FLEAT Malawi: Sheikh Ismail Amini women's workshop

Sheikh Ismail Amini, a member of our FLEAT (Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training) Malawi group facilitated an Environmental awareness and Youth creativity and innovation programme on

Thursday 17 June where 40 college women participated.  The participants were from areas 46, 36, 8, 47 around Lilongwe City.

The young women are targeted in preparation for an upcoming intensive and applicable training that will cover both women and men from different parts of Central Region, Malawi.

He says:

“Women are given more attention since they are direct stakeholders of environmental conservation. We anticipate to have another orientation for young men who are young Faith Leaders in their communities.

Some of the Central issues were;

• alternative use of paraffin stoves than charcoal
• Recycling of water at family level
• Alternative use of cotton bags than thin plastic bags that government has banned
• Sharing massage of the protection of endangered animals such as the Pangolin which the Malawian government is issuing 150years imprisonment if found trafficked.

Examples of more environmental alternatives are:

• utilising cotton sewed bags that a Rastafarian community are producing.
• use of locally made innovative plants bags that are environmental friendly
• The use of bamboo local baskets that are environmental friendly
• Recycling of plastic utensils by collecting them and sell them at a plastic companies in the city for remanufacturing
• Paraffin stoves that is cheaper than charcoal and easier to use

Then a group of women were placed into groups where each group has to spread the message of earthkeeping to 100 members by mid-July. They will spread the message to their close relatives first. The 4 groups of 10 participants had to nominate 4 Leaders who were taken to Lilongwe river where they were provided with examples of irresponsible behaviour towards our earth.

The experience encouraged the group of females to take action on conserving their natural environment. “