Thursday 1st July
Donut Factory
Umbrellas are up again, not for sheltering from the rain but from the sun. Not a cloud was seen today when I was aiming towards the far a way village of Nasyaya. I have always liked the women of Nasyaya and admired their enthusiasm. They started growing vegetables in a big communal garden last autumn (spring here), but now I had heard that the village headman had taken the land back for himself and that was the end of the garden project. The blazing sun was sending burning questions into my mind: “What in earth can I offer to them instead?” I wanted to see the people; I wanted to give encouragement, but encouragement for what – just for hoping the best? Nasyaya is rather a small village and therefore they have ‘only’ 21 orphans to look after, but even 21 children need many spoonfuls of food, clothes and schooling.
People of Nasyaya never fail to surprise me and neither did they now. Happy, smiling group of women with their babies was welcoming me and it soon became clear that my worries were unfounded. A clear, detailed plan, which would replace the garden project, had been made. “We want to make ‘mandasis’, they informed me, “And when we have made enough money we shall start mushroom production.” These ‘mandasis’, crispy donuts, are very popular and big bowls, full of them are for sale everywhere. Nasyaya is such an isolated village that it would probably be easy to sell them to local people, but for 5 kwacha each (2,5 pence), they have to sell 3000 mandasis before there would be enough money for a mushroom house. But I like it, I like it! I am always preaching here to aim high, but start small and now I can actually see someone taking that advise seriously. I was hugged and cheered when I promised that Joseph would deliver them a starter kit of flour and oil, sugar and salt and yeast and we agreed the date for me to come and try my hand on donut making.
Two weeks later, when I was winding my way to Nasyaya for the cooking experience, grey clouds were hanging low and this time the umbrellas were giving protection from a drizzling rain. Rain had done its job, as young Thanda had explained to me another day: “ Mud is water and soil mixed together.” Yes, water and soil had definitely created mud in the market area, but children’s waves were as cheerful as ever and women brought the smaller ones closer to the road to see the ‘azungu’. A small girl, wearing a white laced dress, sat beside the road eating mud as if it was delicious soup. Anaemia is causing this confusion and body starts craving for mud. Her guardians probably didn’t have even 5 kwacha for buying mandasis. She lives in very deprived area where only 40% of adult population can read even basic sentences. Lack of clean water is also a problem as there are only few open wells where to draw water. This came as a surprise to me: I have always seen women pumping water from deep, well structured wells and believed that there is a good network of clean water supply in Malawi, without noticing the lack of it quite close to my own home.
After passing the market, the clouds started disappearing and long before I reached Nasyaya, the grey rock at the top of the Mount Soche could be seen quite clearly. The donut cooking could start in earnest without disturbing rain. Hot oil was sizzling in a pan when I arrived and dough was ready, waiting to be transferred into delicious ‘mandasis’. “We have sold already 100 ‘mandasis’. It is very easy to sell them and our volunteer group is growing daily. Everyone – even one man, is wanting to help!” happy women keenly explained.
We were all crouching around the fire and the sizzling oil pan. There was a strong feeling of togetherness among us and when I was given the first mandasi to taste, I knew this group was determined to succeed.
