Mwanza H.I.V. Support Group

The Mwanza Support Group is a collective of Malawian women with H.I.V. They use farming as a method in which to sustain themselves. As they work together, their goal is to change cultural stigmas around living with the disease. By growing food in the Mangochi area, they are fighting poverty in their village while inspiring others with H.I.V. to reveal their status and get medicine while being productive farmers.

The group has been working since 2008 with very crude tools. The collective uses watering cans on their crops with water taken from a local hand pump. Not far away is the river which could provide much needed water with less demanding physical labor, especially those who are in poor health. The primary goal of this GO FUND ME project is to generate enough funds to purchase Treadle Pumps for irrigation, which brings water directly from the river to their farms. We also want to provide them with good shovels, fertilizers and pesticides. The collective includes 14 women and 1 man.

By supporting this group, we are supporting a feminist effort to change the perception of women living with H.I.V. in Malawi while uplifting an entire community. People who reveal their status are often demonized by their neighbors.

One year ago, I met these women through W.I.N. Malawi, my mother´s NGO, and I made a solemn promise to them that I would help get these vital materials because their work is critical and timely. I leave for Malawi in 10 days and will take whatever funds are gathered to purchase these much needed goods; sharing stories with the Collective about your generosity. This video shares their story with their own words. Me and my people building! Thank you!