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23

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.