MALAWI: Economic Empowerment for the Women of Chididi

Field of Studies: Development Studies, (Non-Profit) Management, Social Science, Community Development, Agriculture
Language: English
Number of Participants: 2

Scheduled time for the internship: 3 months between July and October 2013

In the southern most district of Malawi, Nsanje, close to the Mozambican border lies Chididi. SURCOD is a grassroots NGO working to empower women in this region. Aside from helping the women creating savings schemes, the organization also works with local leaders to raise the status of women by advocating against forced marriage and child labour. The organization further works on sensitization campaigns on health, sanitation, environmental and human rights topics.

The interns will support the organization in their community work, which mainly addresses women. Teaching women saving, capital building and entrepreneurship are at the centre of this project with the goal to improve the socio-economic situation of families in the community. The interns will encourage knowledge sharing among women and supervise the saving groups. Towards the end of the internship, the GLEN-participants will submit a proposal for future programs for SURCOD and including fundraising opportunities.

For this internship, an interest in microfinance, group loan programs and social entrepreneurship is crucial. Experience with participatory learning is desirable. Interns should be proactive and responsible. The GLEN-participants will be interacting with the community as well as staff members on a daily basis. Interns should bring their computers for research tasks. The NGO will help the interns find an accommodation.

The scheduled time for the internship is 3 months between July and October 2013. Training and seminars prior to the internship will be held in English.

The tandem will be formed by an Estonian participant and a German/Swiss participant.

Proposed by: January Watchman Mvula (Director – SURCOD)

Number of the internship: 5000300619