MALVERN resident and Priory member, Sally Taylor, was invited to speak to Lunch Box about the work of her daughter Jo, in Malawi.

When Jo and her friend Sophie visited the country as part of a world-wide travel experience, she was very impressed by Malawi and the rural people, their poverty and lack of many facilities including running water and medical services.

Temwa works to support the people of northern Malawi. This area is one of the most disadvantaged and remote regions in the world.

They train villagers to grow a variety of vegetables and fruit to improve the nutrition in their diet. They plant trees to combat the devastating effects of deforestation.

They run HIV testing clinics and work to combat the stigma surrounding those who test positive.

They build school blocks and fund students through their secondary school education.

They enable entrepreneurs to turn their business plans into reality with small business loans - crucially, these projects are all driven by the local communities.

In many of the region's villages, Temwa is the only organisation working with them. They are a growing charity with a dedicated team of thirty-nine full-time Malawian staff in Malawi. The majority of the staff is from the local communities. This instils a unique cultural understanding and trust amongst these remote communities.

Temwa has a small UK-based office in Bristol, with two full time staff and the support of loyal volunteers who generate valuable funds and create awareness of the work that is being done.

Although the two offices are in different countries, they operate a united team. In the local language “temwa” means community love. This symbolises their mission: the community working together, for each other.

A collection was taken after the meeting in aid of Temwa.

The next Lunch Box which will be held on Thursday, March 5 will be a talk given by Roger Smith entitled Ark Hunting on Mount Ararat. It is expected that it will be held in the Priory.

Refreshments from12.30pm the talk will start at 1pm – all welcome, no charge