Briquette Project

Mary Popple • March 18, 2021

Grace Mwanguti has a vision. Can you help?

Grace Mwanguti a woman rice farmer in Karonga, Northern Malawi wants to start a business to turn the waste product from rice milling into a useful fuel for cooking. The idea is not new, but what is really different is that this will be a business to be run by women for women. It will help ease the lives of women rice farmers who for generations have had the back-breaking job of collecting firewood in the hills and also help to stop the denudation of the hill slopes itself a serious environmental and climate emergency issue. The business will also give women training in management and computing skills, and potentially more confidence in their abilities in a society where women do not traditionally have equality of opportunity with men.

JTS and the Balmore trust are raising money to help Grace and her farming colleagues turn the vision into a reality. The start-up project has now begun, and the women are busy building sheds and learning about financial management.

The project encompasses building two brick sheds, provide two briquette making machines, storage, management computing facilities and training and running for the first four months of work. Because of a large spike in Covid cases since November and a high death rate we have now included provision of PPE for the workers and their families in the budget. In consultation with our colleagues in Malawi we agreed to send £1500 from project funds to buy mask making equipment (sewing machines), cloth and sanitising equipment, in order to try to keep the women safe as they work. The Covid spike has now passed but has left much uncertainty. Several politicians are among the dead and, because testing is not available to all who might need it, the infection rate and death toll is believed to have been considerably higher than the formal figures show.

Our budget is £10,000 to include the additional PPE. So far £4,000 has been donated. We would like this building project to be completed by the time the rice harvest commences in May/June this year when the first rice hasks could be processed.

Through this project we will:

• Support the development of an emerging woman’s business

• Make the daily lives of women less arduous

• Contribute to the manufacture of inexpensive cooking fuel for families

• Reduce the problems created by undisposed, rotting rice hasks

• Help upskill members of this rural community, particularly women

• Support ongoing work against climate change by reducing deforestation.

I wonder if you can help. Please donate any amount no matter how small, through our Total Giving page here

Mary Popple

Chair of JTS and Trustee of the Balmore Trust

DONATE NOW

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A woman standing at church fair trade stall with lots of delicious fair trade products available

How to Run a True Origin Fair Trade Stall at Your Church

By Nicola Taylor • July 3, 2026

A Fair Trade stall is about so much more than selling tea, coffee and chocolate. Every purchase supports smallholder farmers and producers who are working incredibly hard to build sustainable livelihoods in the face of climate change, rising fuel costs and an unpredictable global market. For many of the communities we work with, having reliable customers is essential. By running a True Origin stall at your church, you become part of that support network, helping to create regular demand for products that often aren't available in supermarkets or high street shops. Whether your church is passionate about global justice, caring for creation or simply making a practical difference, a Fair Trade stall is a simple but powerful way to turn those values into action. Start Small You don't need a huge team or a large budget to get started. Begin by talking with your church leaders about the idea. Many churches are happy to provide a small loan or donation to purchase initial stock, particularly if it can be repaid gradually as sales grow. Remember that most of the income from a stall is best reinvested into buying more stock rather than raising money for church funds. This helps keep the stall sustainable and ensures producers continue to receive orders. If you're new to running a stall, don't worry, you won't be on your own. The True Origin team and experienced Fair Traders are always happy to share advice and practical tips.