"Service a sticking Singer sewing machine" (try saying it fast)

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Ruth started her morning with students Cynthia, Edina and Ellen, demonstrating the superb serviceability of the classic Singer sewing machine! "With regular cleaning and oiling, you can massively prolong the life of these treadle machines."

Just a drop. There is such a thing as too much!

Singer running on string.

Of our ten 23kg cases two were for the Sewing Room, where sanitary pads are put together. Gillian and Jo heaved them over there, past brilliant, bleaching rectangles of course-milled maize spread out on grass mats to dry beside the mill.

Jo is a guide leader, and for many years the 1st Bedfordshire and 71st Northampton groups have been supporters of Home of Hope.  This time they've sent supplies for the pads room, along with things like paracetamol, sewing thread, and balls - including the ultimate object of desire, footballs!! 

Edina, Phyriani, Cynthia and Ellen talking singer servicing with Ruth

It was just the kind of morning Gillian enjoys. "We delivered 549 pairs of pants to the pads project, plus a lot of material, threads, scissors etc. Huge thank you to all who donated. So much laughter and fun, and even a smiling baby to cuddle!!" As a rule, find Gillian, find a baby somewhere nearby. Loves 'em!

Meanwhile, for Phil and I it was time to talk fish! We joined Joseph - son of Rev & Mrs Chipeta's late son Timothy - to look back over almost a year of work together on the "Fish Ponds Enterprise". 

Phil and Joseph with original business plan and actual accounts

Since the end of September 2023 we've been trying to answer the question of whether the fishponds here can be run successfully along commercial lines. All through this pilot project we've had the help and support of long-time friend of Rev Chipeta, Fraser Kumwenda. Fraser is a local fish farmer. More than that, he's an adviser to the Malawi Government and several NGOs on fish farming practice and policy.

He's been of enormous help to Joseph, freely teaching him from long years of experience.

As we walked up to the ponds we chatted about football! Phil's a big fan, and Mr Kumwenda, it turns out, played centre midfield ("the brains of the outfit", Phil tells me) for the Malawi National Youth Team in years gone by. 

A pity Phil wasn't here to be picked up by the team, too!

Mr Kumwenda with us at the Home of Hope Fish Farm

"Every time I come, I wish this was my place. You don't know what you have here!" Mr Kumwenda's own farm down on the plain has recently faced difficulties from lack of water. Here, we have the benevolent hills. 

In August, Joseph and his team were all set to harvest over 1000 fish (Malawi "talapia"), when it was discovered that the majority had been stolen. A big disappointment. "It's done at night," explains Mr Kumwenda. "They come with mosquito nets and buckets, then sell what they catch. Buyers at the market don't ask where you got the fish." We talked for a while about how to secure the site. "Two guards are needed, from dusk to dawn (6pm to 6am). There should be a powerful security light up at the highest pond. Add a 6 foot high wire fence, then any problems outside the guards will blow whistles and the thieves will run."

Imagining security sorted, what next? Mr Kumwenda described to us a system of farming in which various ponds are devoted to different purposes: one or two for growing; one for breeding "fingerlings" (fingerlings aren't just little fish: unless properly fed they stunt, and won't achieve table weight);  a "reservoir" pond, where a body of properly fertilized and therefore opaque green water is maintained, ready to top up the others when needed. What happens if a pond becomes overstocked? No problem. Just take a couple of specimens from your catfish pond and drop them in where they're needed. There's a market for them, too, once they've done their job. "Ah these catfish can get big! 5 or 6kg, no problem."

As we wound up, to our delight Mr Kumwenda gazed at the fish-rippled surface of the neatly fenced Pilot Pond and said, "Let's harvest again on Monday. There can be plenty still in there." We'd been leaving Monday a bit free on the plan, knowing that something interesting would come up. It always does. Can't wait! We'll share videos with you. 

Until then, here's a Home of Hope Malawi Tilapia caught at the end of July, before the thefts.

Whenever we're here we try to include some kind of a special treat for the children - even sometimes a party for the whole community. This time being only a small group ourselves we can't really stretch to the latter, and instead all week Jo has been making sweet potato cakes. Yesterday some of the girls came and helped her form the mixture into little heart shapes to bake.

Gillian: "Our plan to start the party at 4pm was rapidly changed when, at a quarter past two,  41 smartly dressed little guests arrived! They were beautifully turned out in jumpers over dresses, and hats which we were able to bring in our luggage, made by some lovely supporters. The children really enjoyed the cakes made yesterday,  and everyone got an apple - a treat usually enjoyed only at Christmas! A loud cheer went up when the fizzy drinks appeared.

"The only things left over to pick up at the end were plastic bottles (sorry planet) and apple pips! Apple cores - gone! Colouring in masks is always a favourite activity,  and they all left chattering excitedly."

Tonight as we sat together over nsima-with-beans-and-relish, we started to compile a list: from all we've seen so far, what might Malawi Orphan Fund be able to help with in the short term? It's a little too soon to short-list and prioritise, but a picture emerges. There are the "no-brainers" (often around issues of safety, heath, security). Most of all we look for leverage points - where a small shift here can produce a big change there, and there, and there... We think we see some. 

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Up at the ponds fish hide sluggish in the cool depths, 

and from caves on the hill are sloping the hyenas we hear at night.

In the sewing room a Singer sits, smug in its serviced state.

Beside bunks are hung-up masks and half-drunk bottles of pop - the rest saved for tomorrow.

We look forward to tomorrow. 

Alex, Gillian, Jo, Phil, Ruth

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