The Hunger Project’s Mpingo Epicentre community is the third community in Malawi to reach self-reliance. What’s most exciting about this news is that all three of these communities in Malawi have been funded by Australians.
The 11,835 people of Mpingo have partnered with The Hunger Project since 2003 – and with the Eureka Benevolent Foundation since 2015.
There are 3 criteria an Epicentre must achieve in order to be declared self-reliant. Mpingo has achieved all three of them with flying colours:
1) The first criteria required is to have legal recognition as a community development organisation in their own right (separate to The Hunger Project).
2) The second criteria required is a title deed for the property on which the Epicentre building is constructed.
3) The third criteria required is to have a minimum self-reliance score of 80% based on their achievements on 53 measures.
Their future: As a result, the community declared themselves self-reliant, and Then Hunger Project is able to withdraw – and focus our attention on bringing other communities to self-reliance.
Results at Mpingo
Since reaching self-reliance Mpingo has achieved some amazing results across the board in terms of health, education and community engagement.
95% of births are attended by a licensed health care professional.
94% of households have at least one literate person.
90% of farmers are using improved farming methods.
88% of individuals are aware of their HIV status.
84% of children age 4 to 18 are attending school.
84% of individuals now believe they have the ability to implement change.
You can read more about the Mpingo Epicentre and much more in our 2017 Annual Report.