here through our partners at Kyeema in Brisbane, who hold funds on our behalf. Every cent reaches the field.
Thank you for sticking with us, even through the quiet spells. Your trust and generosity are what make this work possible. I will keep in touch.
With much gratitude,
Pat Boland
19 June 2026
