By Pat Boland | Director, Rural Poultry Centre, Malawi
Greetings from a wet Malawi! The wet season here has been exceptional this year, and there is a wonderful sense of optimism across the countryside. The maize crop - our critical staple food - shows promise of a better-than-average harvest, and with that foundation of food security, families are looking ahead with hope. At the Rural Poultry Centre, we are looking ahead too, and what we see is transformative.
It is now some time since we acquired land for Malawi's first dedicated Farmer Field School focused entirely on village poultry. This is a milestone we have worked toward for years. Following the proven principles of FAO Farmer Field Schools, this facility will serve as both a training hub and a working demonstration site where farmers can see, touch, and learn improved poultry management techniques in a practical, hands-on environment.
We have already constructed a small building that will serve as a storeroom and egg incubation room. Even in these early stages, the site is beginning to take shape as a centre of learning and possibility. Thanks to significant support through the Australian Government's Direct Aid Program, our next step is to construct a separate training unit comprising a purpose-built meeting and training room with attached food preparation facilities. This space will allow us to gather farmers - with a special focus on women, who are traditionally the caregivers of village poultry - for innovative, immersive, and practical sessions that build both skills and confidence.
We have secured much of the funding needed for this construction, and the basics will be well under way during this year. To complete the project and make it fully operational, we need to top up our resources for furnishings and perimeter security fencing - essential elements that will transform a building into a functional, safe learning environment.
Once the training unit is usable, we will begin working with local groups, initially focusing on women in surrounding communities. But this school is designed for scale. It will enable us not only to assist local farmers directly but also to serve as a focal point for communities across a much wider region. By training local trainers and developing a skilled network of poultry experts, we will amplify our impact exponentially.
The challenge we address remains urgent. In rural Malawi, chickens offer one of the most accessible pathways out of poverty - providing protein for children and income for families. Yet devastating diseases like Newcastle disease have long kept this potential out of reach. The Farmer Field School model works because it empowers farmers to become experts in their own context, learning together and carrying solutions back to their villages.
When you support this project, you are not simply helping us construct a building. You are helping us create a permanent institution for learning, resilience, and hope. You are helping families protect their flocks, feed their children, and build sustainable livelihoods from the ground up.
The 2026 wet season brings promise. With your continued partnership, that promise will take root, grow, and multiply across Malawi for years to come.
Warmly, Pat Boland.
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
