INTRODUCTION
This report covers the activities carried out both in Zomba and Machinga districts by Zikomo project from the June to mid July 2013.
1. CROP PRODUCTION SWEET POTATO
The project facilitated the harvesting of sweet potato crop at Matande center during the period. The project has managed to harvest a huge amount of products from small piece of land. This program is for Nursery school children. The products are equivalent to k11,000.00 Malawi kwacha. See the picture of the products.
2. LOAN PROGRAM
The project planned to facilitate the distribution of loan to 41 beneficiaries (both new and old members). So far the program was done as planned and a total of k950,000.00 Malawi kwacha was distributed to these members. This is the fourth loan to be distributed at the center. See some of the pictures captured during the distribution.
3. LIVESTOCK PROGRAM
The project planned to monitor livestock performance in some of the centers during the period. So far livestock in the following centers were monitored, Nsadi, Nakutepa and Matande. At matande 3 goat kids have been kidded. At Nasdi 1 kid was kidded, and at Nakutepa 1kid was also kidded, so a total of 5 goat kids were kidded during the period.
INPACT OF LIVESTOCK PROGRAM

- More and more farmers are accessing goats in the project areas through the passing on program. As a result, the livestock farmers are becoming less prone to nutritional diseases since they are now accessing high value animal protein.
- The farmers who have finished passing on to others are able to sell some of the goats to those who are interested to rear them and the proceeds are used for general household needs.
- Farmers benefited manure for their garden through the program. v Increased livestock holding per family or household.
4. POTABLE WATER/ SHALLOW WELL PROGRAM
The project planned to construct one shallow well at Nakutepa and monitor the performance of Matande shallow well. So far the program was done as planned, a shallow well that was donated by Maria from Britain was constructed at Nakutepa . This well is wealthy k360,000.00 Malawi kwacha. People of Nakutepa village are accessing clean water from the well. The well at Matande is working very well.
INPACT OF POTABLE WATER PROGRAM
v Reduction in distance covered by women in fetching water, hence time saved is used in carrying out beneficial activities in their homes.
v Reduction in cases of water born diseases such as diarrhea and dysentery/cholera, hence people are health and are able to carry out various development activities.
COMMENT
The project has a plan to construct two shallow wells in Kawinga project, (one at Nsadi and one at Likwanya, hence funding will be needed for the program.
See pictures of shallow well at Nakutepa,

5. ORPHAN AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN CARE/ NURSERY SHOOL PROGRAM
The project planned to monitor the closing ceremony of third term at Matande center. So far a total of 8 children have graduated to start standard one from Matande center. These children have been given exercise books, pencils and some snacks. The project has also donated second hand clothes to all the children of Matande nursery school during that day as one way of encouraging their parents to send their children to school. The project had a total of 281 children attending classes during the third term from all the four centers as follows,
NSADI CENTER 120 children
NAKUTEPA CENTER 79 children
LIKWANYA CENTER 40 children
MATANDE CENTER 44 children
See pictures captured during school closing ceremony at Matande
CHILDREN RECEIVED ITEMS PLUS SECOND HAND CLOTHES DURING END OF THIRD TERM AT MATANDE
6. FISH FARMING PROGRAM
The project planned to monitor the performance of fish farming program at Matande center, pay the care takers of the fish and application of manure into the ponds. So far, all these planned activities were done as planned. The program is doing very well and most of the farmers are happy with this program. The ponds are also beautifying the center. See the pictures captured during the period,
7. INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PANELS AT NAKUTEPA AND MSADI CENTERS
The project planned to complete the installation of solar panels in two centers of kawinga project during the period and also to monitor the performance of the program in all the three centers where the panels were installed and pay the contractors. So far all these planned activities were done as planned. A total of k3.4 million was used for the installation of solar panels in two centers of kawinga project. People of these two centers are happy with the program as they are able to charge phones, watch videos and for lightening. People are thanking the project for transforming the center into town as many people from other villages come to these centers for various services. See the pictures of the program bellow,
INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PANELS AT NSADI

8. DONATION OF PLASTIC CUPS AND SECOND HAND CLOTHES
The project received a donation of 420 plastic cups for Nursery school program and one bag of second hand clothes from Maria and Kevin (teachers from St. Andrews in Blantyre). People from all the centers will be happy with the donation once we will finish distributing them, as this will minimize the problems that the centers are facing on feeding program. See pictures of this program.
9. CONSTRUCTION OF LIKWANYA COMMUNITY HALL

The project has planned to construct a community hall at Likwanya village. This activity will start very soon as the villagers are busy molding additional bricks for the project. Board will meet very soon to discourse on this program, hence funding will be needed.
10. MAIZE MILL FOR MATANDE CENTER
The project is planning to start the construction of house for the maize mill at Matande community center. This project will start once we have enough funds as it is in three phases as follows,
1) Construction of a house.
2) Applying for electricity (Eskom)
3) Procurement of maize mill
11. YOUTH PROGRAM
This is aimed at promoting behavior change through effective communication in the project areas. During the period, we planned to monitor some of the groups in the project area. So far we managed to visit Matande, Nsadi and Nakutepa youth groups. See some of the activities done by these groups through drama.
Bazwell Makanda
