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Case Study: Malawi
One such organisation is the Malawi-based Krizevac,
which has been active in the country for a decade
or more and focuses on empowering poor and
underdeveloped communities to lift themselves
out of the mire. A key programme supported by
the NGO is the Beehive Centre for Social Enterprise
in the Chilomoni region of Blantyre, Malawi.
Unlike many other NGOs Krizevac listens, and when
the community made it abundantly clear that it wanted
opportunity rather than money, the NGO responded by
procuring two Hydraform M7MI interlocking blockmaking
machines. Once the community had been adequately
trained in the correct use of the equipment, it set about
making blocks and building.
As a result, the township has been transformed with the
construction of an IT centre, schools, a children’s centre,
admin centre, refectory as well as staff and volunteers’
housing. The two Hydraform blockmaking machines are
still in situ and operating as a stand-alone enterprise,
tendering for work across the region.
At the same time, a number of other enterprises have been
created, including computer and plant rental operations. The
Beehive Centre is also equipped to act as a hub of support
so that entrepreneurs in Malawi can start new businesses.
A beehive of
activity
Primarily for reasons of sustainability, the Hydraform Building
System has proven very popular with NGOs all over the world.