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A solution to Corruption? - Social Enterprise  The Social Enterprise model differs from a traditional charity model, as the recipients are paying a fair price for the good or service. As long as the customers continue to purchase the good, there is proof that the product is needed. The main benefit of this model compared to charity, is the sustainability and long-term impact. Charity donations are largely affected by the current economic conditions in the donor country, and as such, donation levels can vary drastically. In periods of strong economic prosperity, charities receive large donations that can be distributed to the developing nations in need. The problem arises when these funds are reduced. The services and goods that were being relied upon stop arriving from the charities and as a result, many individuals and families are placed in a precariously isolated situation. From a broad perspective, and from the arguments above, my team and I truly b...

A solution to Corruption? - Social Enterprise Please forgive the clickbait title, as there is no easy way to solve corruption. This trait has been ingrained in human society since the dawn of time, and no new business model can fix this. Yet this new relatively new business model, social enterprise, does have merit in contributing aid in areas particularly stricken with corruption. The company I worked with in Malawi, Project Everest, is dedicated to creating socially beneficial goods and services for the people who need them. By creating socially beneficial goods and services, in comparison to monetary and other forms of aid, there is no chance for corrupt government bodies and officials to act as a middleman in the distribution process. By providing sustainable and socially beneficial business straight to the consumers in need. The inherent problem with the charity model will be explored in the next blog post, as for a special treat, this topic deserves a more in depth a...

Social Injustice - Malawi There are a variety of reasons to visit Malawi, but there are also a variety of reasons not to. The social-injustice present in this small economy creates a great deal of social problems. Government corruption is a large portion of this social-injustice. The number of late model Mercedes-Benz vehicles throughout Blantyre, the city I spent most of my time in, was unattractively contrasted with the disturbing figure of average income in Malawi. The latest figures state that the average yearly income in Malawi per person is $608.31 AUD, but has been declining since 2014. Government corruption in Malawi creates a large divide between the population, and often furthers a distinct race segregation. In Malawi, the wealthy class is predominately of Indian heritage, whereas the mass populace is of African heritage. Throughout the 5 weeks I spent in this welcoming, yet troubled population, I witnessed no dislike between these two parties, yet the distinction i...

Tourism in Malawi As you may have gathered by now, Malawi is certainly not a regular tourist destination. Therefore, the 'activities' for visitors to the country are limited. Arguably one of the most beautiful regions of the country is at Lake Malawi. An enormous in land lake that is hared between various African nations, but in Malawi, it is appropriately named lake Malawi. Although swimming is unfortunately not an option at this attraction, there are numerous short cruises you can embark on for a reasonable fair. Below you can see a photo on the shore of the lake with a book in hand (apologies for the portrait orientation). Along with relaxing by the lake side, Malawi is home to a large game reserve for the more adventurous. I went to the Majete national park for a weekend saw an array of animals. Including a generously endowed elephant. Another popular tourist attraction in Malawi is climbing the tallest mountain, Mount Mulanje. The climb is difficult and lon...

T he Malawian Culture From the very start, I knew Malawi would be completely different from any country I had visited in the past. Malawi is regarded as the poorest nation in Africa and as a result one of the poorest countries in the world. More than half the population lives below the poverty line. One often believes poverty and crime go hand-in-hand, yet Malawi is also regarded as 'The warm heart of Africa' and is ranked as the happiest country in Africa. These surprising statistics all boil down to one thing, which is the Malawian Culture. The people in this commonly overlooked country always greet you with the warmest smiles and their generosity is second to none. Throughout the weeks I spent in this country, I encountered on numerous occasion individuals or families living in absolute poverty willing to share what little food or water they possessed. When I first arrived in this beautiful country, everyone on my team approached everything with a respectful fea...