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CROWN STEWARDSHIP CENTER

MZUZU, MALAWI

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Project: Mzuzu, Malawi

MEET YOUR CROWN PROJECT LEADERS

Mark and Ronel Beckett Crown Mzuzu, Malawi

Mark and Ronel Beckett are in full time mission service since 1996, they first worked in rural Lesotho in Community Development  for about 9 years and in 2007 they started their ministry in Mzuzu, Northern Malawi. 

Their vision is to empower the poorer communities by laying strong spiritual foundations through the Gospel and teaching the  importance of stewardship of natural, financial and human resources. Their goal is ultimately to bring followers of Jesus to a place of fruitfulness through a practical discipleship process.   They just recently opened a Crown Stewardship training centre, where training in stewardship of resources are taking place.

IDENTIFIED NEEDS

  • Deforestation is increasing exponentially each year. To maintain present forest levels and to keep pace with timber demands, an estimated 160 million trees need to be planted annually. Currently, there are only about 60 million trees planted with an average survival rate of 60%, this means the forests are steadily disappearing. The pending social, environmental, and economic consequences are dire as this affects crop yields and food supply.
  • Stewardship training is essential to equip people to manage their resources and finances correctly.
  • Most households in rural communities and urban areas are poor and do not get adequate nutrients in their meals. They suffer from poor hygiene and risk malnutrition and sicknesses.

OUR RESPONSE TO THE NEED

  • Decrease deforestation with the Bamboo Project. Rather than timber, the Giant Bamboo is a sustainable alternative to meet some of the domestic and industrial demand for fuel and energy. According to Afribam, the Giant bamboo has similar characteristics to timber but has several distinct and unique properties. Using bamboo will decrease deforestation limit social and economic impact.
  • Demonstration plots enable us to teach farmers about stewardship of the land. We host trainings in villages and at the center to show how to compost, plant, and harvest to yield the highest crop.
  • One way we can help communities avoid malnutrition, poor hygiene, and sickness is by teaching and demonstrating valuable lessons. Skills4Life is a course we’ve been teaching, with the vision to help rural Africa to grow in their relationship with God, with others and with nature. The strategy is to teach groups small improvements towards the well-being of their households, alternative ways of using existing resources, be good stewards of what God has given them.
Stewardship Training in Mzuzu


CSC UPDATE

After years of training in villages, the Crown Stewardship Center of Mzuzu opened in 2018. It was modeled after the Crown Stewardship Center in Blantyre, Malawi which opened in 2009. Already, the leaders have been instrumental in teaching Biblical stewardship principles to northern Malawians

 Since its inception, many have been trained in:

  • Crown’s African Money Map – Gospel, Resource & Generational Stewardship
  • Foundations for Farming – Environmental & Business Stewardship
  • Composting, Vegetable Production, Farm Planning and Crop Production – Environmental Stewardship

Crown Stewardship Centers in Malawi are multiplying fast - another one is opening soon in Zomba.

GIVE TO THIS PROJECT

GIVE TO MZUZU

MALAWI FACTS

  • Malawi ranks among the 10 poorest countries in the world (1), where 50.7% live under the poverty line (2).
  • Average household is 4.4 in the south and 4.8 in the north (3).
  • Malawi has a 68.6% literacy rate (4).
  • Poverty is driven by poor performance of the agriculture sector, volatile economic growth, population growth and limited opportunities in non-farm activities(5).
  • -Average household income is $100-$200 USD a year (6), GDP per capita is $505 USD

A Story

MEET McDONALD

Mzuzu Malawi Crown

McDonald Chavula, is a farmer in rural Malawi in the Mzimba district who depends on his farm to provide for him and his family. Because of harsh habitat and poor rains, his fields often did not provide enough food for his family. 

He was trained in Foundation for Farming 2017, by the FfF/Crown team and he committed to follow the principles he learned and applied it. As a result, his crops improved and he was able to sell his extra maize and finish his small village house. 

He not only provided for his family and made a profit, he was also a good example and taught many of his neighbors. Because of this, his fields and efforts were noticed and he was recognized by the government as a lead farmer. 

McDonald was invited back to the Crown Training Center to take part in another farmers training, where he testified and helped with the training. He is a good example and encourages new farmers/trainers.

FUTURE GOALS

  • Import and plant Giant Bamboo to grow for energy needs and train villagers on the uses to increase their knowledge and ability to use it and slow deforestation.
  • ​Build a house on location for the project manager to live - this will increase production in the fields and security in the area as well as establish rapport with the surrounding community as a legitimate and trustworthy presence.
  • ​Create a sustainable business through animal husbandry with pigs and chickens. Starting a pig exchange program would encourage farmers to learn how to manage and improve their stock, pass on offspring to other farmers. We would use the chickens to teach farmers how to properly care for them, how to increase their egg production, and use their eggs for meals for trainees or to sell in the villages for expenses for the Stewardship Center

BUDGET

Budget is currently being determined for the following Phase 1 related expenses:

  • ​Purchase, transport, labor, planting and training on Bamboo
  • ​Obtain a newer projector (ours is old and going dim) to be used for stewardship training so materials can be used and seen during the day
  • ​Print training materials for Skills4Life class
  • Purchase a shredder for more efficient and timely compost making 
  • Build a house on the property for the project manager for security and sustainable operation procedures
  • Expand living quarters for trainees so we can host more each session
  • Extend water line for new house and expanded trainee living quarters
  • Create animal husbandry program to build a sustainable business for the Stewardship Center
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CITATIONS
1. www.afribam.com
2. www.ifm.org
3. www.afribam.com
4. www.nsomalawi.mw
5. www.worldbank.org/en/country/malawi
6. www.rippleafrica.com