From an early age I, Josie Redmonds, have been interested in political environmental and social affairs. After A’levels in Sociology, Politics and Geography, I completed a BSc Development Studies at the University of Wales,Swansea.

 

Throughout this time I was becoming increasingly sceptical of the form of `development’ that was being pushed. It seemed to me that it was
causing many problems, both within the physical and social environment, which were not being addressed.

 

After my degree I moved towards environmental issues and was involved in different voluntary work including a spell at The Centre of Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, Wales.
I have also held a lifelong passion for Africa. I constantly studied the area, both in my degree and personally and I always wanted to come and do some voluntary work in Africa somewhere.

 

In 2001 I set off to Zambia and within a few months was volunteering at a Permaculture project near Manchewe in northern Malawi. I learnt very much from Leiza du Preez and what she is doing there and we were involved in re-building a local restaurant, compost toilet and gardens. We also worked with the lady in charge to introduce different cooking ideas.

 

After nine months I returned to the UK and was determined to return to Malawi. I loved the country and the people and felt there was real potential to do some useful and interesting voluntary work. Numerous small-scale groups and individuals I had met during my first trip were
involved in agriculture within Malawi and, with most of the population dependent upon it, it seemed like the perfect place to volunteer in an area I was really interested in.

 

While saving to return I managed to secure a donation from Seeds for Africa, a small UK based charity, to buy seeds and tools for schools interested in starting a school garden. When I returned in 2004 I set about meeting with schools in the Nkhata Bay region and have worked with 6 schools ever since then have been working with the schools to help them develop school gardens to feed the children. ( a more detailed report of the school project can be found???)

 

Since 2005 I have also been working in other areas. I feel very strongly that, alongside agriculture, information and education can be essential in creating opportunities for the community. A local Community Based Organisation (CBO), africa unplugged , which aims to “Promote Greater Awareness and Understanding through Communication and Education” were establishing themselves and I helped them in this vein.

 

During this time I had increasing contact with the Government around Nkhata Bay and local community members. I had also gained another donation, from the Suzy Fund that had enabled me to initiate a mushroom growing initiative. It was
taught by a Malawian lady, Mrs Mwalungile, and took place over a six-month period and reached over thirty people.

 

Throughout 2006 we managed to encourage a few volunteers to help out in certain areas and it was a very active year for community projects in and around Nkhata bay. (more
information on all these projects can be found on the africa unplugged newsletters)

 

After spending nearly four years, on and off in Malawi, it came to the time when I had to decide where to put down my roots, whether I would stay in Malawi or return to Europe. Meeting Alice decided me. We had very similar visions of the work we wanted to do and when Butterfly went up for sale it
seemed unbelievable that we would be able to get such a beautiful spot in which to try our ideas.

 

Now the work begins, to try and make Butterfly Space into an inclusive, entertaining and informative place for the whole community and passing visitors.