News – What has been Accomplished!

In an effort to promote good Early Childhood development (ECD), K2 TASO, our Malawi partner, is supporting Community Based Child-Care Centers (CBCC) which are community platforms which are run by community members to give an opportunity for quality ECD.

By definition CBCC is a building with multiple use- as a pre-school and as a feeding station for children aged three to five years. This gives children opportunities to play, meet peers, learn and receive nutritious meals.

CBCCs are managed by community members who deploy caregivers on voluntary basis and the community members are usually parents of children enrolled at the CBCC.

To help establish effective and efficient CBCCs, K2 TASO sponsored training for the committee members managing the CBCCs and the caregivers attached to thirty-five centers in June 2024. After the completion of this training, K2 TASO conducted supervision exercise for CBCCs management during the month of July.

Currently there is a total number of 1529 children enrolled in the 35 CBCCs.

K2 TASO is pleased to support the aims of CBCCs and the opportunity to enhance the partnerships we have with the respective communities. 

The dairy cow herd continues to grow. In total, since January, 25 calves have been born.

Moreover, as of July, 76 of the 306 cows in the project are pregnant, 33 of the cows are pregnant for the first time.  Seven of the pregnant cows are from calves born to our beneficiaries, which shows the program is beginning to become self-sustainable. 

We are investing $1700.00 (K3 Million) on two motorcycles.  These will be used to greatly increase the number of cows that can be inseminated on a daily basis.

In our next phase of introducing Lavender as a cash crop in Malawi, we are looking to import drought resistant strains of lavender.  We are working with an agency in Zambia and with other organizations to source the seeds.

We are investing in composting toilets to help improve sanitation, combat cholera and provide fertilizer.   Each installation has tw0 composting toilets.  One is used for six months and then the second is used for the next six months while the first is composting into manure.  The initial roll-out was funded by a $5,000 grant from the Harvard Lions Club.  We are in discussion with another organization for additional funds to expand the program. 

We are working with Tufts Medical School and University of Massachusetts Medical School to bring 1sr and 4^th year medical students to work with and learn from us and our K2TASO colleagues in Malawi for 6 to 8 weeks.  The students will be involved in direct patient care as well as medical related research to help improve overall health in the district.