Ten Brinke - News Reader

As part of our long-standing collaboration with Loyce Sikakula's Tandala team, we had the honor of welcoming Loyce, her husband Michael and her brother Reuben as our guests in Germany and the Netherlands in October 2024.

The aim of the trip was to learn first-hand about the work of the Tandala team in Malawi in direct conversation with the guests, to exchange questions and insights into vegetable cultivation and to get to know agricultural techniques, as the new Tandala farm will also be used for livestock farming in addition to vegetable cultivation. The guests were also given an insight into the culture and urban life in Europe. The visit to an organic vegetable farm, goat farm and various dairy cattle and bull fattening farms, as well as the insight into the challenges and requirements involved, was very inspiring for the guests. The exchange of tips and techniques between the Malawian and local farmers was particularly enriching. Climate change poses major challenges for farmers in Malawi, with several floods in recent years alternating with periods of drought, even leading to famine. According to our guests, the weather is no longer reliable.

In addition to these intensive visits, the program also included other highlights such as a visit to Cologne Cathedral, the Houthavenkade construction site in Zaandam, a day in Amsterdam with a canal cruise, a boat trip in Enter and a church service in Rijssen. Guests were also able to enjoy Dutch specialties such as liquorice, stroopwafels and bitterballen.

The visit from Malawi was a complete success and showed how important a direct exchange is to promote understanding and cooperation across borders.