From 2025, with the volunteer support of Ms. Kimura from the JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in Malawi, we are delivering glimpses of daily life and tidbits of information! Ms. Kimura’s main placement is in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi.

He stays centrally to support our meal aid efforts in Mzimba (north) and Blantyre (south), where we provide meal support.

Reports from Ms. Kimura, living in environments similar to our meal sites, greatly encourage us by keeping us informed about Malawi’s latest conditions. They also provide valuable insights for everyone supporting us, collaborating companies, and schools.

Basic Information About Malawi: Malawi is a country in southeastern Africa, slightly smaller than Japan. It features Lake Malawi, a large lake. The national flag is characterized by a half-sun in black, red, and green. Contrary to common belief about African countries being hot, Malawi has only two seasons—rainy and dry—with temperatures rarely exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, making it a comfortable climate without Japan’s humid heat.

In Malawi, a staple food called “nsima” is made by cooking maize flour with water until thickened. Nsima itself is bland, typically eaten with side dishes like chicken or vegetable stews cooked with tomatoes, eaten by hand. The trick to enjoying it lies in kneading and eating it by hand, similar to the role rice plays in Japanese cuisine. Of course, supermarkets also sell rice, bread, and spaghetti.

Common snacks include “mandazi,” unsweetened doughnuts, and “samosa,” similar to spring rolls, often sold from buckets by the roadside.

Our representative, Makoto Yamaeda, remembers eating potatoes for two meals every day. Once upon a time, Irish potatoes were grown here in this area.

By observing food culture, we can gain insight into the way people live and the wisdom they embody.
With the continued support of Ms. Kimura, we will keep sharing information about Malawi!

Thank you, Ms. Kimura!