Employment
Mbuna Bay Retreat is the only employer in Nkholongue and the neighboring communities. In 2007 45 village people were employed for the construction of the lodge and have since then earned a permanent income for their families of several hundred people. They have been trained by experienced carpenters and builders of the lake region. Additionally, a lodge employed qualified teacher has taught reading and writing and basic English to the workers.
Most of these employees proceeded to be trained for different tasks required for the running of the lodge and are now employed as cooks, kitchen aides, waiters, housekeeping personnel and farmers.
Other Income Opportunities
- The lodge locally buys timber, bamboo, grass and bricks for construction as well as pottery and fire wood.
- In our handicraft shop villagers can sell their artifacts on their own account.
- We usually offer “ganho-ganho” possibilities (task work) to people with various problems like lack of money for school fees, books and uniforms, urgent trips to visit sick family members, as well as to mothers abandoned by their husbands.
Village life in Nkholongue has improved considerably since Mbuna Bay was started:
- Four little shops have opened and sell the basic items, for which people used to walk eight hours.
- Lake Malawi fisher men own more and better canoes as well as bigger nets and therefore make bigger catches.
- Most of the people now sleep on mattresses and have got warm blankets.
- Men transport rice and maize bags with bicycles that before their wives and daughters had to carry on their heads.
- Shared cell phones facilitate communication in this particularly remote area.
