AFRICA WINDMILL PROJECT INC

IN JANUARY 2024, AFRICA WINDMILL PROJECT (AWP) WORKED TO ESTABLISH A LOCAL MALAWI BASED NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION CALLED AFRICA WINDMILLS LIMITED (AWL). THIS WILL PROVIDE A LOCAL ENTITY THAT WILL BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT THE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN THE COUNTRY WITH LOCAL GOVERNANCE. THE AWP US ENTITY HAS AN MOU IN PLACE WITH AWL TO CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT THE MISSION AND PROGRAM WORK IN MALAWI. IN 2024, AWP CONTINUED WORKING IN CHIGONTHI EPA AND MCHINJI EPA. IN MKANDA, AWP WAS WORKING WITH 868 FARMERS IN 30 AGRICULTURE CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE EXTENSION PLANNING AREA. AWP PROVIDED STARTER PACKS TO ESTABLISH DEMONSTRATION GARDENS AND INSTALLED IRRIGATION PUMPS AT THESE SITES FOR TRAINING AND COMMUNITY USE. THE AGRICULTURE CLUBS WERE TRAINED ON HOW TO MAKE THEIR OWN ORGANIC FERTILIZER TO REDUCE THEIR DEPENDENCE ON EXPENSIVE CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS, REDUCING FARMING COSTS AND IMPROVING CROP YIELDS. AWP CONTINUED TO TRAIN EXTENSION WORKERS TO PROVIDE CONTINUITY OF SUPPORT FROM BOTH THE NGO AND THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT STRUCTURE. THERE WERE 32 LEAD FARMERS IDENTIFIED IN THE MKANDA AREA AND ADDITIONAL TRAININGS WERE HELD FOR THEM AS THEY SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND INTRODUCE NEW FARMERS INTO THE PROGRAM. THE AWP PROGRAM WRAPPED UP AT THE END OF 2024 IN THE CHIGONTHI EPA, AND RESPONSIBILITIES WERE HANDED OVER TO EXTENSION WORKERS AND LEAD FARMERS. THE WORKSHOP CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE AND INSTALL ROPE AND WASHER PUMPS AND WINDMILLS FOR DEMONSTRATION SITES, LEAD FARMERS, AND AGRICULTURE CLUBS. THEY ALSO BEGAN ADDING A ROPE AND WASHER HAND CRANK TO WINDMILLS SO THAT WHEN THE WIND WAS LOW, FARMERS WERE STILL ABLE TO UTILIZE THEIR WELL AND IRRIGATION SCHEME TO WATER CROPS. AWP ALSO WORKS WITH LOCAL PARTNERS. IN 2024, WORLD VISION PARTNERED WITH AWP TO PROVIDE AN IRRIGATION PUMPS, RESERVOIR, AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM THAT WOULD SUPPORT 46 FARMERS USING WINDMILLS IN MADZI AND ANOTHER IN CHIGUMBA FOR 22 FARMERS. IN 2024, AWP HIRED A STRATEGIST TO HELP THE BOARD UNDERSTAND THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE ORGANIZATION AND HELP PUT IN PLACE A PLAN FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND EXPANSION. AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, A DELIBERATE PRAYER INITIATIVE WAS PUT IN PLACE AND THE COMPANY BEGAN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE US EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION. THE BOARD ALSO BROUGHT THE MALAWI COUNTRY DIRECTOR TO THE US TO MEET WITH CURRENT AND POTENTIAL DONORS AND SHARE AT THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISER. IN 2024, THERE WERE 707 VOLUNTEER HOURS.