Putting West Whitlawburn on the map in Africa
West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative (WWHC) is working with Malawi's first housing co-operative, the Northern Housing Co-operative Society (NHCS) located in the northern province of Mzuzu. WWHC committee and staff are enthusiastic that sharing their knowledge and experience of running a successful housing co-operative will help NHCS in their early days.
"The housing conditions in Malawi are completely different from those in West Whitlawburn, however we have more in common than meets the eye. Both organisations are committed to improving the environment of their members, and community ownership and self reliance is at the heart of both organisations. West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative has a wealth of expertise in and knowledge of running a housing co-operative and relishes this opportunity to pass on some of that information. We hope that we can give Northern Housing Co-operative Society assistance that will greatly improve the lives of its members. The staff and committee of WWHC are excited about learning from the experience too."
- Susan Small, Projects Officer, West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative
West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative will not be providing financial assistance through charitable donations as they understand the important statement that NHCS is making in choosing the housing co-operative model. In the spirit of co-operation NHCS themselves will install a sense of self reliance in their communities. By encouraging its members to own their own homes, acquire building materials at affordable prices, train and impart technical skills and promote an interest in community development NHCS are extremely ambitious about how they can shape the lives of their communities.
The potential is huge for NHCS to develop and create a housing model in Malawi which can be replicated and entirely self funded as well as being community owned. Housing co-operatives thrive around the world on the principles of democracy, self help and concern for community. West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative is proud to be one small player in the global housing co-operative movement, and hopes that its connections with NHCS will help create a successful housing co-operative model in Malawi.
The twinning opportunity came as a result of WWHC's strong links with the global housing co-operative movement and with the help of the Scotland / Malawi Partnership. NHCS is currently in contact with the Ministry of Housing in Malawi to gain land to develop.
About Malawi
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, and not unlike other African countries HIV/AIDS is a massive problem. There are 800,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, which in turn leaves hundreds of thousands of orphans. Malawi is a long country which comparatively is just smaller that England. Malawi is a former British colony which gained its independence in 1964.
Housing Conditions in Malawi
Mr Muzipasi Shumba the secretary of NHCS in Mzuzu explains,
"Many families and individuals start to build houses. When, for example, a family member dies, mortgages are hard to maintain or financial difficulties are encountered, construction work tends to stop because the family are unable to finance the work. Often as much as 75% of the work has been completed. Instead of completing the house, people tend to either leave it as it is (many 'houses' now have trees growing in them!) or destroy the house, selling the materials. These houses tend to be privately owned. NHCS plans to purchase these houses and enable the families and individuals to complete the work, and inhabit the houses."
Published 28th July 2008