Climate Smart Farming for Needy Children's Education

Farming with Purpose. Educating with Heart.

This youth-led initiative empowers vulnerable communities in Karonga, Malawi, by combining climate-resilient agriculture with education support. Through sustainable farming practices—like organic manure production, solar-powered irrigation, and flood-resistant crops—FOAS supports food security while generating income to pay school fees for disaster-affected children. The project equips youth with agroecology skills, promotes gender inclusion, and turns climate-smart farming into a lifeline for education and resilience.

Turning Farmland into Classrooms. Growing Hope in Every Harvest.

The Climate Smart Farming for Needy Children’s Education project is a transformative, youth-led initiative by Focus on Ability Society (FOAS) that addresses two pressing challenges in rural Malawi: climate-induced food insecurity and school dropout rates among vulnerable children.

Launched in Chimalabanthu Village, Karonga District, the project responds to the devastating impact of recurrent floods and droughts that have destroyed homes, crops, and livelihoods—leaving many families unable to afford school fees for their children. In the face of this crisis, FOAS introduced a community-based, sustainable farming model that empowers youth while supporting the education of affected students.

Using 6 acres of farmland, the project trains young people (50% female participation) in climate-smart agricultural practices such as:

Organic manure and compost production
Flood-resistant crop cultivation (maize, rice, beans, groundnuts)
Small-scale solar-powered drip irrigation
Rainwater harvesting and contour farming

Harvests from these eco-friendly farming activities are sold to generate funds that pay school fees for 36 vulnerable secondary school students, many of whom were at risk of dropping out due to climate-related poverty. The initiative also reinvests a portion of the profits to sustain future farming cycles—creating a self-sustaining model for education and resilience.

This project promotes:

SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 5: Gender Equality
SDG 2: Zero Hunger

Through hands-on training, FOAS is not only building skills for youth but also restoring dignity, purpose, and opportunity for children whose futures have been disrupted by climate crises.