The School of Agriculture for Family Independence (SAFI) Malawi enrolled 29 families in August, giving them the opportunity to learn proper agricultural techniques and improve their quality of life.

At Mtalimanja Village, SAFI empowers students plagued with financial obstacles to not only eradicate poverty within their own family, but also in their community. Each family enrolled in SAFI has the responsibility to learn effective farming and fishing skills during their first year of schooling. In their second year, families return home to implement the SAFI agricultural skills in their own farms and to share their knowledge with other village members.

SAFI’s vision is to educate both parents and children, ensuring the ideals of self-sufficiency last for generations to come.

Meet five families seeking independence through education:

Anold and Eliza Mkwezalamba struggle to harvest enough crops to feed their three children; Wineti, 7, Rachel, 4, and Kingsly, 4. The Mkwezalambas are financially unable to send their children to school, but hope SAFI will help them develop the necessary skills to be able to support their children and provide them with an education. “The School of Agriculture for Family Independence is a huge blessing to Malawi,” the Mkwezalambas said. “It helps poor people have a better future. If Malawi has more programs like SAFI, there might be a day when Malawi is hunger free.”

Venacio and Edina Nyirongo, along with their three-year-old daughter, are excited to be attending SAFI. Once the Nyirongos have completed the two-year program, their personal mission is to not only improve their own lives with the knowledge they have gained, but to share it with everyone around them. “The School of Agriculture for Family Independence is forever changing Malawi by empowering families to be valuable assets in their community.”

Jelious and Estery Masina, with their two children, Namboma and Derik, grow maize, soya, and groundnuts each year. Through their SAFI education, the Masinas hope to increase their crop production and send their children to higher education, providing them with a better future.

Kelvin and Matrida Chitsulo live with their beautiful daughter, Marion, in Chalinda Village. Aside from yielding maize, soya, and groundnuts crops, they raise livestock. “People back home are expecting to learn new things from us,” Kelvin said. The Chitsulos look forward to the day when they can build a better house and community for their children.

Patson and Matrida Samson, with their children, Kelvin and Josina, are excited to take the new knowledge they are gaining at SAFI back to their village and help others become independent. The Samsons feel fortunate to be chosen to come to the Mtalimanja Village. “Our lives have been forever changed because of our experiences here,” Patson said. “Thank you to those who have sponsored—and who continue to sponsor—families like ours to learn and grow here at Mtalimanja Village.”

These families, along with 13 others, are still in need of scholarships that will fund their education, room, board, and farming supplies while attending SAFI. To provide a scholarship for $3,600 or to arrange for your scholarship payments to be paid in $300-per-month installments, please contact Jocelyn Shaw at jshaw@nuskin.com.