ACT Alliance

Florence Shawa, a mother of three and a young leader from a small village in northern Malawi, knows her life has been changed through education.

She received training in crop improvement as part of an agriculture program in her community supported by Presbyterian World Service and Development.

Florence’s voice is filled with excitement as she speaks of how she is learning to improve her crops. She has been taught the importance of vitamins and it has improved the health of her children. Florence and her husband now grow not only corn, but also cassava, peanuts, soy, pumpkins and vegetables.

She is overjoyed with the positive changes that have been made in her life.

“Good education is the key to poverty reduction,” she explains. “Money shortages are a thing of the past.”

Standing outside her humble home, Florence’s eyes sparkle as she gestures to the small plots of crops growing around her. “See educated people. We are like millionaires!”