PERMACULTURE

OUTREACH PROGRAM

Permaculture is one of the extra-curricular activities that are encouraged and practiced at MOET. Permaculture encourages the growth of ecosystems sustainably and this is a key objective of MOET.

One of our teachers can be seen teaching about vegetation ecology outside of classroom hours. Pupils are paying attention to the details of this educational talk and are taking an interest in environmental conservation.

Permaculture

Overall this involves training guardians and communities the importance of conserving and the use of natural resources wisely to prevent and ease some of the simple problems faced by the poor rural masses in tropical regions. Organic farming techniques and the use of natural herbal medicine is encouraged to reduce the overdependence of chemical, mono-cropping agriculture and western medicine. As a centre for this Outreach Program MOET school needs to intensify water harvesting campaign and buy more equipment.

Guardian involvement

The school invites the guardians of the pupils from the villages, thereby bringing education to the local community.

HIV/AIDS Awareness
Permaculture/Environment
Bereavement Counselling (through the District Social Welfare Dept)

What is Permaculture?

The word ‘permaculture’ comes from ‘permanent agriculture’ and ‘permanent culture’ – it is about living lightly on the planet, and making sure that we can sustain human activities for many generations to come, in harmony with nature.

MOET School has offered school and community permaculture training to orphans and vulnerable children, guardians and other Community Based Organisations (CBOs) since 2005.

Training includes organic farming techniques, nutrition and household food security and environmental education, which involves:

Recycling of resources and composting
Designing organic gardens for households, schools and communities
Techniques such as water harvesting
Establishment of multi-purpose tree seedling nurseries

MOET School has achieved much in this area:

Patterson Majonanga (Headmaster & Director) represented Malawi at the World Permaculture Conference in 2007
MOET School has been awarded the prize of the most improved permaculture site from all of South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi at the World Permaculture Conference held in Malawi in November 2009.