Tcheka Cooperative in Manyamula established by Ungweru Organisation recently hosted Misean Cara Mentor Lontia Chinkubala as part of her familiarisation tour in Malawi. The visit aimed to strengthen ties with organisations and communities benefiting from Misean Cara-funded projects. Lontia, who joined Misean Cara in December, is keen to engage directly with stakeholders to understand their needs and support them more effectively.
During her visit, Lontia toured projects implemented by CADECOM and the Education Commission of the Mzuzu Catholic Diocese. Welcoming her to the cooperative, Tcheka Cooperative Chairperson Cadams Lwara expressed gratitude for her presence and mentorship.
“We are excited that you are here and that you will give us the mentorship we need to grow as a cooperative. We are starting as a cooperative and hope that you will help us to settle and develop,” said Lwara.
Tcheka Cooperative was established as part of the High Value Crops for Sustainable Income, Food, and Nutrition Security project implemented by Ungweru Organisation in Traditional Authority Mmbelwa, Mzimba. The Project, funded by Misean Cara in Ireland, has already begun yielding positive results.
“We now have a functioning irrigation system, enabling us to grow crops three times a year. Due to erratic rainfall, we have also diversified from just beans to beekeeping, groundnuts, and soya,” Lwara added.
Local leaders also voiced their appreciation for the initiative. Group Village Headman Longwe Kamanga thanked Lontia for the visit and encouraged community members to work hard for long-term sustainability.
“We have already seen the benefits of being a cooperative. With support from the World Food Program, our cooperative has secured a contract to supply food crops to Kamilaza Primary School and other surrounding schools,” said Kamanga.
The visit underscored Misean Cara’s commitment to empowering local communities by supporting sustainable projects. With continued mentorship and guidance, Tcheka Cooperative is poised to make a lasting impact on the livelihoods of its members and future generations.
Lontia (In Yellow) congratulates Tcheka cooperative vice chairperson for a field well cared for