AGAPE FARMHANDS

Agape Farmhands is an educational non-profit organization working with and providing funding and management oversight for Agape Farm, located in Malawi, Africa. Started by a small California-based group in January 2022, Agape Farmhands supports Agape Farm by providing funds for programs and food for children and families, capital and agricultural improvements, and salaries for the local Malawi staff. Our mission is to build a prosperous rural community by educating children, empowering girls and women, and equipping men to fully engage with their families.

AGAPE FARM

Agape Farm was founded in August, 2018 by Francis Matumba, when he began raising goats to fund education for girls. Located outside of the small city of Salima in Malawi, Africa, Agape Farm provides the programs that enable girls to further their education, teach and provide meals for children, support women and men in the community, and grow crops and raises animals to support its work and teach agricultural skills. 

Agape Farm works closely with local communities who actively participate in all the decisions about the programs. Most of the staff are from the local area, speak the language, and have a deep understanding of the local context.

ABOUT MALAWI

Malawi is one of the world’s ten poorest countries according to the International Monetary Fund. Extreme poverty results in inadequate food, lack of opportunities for girls, and low educational attainment. 40% of young children’s growth is stunted due to under-nutrition; 40% of girls are married by age 18; and 4% of students graduate from high school (UNICEF). Malawi has a high prevalence of HIV (7.7% according to UNAIDS), malaria, and tuberculosis, and lacks running water and electricity. Over 80% of the population lives in rural areas where they grow their own food. The weather-dependent crops are more difficult to sustain as climate change brings more droughts and extreme weather events.