Butterfly Space is a unique community space aiming to bring together passionate volunteers and the local community. Community, self-sustainability and the environment are some of the central principles of numerous projects within the local community that Butterfly is involved in. These include a nursery school, information room, and youth club. Tree planting and work with local schools has led to an increasing interest in permaculture and this is an area Butterfly seeks to build on.
Permaculture Design Course at Butterfly
To help local people learn and depend their permaculture knowledge, Butterfly is organising a full permaculture design course in March 19th-30th 2012. The course will held at Nkhata Bay, Malawi and is facilitated by Tichafa Makovere. Butterfly are inviting a mixture of international guests and Malawians to learn about the principles of permaculture in a practical setting for rural communities. The local community will be involved and areas of land in two local schools and communities will incorporated within the practicals allowing real life design practise that will remain a permanent feature in the schools and Butterfly Space. Other local schools also involved in permaculture will also be included in what is hoped will be part of the on-going collaboration between Butterfly, local schools and the community.
The focus will be on appropriate technology, soil and water harvesting, indigenous knowledge systems and permaculture in schools, since schools are a key focus point for the community, a chance to influence the coming generation to shift away from the mentality of dependence on aid towards self sufficiency and sustainable resource use.
The story of Tichafa Makovere
Tichafa Makovere's story in itself is fascinating and inspiring. He grew up in a marginalised farming community in Shurugwi, Midlands Region of Zimbabwe. He developed a career in education over 30 years; 20 years as a successful headmaster in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Botswana. In June 1994 he participated in a PDC at the Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre in Zimbabwe sponsored by the SCOPE (Permaculture in Schools and Colleges Outreach) Program. He went on to take first prize for best permaculture implementing school nationally in 1995. He sat as secretary of the Permaculture Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) for 2 years from 1994-1996 and subsequently as chairperson from 1996–1998. He has produced educational materials for SCOPE trainings which are still used by the SCOPE program in Zimbabwe today. Tichafa holds a certificate in synergistic agriculture from a course conducted by Emilia Hazelip of the Pyrenees, France in Botswana in 1995.
In November 2008 Tichafa travelled to Ethiopia and took up the role of Resident PC Facilitator for Strawberry Fields Eco Lodge (SFEL) in Konso, where he has to date facilitated a total of 25 PDCs. He subsequently went on to spear-head the formation of the Permaculture in Konso Schools Project working in partnership with various NGOs such as Save the Children Finland, Mercy Corps, CISS Ethiopia, Ethiopia Permaculture Foundation as well as SFEL itself. His own independent consultancy, Shumba Integrated Eco Designs (SIED) formed in 2010 is now active around Ethiopia with various GOs and NGOs. Tichafa coordinates Slow Food's 34 projects in schools across the country as national coordinator. We'd be very proud if we have done a fraction of that!
Permaculture Design Course at Butterfly
Facilitator: Tichafa Makovere
Dates: March 19th- March 30th
Location: Nkhata Bay Malawi
Venue: Butterfly Space
Requirements: A passion to help with food security in the developing world; strength of will and dedication; a previous PDC or experience practicing PC is not necessary though may come as an advantage.
Certification: Participants, who attend, participate and complete the 72 hour PDC will be issued certificates which has the collaboration with the Green Warrior permaculture which is accepted in most permaculture circles.
Cost: $600
Included:
Two week accommodation at Butterfly Space, Nkhata Bay with breakfast and evening meal.
Two weeks Permaculture Design Course with Tichafa Makovere.
Lunch provided as part of the Permaculture Course
An amazing experience.
For more information about the work of Butterfly and the course please visit www.butterfly-space.com
Contact details
Postal Address: Butterfly Space P O Box 211 Nkhata Bay
Mobile Number: Josie: +265 (0) 999156335
Email: josie.redmonds@gmail.com
Email: enid_van_mierlo@yahoo.com
Mobile: Tichafa +251913544164 +263777626137
Email: bog55chimbwa@hotmail.co.uk
How can i join?
Good article.