In late October we sent funds to our partner Margaret to develop a community garden. She has experience in this realm and was VERY excited to get an early jump on this before our return. We spoke with her the other night and she tells us the crops are green and growing, and that she’ll have a lot to show us when we arrive.

The only catch is, that some of the women on the original project left– because a jealous person in the community spread false rumors that Margaret had kept back some of the funds for herself.

Jealousy is a common problem in Malawi, as in any place that struggles with such extreme poverty. Jealousy keeps some people from working too hard (since they assume they’ll be cursed for getting ahead), and forces others to downplay their successes.

A friend of ours who manages a construction firm in Malawi, says that his workers can do a beautiful job making a home–every angle is straight and perfect. But when it comes to building their own homes, some intentionally keep things a little crooked, so as not to boast at their skills and decent-paying jobs.

These lessons on the hardships of jealousy and group projects are important ones, and will help us strengthen our plans for ‘women in small business’ programs.

Though we wish she did not have to deal with these cultural issues, Margaret has done a fantastic job of leading and seeing to it that the garden continues as planned.

We hope to have some photos of the garden and the women tending it, in the spring newsletter!