Corporate Appeal

May 18, 2015 by Brian Keen Leave a Comment

Introduction

My name is Brian Keen, founder of MicroLoan Foundation Australia.

I hope you will excuse this unsolicited approach and allow me to introduce you to MicroLoan Foundation Australia, a small and extremely effective charity that, through small loans and business training, supports women in sub-Sahara Africa to start their own business and work their way out of poverty.

I am inviting you to join our ‘Start Something’ campaign, part of our effort to seize a special opportunity, described later*, allowing you to double the impact we can have in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. Malawi recently suffered a devastating flood leaving hundreds of thousands homeless, with their crops destroyed and facing continued hardship into the foreseeable future.

View 1min 30sec video here.

Our History

We are a very small organisation which has lifted continually well above its weight with our historic cost of administration and fundraising of 3.6%.

Our achievements since we opened in Australia are shown by the statistics below:

MicroLoan Foundation Australia was registered as a charity in September 2008
Opened our loans office in Mulanje, Malawi in May 2009
Funds transferred since launch $171,814
No. of loans dispensed for the year from July 2014: 3639
Value of loans disbursed YTD: $321,245
Value of loans in place: $156,755
Average loan value: $94 – this has increased due to funding demands placed by the depreciation of the Malawi Kwacha and recent depreciation of the Australian dollar.
Repayment rate YTD: 96% – reflects flood impact as historically 99.8%

Currently no wages or salaries are paid and all operations are managed by the Directors with the minimal amount of time.

The ‘Start Something’ Campaign

The demand for our funds is significant, especially since the flood as many of our clients need additional loans to rebuild their businesses.

However our small group is struggling to attract and manage volunteers throughout Australia. So one of the objectives of our approach to you is to raise monies and sponsorship to enable us to employ a part-time General Manager to source and support volunteers and grow our fundraising.

An anonymous donor has offered to match your Gifts.

To launch our ‘Start Something’ campaign an anonymous donor has generously offered to commit up to $12,600 to match any money raised from the corporate and philanthropy sectors during May.

So you have the chance to make double the impact for every cent you give!

Make a tax deductible Gift now and get our clients in Malawi back on their feet with our emergency Malawi Flood Appeal.

Please call me NOW on 0417 211366.

I’d be delighted to speak to you to answer your questions and explain how you can help MicroLoan Foundation Australia and ‘Give a Hand Up Not a Handout’.

Newsletter May 2015

May 15, 2015 by Brian Keen 2 Comments

May 2015 Edition

Facebook

Twitter

Website

YouTube

Welcome to our latest newsletter!

We’ve been busy over the last few months working on some fantastic projects that you can become involved in, and we would appreciate your help. We will let you know how below.

Interested in current Malawi News?

Malawi Flood Update

2015 saw a horrific start to the year with disastrous floods in a large part of the country including Mulanje. The region where our office is situated. Torrential rain brought unprecedented floods to Malawi in January.

Reports said that the floods in Malawi had 276 people killed or missing, while 645 people injured. The number of people displaced stood at 230,000 with about 64,000 hectares (158,147 acres) of land damaged, highlighting the vulnerability of a country in which 85% of the population are farmers, most living below the poverty line.

Malawi Flood Appeal

We were thrilled to receive a total of $7313 from our appeal and our thanks go to everybody who Gives. Our sponsor then provided a further $7400 giving a gross revenue of $14,713 – a brilliant outcome. Accordingly last month we transferred $24,000 to Malawi which comprised the appeal monies and other accumulated Gifts.

The next step in the rebuilding process

People are slowly rebuilding their lives but there’s a long way to go.

Peter Ryan, Founder of MicroLoan Foundation and CEO of MLF UK has just returned from a two-week tour of the country and made this comment “I think the key point is that the harvests are going to be poor this year due either to too much or not enough rain. Projected shortfalls of maize are going to be a minimum of 30% and perhaps as high as 50%. This will inevitably mean famine later in the year unless extra relief stocks are given. Famine will put a lot of pressure on businesses and repayments.”

This highlights the fact we will need more resources in order to extend loan periods as a way of supporting our borrowers and their families as they struggle to get their life back into order. In many cases they will have lost homes or suffered severe damage to their dwellings and encode major disruption to their business activities.

Our commitment is to continue to extend our loan book in order to help more and more women start their own businesses and lift themselves from poverty so more funding is essential. With this in mind we will be launching a couple more initiatives in May and June to help us raise funds.

We’re now a tax deductible charity in our own right!

The good news is that after several years of perseverance we now have received our Designated Gift Recipient (DGR) status. This means that we can provide tax deductibility in our own as opposed to using the facilities of Rotary who have generously helped as in the past. The two major implications major implication either all Donate are now automatically tax-deductible, and importantly we now meet one of the main criterion of recognised corporate and philanthropist donors.

Help us ‘Start Something’

Increasing the impact we can have on the ground in Malawi can only be done with more funding and more human resources here in Australia. This means raising our profile and broadening our database hence we are announcing our new initiative “Start Something’ It’s very simple and there’s something to suit everyone!

Corporate & Philanthropist Funding Appeal

We are extremely fortunate that the anonymous donor who matched our Malawi Flood Appeal Donate has offered to do the same in the corporate sector also. As a result we will shortly be launching an appeal into that space. This means any of our readers who are representing corporate entities will be able to take advantage of this if they wish.

Corporate Supporters Feature

The Shoe Garden, Brisbane

Mulanje Office

The Dodo Group

Carol and her mother Ingrid with MLF team members

Carol and MLFA Founder Brian Keen at the Shoe Garden 3rd Birthday Party

We were thrilled last year when we were approached by Carol Haffke, proprietor of The Shoe Garden in Brisbane, wishing to make monthly payments as a proportion of her sales turnover.

Carol is an enthusiastic supporter and launched her program to 100 of her customers and their families on April 19 when over $1700 was raised on the day. An extraordinary effort Carol and thank you so much.

As a prelude to confirming our status as her nominated charity Carol actually visited our Mulanje office in Malawi on 30 December to see our work for herself

This is an extract from what Carol had to say:

“On 30 December I had the privilege of spending the day with Regional Manager Agnes Kasuma and we visited members of the Dodo group in Mulanje. The visit was largely organised by Agnes and Joyce in Malawi and Brian here in Australia.

The absolutely gorgeous and wonderful Agnes spent a day with us, proudly telling us all about her work and the benefits to the women. She interpreted for me as we spoke to many of the women and was of enormous assistance… and inspiration… throughout our visit.

And don’t get me started on the amazing women of the Dodo group who I now consider fellow businesswomen and motivators.

I just wanted to share with you how amazing the team are and how proud I am to support your charity from April onward with proceeds from every sale being forwarded as Gifts to Microloan Foundation Australia each month. I am committed to assisting in the long-term and want to embed a spirit of giving back within my business.”

The numbers for the year

On 1 April we transferred $24,000 to our Malawi office giving us the following statistics for this financial year so far:

Funds transferred during the year $24,000 (Previous year $22,933)

No. of loans dispensed for the year from July 2014 3639 (2146)

Value of loans disbursed $321,245 ($175,630)

Value of loans in place $156,755 ($105,176)

Average loan value $94 ($82) – has increased due to funding demands placed by the depreciation of Malawi Kwacha, inflation, and AUD fluctuations

Repayment rate 96% (99.8%) for January to March – reflects flood impact

Note: Based on current exchange rate AUD1.00 = MKW350

Our long-term Admin and fundraising expenses stand at 3.6%

Our Success Stories

Dorothy Costa

For the past five years, Dorothy Costa has been the chair of the Dodo lending group and she is enormously proud.

“I am very proud of our group and like to encourage the members of the group and also encourage other women to come and join Dodo,” she said.

The mother of four had a small grocery shop before she received her first loan.

“My business then was small but now I’ve been able to expand and I have increased my profit,” she said.

“I have been able to buy a house with my profits and am building another, something I could not have done without the support of the loans.”

Dorothy said her lifestyle has changed significantly in the past five years.

“I have learned that it’s important to be in business because you can then take care of your daily needs,” she said.

“I used to have to beg my husband for money but now he comes to me and I can give him some.

“I am very proud of what I have been able to achieve.”

Aramia Right

Aramia Right laughs as she reveals why she thinks her second hand clothing business is successful.

“I buy a bale of clothes and then take it home and iron everything so it all looks smart and new,” she said.

“I’ve had eight loans and I have never had a problem paying the money back.”

Alamia, 43, from the small village of Maliera near the Mozambican border, is married with one child.

“With my business growing, I now have money to start to build a house,” she said. “I will have iron sheets on the roof but I will have to save more to have cement floors.

“My husband is supportive and happy. He is a good husband and doesn’t drink and we work together.”

Aramia is one of 25 women from the Dodo lending group.

Estery Chikomoni

Estery Chikomoni is just 22 and yet with the help of several Microloan Foundation loans, she has managed to buy two houses: one for her own family and one for her mum.

“Yes,” she agreed shyly, “my mother is very proud of me.

“I have been able to buy a new house with 38 iron sheets for my family and I have built a house for my mother with 24 iron sheets.”

Like other members of the Dodo lending group, Estery is proud that she has been able to build or buy a new home with iron sheets instead of the less reliable thatched roofing.

The young business woman travels to buy two types of fish three times a week and then sells her produce at the village market.

“I have big plans for my house because it’s not finished yet … it needs cement floors and plastering,” she said.

“I have learned that with a loan and starting your own business, you can improve your welfare.”

Estery spoke for a long time and with great passion about encouraging other women to take the step and obtain a loan.

“Some women may be afraid but I encourage them to do so,” she said. “Women who are just staying at home should come and get a loan and build a business so they are able to improve their family life.

“When you get a loan and do your own business, you can pay it back and save and with the savings you are able to do more things.

“I am very happy to have the support of the Dodo group. If a member is sick and has to go to hospital, for example, then the other members will cover her repayments.”

Lucy Mponda

Standing in front of her shiny green bicycle, Lucy Mponda looks very proud.

The 45-year-old has gone through six loan cycles to establish and expand her second-hand clothing business and she has had much success.

She, in fact, has managed to buy two bicycles and uses one for her own transportation and the other she has given to her son so he can start his own bicycle taxi business.

“Before my loan, my business didn’t have the support of any capital so I was not able to make a profit,” she said.

“But now I have improved life for my family and I have no problems feeding my family anymore.”

Lucy, who lives in a small village called Maliera near the Mozambican border, has six children. Her husband recently passed away.

She is a member of the Dodo lending group, one of 25 women in the group who take pride in supporting one another and paying back their loans on time.

Lucy has also managed to build two houses with savings and profits from her small business.

“They have iron sheets and rafters,” she explains proudly. “I plan to rent one of the houses but at the moment my son who recently married is staying in one with his family until he builds his own.”

Lister Matope

“If you have a good business, you can prosper.”

That is what Lister Matope has learned from the loans she has received from Microloan Foundation.

The 33-year-old, who is married with four children in the village of Maliera, used to sell dried fish.

“My sales were too small with this business,” she said. “I now buy tomatoes, onions and carrots from Mozambique and bring them back on a minibus once a week and sell them at my local market.

“Now I’m doing well. I have bought kitchenware and utensils with the savings from my business.

“I can comfortably pay back my loan.”

Lister is one of 25 women in the Dodo lending group, considered one of the most successful groups in the Mulanje region and funded with Australian Donate.

Are you interested in volunteering? We have vacancies at MicroLoan Foundation Australia

We are a very little family of very part-time contributors and in serious need of help so that we can continue to support these wonderful women in Malawi lifting themselves and their families from poverty. Enjoy giving us a hand? You will make a difference so please give me a call for a chat on 0417 211366.

Schools program

Our Schools program is operational and ready for schools to use. This is the concept of our very talented volunteer Kamaia Harkness who has recently moved to the Gold Coast. The program provides a list of Curriculum Activities for both teachers and students including a range of resources. For more information visit the Schools tab on our website

http://www.microloanfoundationaustralia.org.au/schools-program-3/

If this interests you then please see items 3. and 4. below.

Volunteer positions at MLFA

Here is my wish list of very much part-time positions committing may be one or two days a week to helping raising the profile of MicroLoan Foundation Australia:

General manager: to coordinate growth in all the states and pursue opportunities for sourcing us more supporters from the ranks of individuals, corporates and the philanthropic community. Initially they would receive reimbursement for some expenses and we expect this position to grow into one that is more formalised and salaried.
Relationship managers: vacancies are sought in all states to work under the direction of the general manager and pursue opportunities as described above.
Schools program manager: we have an exciting schools program providing a list of Curriculum Activities for both teachers and students including a range of resources and are looking for someone suitably skilled to launch and grow this in the marketplace.
Program presenters: we are seeking volunteers with educational experience will enjoy promoting our schools program by making presentations to schools about the huge impact microfinance can have in lifting families out of poverty and encourage students to raise Donate on our behalf.

Interested in current Malawi News?

27 March 2015 Kalambo school benefits from TNM’s K1.2m desks
Malawi’s Premier mobile phone company, TNM gave 40 desks worth K1.2 million to Kalambo Primary School Lilongwe’s Area 25 which according to authorities at the school will go a long way in alleviating problems that learners have been experiencing….

7 March 2015 The Malawi Mouse Boys
The Malawi Mouse Boys – yes you read that correctly! This is an interesting 15 minute interview yesterday on ABC’s Radio National with live performance by the amazing Malawi Mouse Boys….

27 January 2015 Cyclone ‘Bansi’ and its devastating after-effects in Malawi
Recent floods in Malawi have left hundreds dead, many more homeless and devastated crops. Rosie Blunt visited two of the worst-affected areas….

19 January 2015 As of yesterday, death toll is still at 170 and 200,000 displaced by rain and flooding
More than 170 people have been killed and 200,000 displaced by torrential rain and flooding in Malawi. Large areas in the south are underwater and….

27 November 2014 Malawi music Spare Dog Records label launched
A new record label has launched that will be recording and promoting artists from Malawi….

12 November 2014 ‘Riders for Health’ going through Malawi, saving lives and battling against HIV
Almost a million people in Malawi live with HIV; AIDS is the leading cause of death amongst adults in the country….

We are regularly adding new links to our website where we endeavor to offer varying points of view and give you a good understanding of the level of economic, social and political debate in this democratic country known as ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’.

I hope you enjoyed my scribbling and would love to hear from you with feedback, contributions, comments, etc., by emailing me briankeen@microloanfoundation.org.au or calling 0417 211366.

Warm regards

Brian Keen
Chairman and Founder

Malawi Flood Crisis – MicroLoan Foundation

January 28, 2015 by Brian Keen Leave a Comment

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Like us on Facebook

Watch us on YouTube

Visit our Website

Hello *|FNAME|*,

We value your support and so pledge to give you insights from Malawi on a regular basis. This follows our recent news flash about the flooding as we thought the severity of the problem warranted an update and this bulletin brings alarming news of a crisis facing the Malawian people.

Our priority is to keep you informed; if you would like to give extra support there is an opportunity to do so at the end of the report. We are always so grateful to you and mindful of asking for support again and again.

Still thirsty after Malawi’s flood

Recent floods in Malawi have left hundreds dead, many more homeless and devastated crops. Rosie Blunt visited two of the worst-affected areas.

It has been more than a week since Cyclone Bansi hit Malawi, but looking out on what was once a bustling marketplace beside the Phaloni River, the formidable rains and mauling winds could have struck yesterday. Continued HERE

Major disaster in Malawi

January 16, 2015 by Brian Keen Leave a Comment

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Like us on Facebook

Watch us on YouTube

Visit our Website

Hello *|FNAME|*,

Half of Malawi declared disaster zone after flooding – The Guardian

At least 48 people killed, 70,000 made homeless, crops damaged, livestock washed away and bridges and roads destroyed. These are what the floods caused Malawi and Mozambique.

“I declare all the 15 districts that have been affected by floods Disaster Areas… I appeal for humanitarian assistance, from the international donor community,” – Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika

Scores killed as floods hit Malawi and Mozambique – BBC

Blantyre, the town where I spent 10 years, is the major southern region commercial centre and 66 kms, 1 hour 10 minutes by road from Mulanje where our loan office is situated.

Whilst it is unlikely we will be involved in any support or clean up work it is probable the demand for loans will increase to enable our clients to get back on their feet…. so I encourage you to help in any way you can by giving a Gift.

January 2015 BBC Country Profile

Here are a few more articles regarding the situation in Malawi:

Floods kill scores in Malawi and Mozambique – Aljazeera
Malawi floods kill at least 48, damage crops – Reuters

Important note: If you have sent me an email or made an online Giving this year please resend any email message or confirm your Gift to me brian@microloanfoundation.org.au as our mail server has not been accepting emails from 1st January until 15th January.

Warm regards,

Brian

Like us on Facebook

Watch us on YouTube

Visit our Website

Our mailing address is:
*|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|*

unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences

*|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Christmas gifts made easy

January 5, 2015 by Brian Keen Leave a Comment

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Like us on Facebook

Watch us on YouTube

Visit our Website

Hello *|FNAME|*,

Thank you to all who’ve kindly responded to our call, and a quick reminder in case you missed this news from us.

We have been working behind the scenes to create something very special for you, and have refined the…

MicroLoan Foundation Australia Gift Store

Click the link above to see more.

We feel that with everyone getting so much ‘stuff’ for Christmas, a gift like this adds so much meaning not only to your recipient, but for the very fact that this gift will live on in perpetuity thanks to our microfinance model.

1808 loans of varying type were placed in the September quarter taking us over the 10,000 since we opened the Mulanje office in May 2009. It’s encouraging to see that number included 369 ‘Makwelero’ loans that are for our well-established business owners who have a need for larger loans over a longer period to help them with expansion of their operation.

You can all feel proud that we have now lent in excess of $750,000 and had around 50,000 ‘impacts’ on our women clients and their families. Not bad from a very much part-time charity operation – and our write-offs continue at an astounding zero – that’s 0%, so please shout the message from the rooftops and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to join in the Donate program. We think our women in Mulanje deserve your support and hope you do too.

With warm, grateful hugs and best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year, thanks again for all of your support.

And oh yes I nearly forgot – if you don’t currently receive our occasional MicroLoan Foundation emails please visit the website and subscribe. Or paste this in your browser http://www.microloanfoundationaustralia.org.au

Brian

PS Stay tuned in the New Year to see how Carol Haffke, our supporter from Brisbane, fares when she visits our Mulanje office over the holiday period during which she’ll be meeting our clients, providing some business mentoring and conducting interviews that we can share. Can’t wait!

PPS The Gift Store now means you can send gifts all year round from as little as $24!

Like us on Facebook

Watch us on YouTube

Visit our Website

Our mailing address is:
*|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|*

unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences

*|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Newsletter September 2014

September 3, 2014 by Brian Keen Leave a Comment

September 2014 Edition

Facebook

Website

YouTube

Welcome to our latest newsletter!

We’ve been busy over the last few months working on some fantastic projects that you can become involved in, and we would appreciate your help. We will let you know how below.

— LATEST NEWS & EVENTS —

It’s just like clockwork isn’t it? Here we are again, well into the first quarter of another financial year. One offering numerous opportunities for those of us fortunate enough to live in the developed world, and especially in countries like Australia, spare a thought for Lydia Munyama, pictured above, of Mwaiwathu Village, close to our regional lending office in Mulanje, Southern Malawi.

Mulanje is in the heart of the tea growing area adjacent to Mozambique and beneath the majestic Mount Mulanje. Tea picking has been the traditional means of employment and indeed the tea estates places of residence of a large number of the local population in this beautiful area.

When I left Malawi in 1975 one Malawi Kwacha (MWK) was worth approximately $1.10 Australian. As an illustration of how things have changed by 2011 $1 would cost MWK156 and today MWK372.

I draw your attention to these figures to illustrate how the rampant inflation has affected the beautiful citizens of this lovely landlocked country, and I’m using Lydia an example to illustrate the power that every $50 Gift has.

The numbers for the year

On June 30 we transferred $11,847.62 to our Malawi office giving us the following statistics as at 30 June 2014:

Funds transferred during the year $22,933
No. of loans dispensed for the year 2146
Value of loans disbursed $175,630
Value of loans in place $105,176
Average loan value $82 – has increased due to funding demands placed by the depreciation of Malawi Kwacha and inflation
Repayment rate 99.8%

Our Success Stories

The Mwaiwathu group = “Our fortune”

The Mwaiwathu (“our fortune”) group was one of the first credit groups established in the Mulanje district. When the district branch was opening, one of the loan officers came to the Nkando trading centre, which is the largest in the district, for an information meeting. These ten women got together and formed the group.Even though there are several other lending organizations in the area, MicroLoan was the first to establish a presence. The good reputation that MLF has, along with the positive experiences these women have had with their loans keep the women loyal to MicroLoan.

There are two other MicroLoan groups in the Nkando village – they formed when they saw the successes that the women in the Mwaiwathu group were having. They have a variety of businesses, including selling fish, donuts, and chickens and running shops in the trading centre. While they had the businesses before taking the loan, they have been able to increase the size and through the training, “we have been able to develop our businesses.”

The women very much admire what MicroLoan Foundation does, and others in their village want to join because they have seen how successful these women have been.

Let’s look closer at a couple of members of the Mwaiwathu group, firstly Lydia.

Lydia Munyama

Lydia has been a member of the Mwaiwathu (“our fortune”) group since it formed in 2011, taking loans for her doughnut business. She uses the loan to buy baking flour, sugar, yeast, cooking oil and firewood – all the necessary items to run her business. Because of the loan, she is able to make the doughnuts more often and increase the yield of each production, resulting in higher profits.With her profits, she is able to hire people to help her with her farm. She wants to increase the size of her business, including being able to buy the whole 50kg bag of flour (twice what she buys now) so she can make and sell more doughnuts.

“At first I used to do business without saving anything, but now I know how to save, which helps me expand my business and make my life better.” She is able to use the money from her profits to help pay for daily needs for herself and her two grown sons who still live with her.

Are you interested in volunteering? We have vacancies at MicroLoan Foundation Australia

Relationship Manager Kirsten Shearn has recently completed a 12 month term working for us based in Perth and has achieved some outstanding exposure and fundraising for us and I would make to take the opportunity on behalf of the board by thanking Kirsten profoundly for the tremendous job she has done in raising our profile and our level of professionalism. So now we are back down to our little family of very part-time contributors and in serious need of help so that we can continue to support these wonderful women in Malawi lifting themselves and their families from poverty. Enjoy giving us a hand? You will make a difference so please give me a call for a chat on 0417 211366.Schools program

We have been busy this year launching an exciting schools program that has been the concept of our Sydney-based volunteer Kamaia Harkness. A huge thank you goes out to Kamaia showing our gratitude for the inspiration and hard work she has contributed preparing this program that provides a list of Curriculum Activities for both teachers and students including a range of resources. For more information visit the Schools Program tab on our website

http://www.microloanfoundationaustralia.org.au/?page_id=2580

If this interests you then please see items 3. and 4. below.

Volunteer positions at MLFA

Here is my wish list of very much part-time positions committing may be one or two days a week to helping raising the profile of MicroLoan Foundation Australia:

General manager: to coordinate growth in all the states and pursue opportunities for sourcing us more supporters from the ranks of individuals, corporates and the philanthropic community. Initially they would receive reimbursement for some expenses and we expect this position to grow into one that is more formalised and salaried.
Relationship managers: vacancies are sought in all states to work under the direction of the general manager and pursue opportunities as described above.
Schools program manager: we have an exciting schools program providing a list of Curriculum Activities for both teachers and students including a range of resources and are looking for someone suitably skilled to launch and grow this in the marketplace.
Program presenters: we are seeking volunteers with educational experience will enjoy promoting our schools program by making presentations to schools about the huge impact microfinance can have in lifting families out of poverty and encourage students to raise Gifts on our behalf.

Interested in current Malawi News?

2 September 2014 Glasgow 2014: Mary Waya and the rise of the Malawi Queens
She is a trained electrical engineer, a widowed mother of two, and has endured “fat” jibes from people watching her on court.

2 September 2014 A generous Scotsman in Glasgow helps Malawi cyclists
A Commonwealth cycling team has been given new bikes by a Glasgow shop after theirs were found to be unfit for purpose…

2 September 2014 Malawi Presidential Election
The recent elections were plagued with a collapse of the counting system with the electronic counting being suspended…

2 September 2014 Business Disruption
Meanwhile there is concern about the impact of the election impasse on the fragile economy…

2 September 2014 Australian miner and MicroLoan supporter suspends operations in Malawi
Much needed revenue from the activities of Australian miner Paladin Energy has been stopped with the suspension of activities…

2 September 2014 Refugees enter Malawi
Since mid-January, an estimated 2,000 people have fled fighting between the government and former rebels…

2 September 2014 Water shortages
Parts of Malawi, including large parts of the northern region, have not received rain since February…

2 September 2014 Fighting Corruption
Malawi has been making progress with stemming the corruption which has crept into the political arena…

2 September 2014 Breaking the poverty trap with $12 a month
This story whilst focusing on cash grants, not loans as provided by MicroLoan Foundation…

Proverbs are an integral part of African culture. Passed on from generation to generation for centuries, they are still in wide use today and are very much part of everyday speech.

Proverbs are used to illustrate ideas, reinforce arguments and deliver messages of inspiration, consolation, celebration and advice.

The great Nigerian author Chinua Achebe once wrote: “Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten.”

We have just introduced some new links to our website to those of you who are interested in keeping up with national news in Malawi. There are several there which offer varying points of view and give you a good understanding of the level of economic, social and political debate in this democratic country known as ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’.

I hope you enjoyed my scribbling and would love to hear from you with feedback contributions comments etc by emailing me briankeen@microloanfoundation.org.au or calling 0417 211366.

Warm regards
Brian Keen
Chairman and Founder