The Famine In the meantime, thanks to the vagaries of the climate and perhaps the influence of global warming in recent years, the regular and reliable rainy season in southern Africa has been disrupted. We therefore embarked on a major fundraising project in 2001 which to date (November 2003) has raised about £18,000.00 to help feed the hungry and pay the clergy. The later is important as the local Church represents a focal point for local communities by way of organisation and activities. The Solar Panel Project Following the success of our Malawi Fund Appeal to feed the hungry and help support the Diocese of Lake Malawi, we have decided to embark on a specific project within the overall ambit of the Fund. Energy resources are scarce in Malawi with a severe shortage of wood for heating water and cooking. Remaining forests are now severely depleted and wood for the Lake Malawi area is often transported over 100 miles, in addition electricity, which is also used for the same purpose is scare, rationed and expensive. There is however a largely untapped source of endless free energy in the copious amount of Malawian sunshine, which is available almost every day! To help capture this resource the Malawi Fund has embarked on a project of low technology (but highly efficient) solar panels for schools, hospitals and public buildings. We hope to use the skills of Christian engineers from the Lebanon (where they regularly use solar panels) to help and advise - in due course it is also hoped that Malawians will be able to make panels themselves and eventually they will become commonplace saving huge amounts of money and forest. The main Malawi Appeal Fund remains open but we hope that this project will continue to flourish. Nicholas Henderson Vicar | 
