PROJECTS

Renaissance Company of Malawi

The objectives of the 'Renaissance Company of Malwai' project are to build a modern, high-tech, and solar "smart community" with private corporate investment funds backed by global public finance. The project will be profitable and sustainable for all stakeholders, and seeks to achieve the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals within three years of operations--a true megaproject with global meaning. It is doable if we carefully break it down into manageable bites leading inevitably to the objectives.

The Feasibility Study objectives are twofold: to organize and prepare the conditions in which a win-win scenario for moving this project to finance is present for the FDI companies, the investors and financers, and the Government of Malawi; and to ensure that it generates interest in the residents and workers drawn to the new community, and the world that is watching us do this.   

March 17th, 2023 update: The immediate need is to help recover from the Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which has devastated the country. Please read the following letter.

March 17, 2023

It has been a very busy year so far and I am very happy to report that we continue to make progress on our two projects in Malawi and Sudan. In Sudan we are working with the DAL Group, a very large and successful company we have introduced to a possible partnership here in the United States that will greatly enhance their production capabilities and customer base. We hope to help them with building a Sustainable Solar Community for their workforce in Sudan.

In Malawi, we are working with an excellent partner, Nir Gess and his Africa Export Limited company to expand his greenhouse operations and shelter for rescued trafficked young girls, Beth Israel Safe Home Malawi, in Lilongwe, the capitol of Malawi. Nir is an Israeli who has been working in Malawi for many years.

Last December I was able to meet with the President of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera, at the Africa Leadership Summit in Washington, DC and discuss the project that I am doing with Nir at the Kamuzu International Airport, just north of Lilongwe. You can see a short video of this project in concept by clicking on this link. We are working to obtain funding for the Feasibility Study, approximately $750,000 so that the Sustainable Solar Community can be proven feasible and funded by Foreign Direct Investment using the Feasibility Study.

Over the several years we have been working with Nir and Malawi, we have also been able to help several communities, especially the Maternity Clinic on Chisi Island on Lake Chilwa by providing them with a new water ambulance that can take patients (distressed birthing mothers) to superior medical facilities on the mainland during difficult deliveries; this cuts a 2 hour boat ride to 16 minutes, which definitely saves lives. This was accomplished just 3 weeks ago with the assistance of my home town Bow, NH Rotary Club, our local Interact and Earlyact Clubs, the local Rotaract Club in Zomba and Nir, who provided his account to funnel the $2,500 contribution to buy the boat, motor and supplies. (He covers the transaction fees.) You can see photos of 1) the boat launching without the motor, 2) the Rotary logos painted on the boat, and 3) the maiden voyage I took via Zoom with 7 women onboard serenading me with folk songs of thanks. We are working with a Polish Foundation call Yorghas and its Director, Alina Pelka, pictured in the upper left corner. It has proven to be a wonderful blessing for the community.

1)  Photos have yet to be posted                                             2)   Photos have yet to be posted                 3)   Photos have yet to be posted                             

I wish I could say that was all the news to report, but it isn’t and the rest is all bad news. Less than a week ago Malawi was hit by a terrible Tropical Cyclone Freddy (TCF) that was the largest in recorded history. It has caused extensive devastation in 12 Districts, one of them includes Zomba where the lake and island are located. I made mention of this tragedy this morning at my Bow Rotary Club breakfast meeting, without asking for donations and ended up with 3 donors who gave me $700. I was surprised to receive the donations but deeply grateful for their generosity and motivated to raise more for these suffering friends in Malawi. Below is 4) a photo of the headlines of the devastation, including displacement of over 88,000 people and loss of 326 lives and 2) a heartbreaking video of a child who was drowned in the floods is attached to this email.

Our person on the ground in Lilongwe is Moses Busher, who works for the Yorghas Foundation. He writes:

4) Photos have yet to be posted

UPDATE ON EFFECTS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE FREDDY

Dear Amb. Swett,

I hope this text finds you well. I have included here in this communication the list of immediate things needed in the affected districts and also the current update of affected districts and number of people.                                                                                                                                                           

DISTRICTS HEAVLY AFFECTED

The most affected districts in Malawi are 12, and these areas; 

Blantyre City, Blantyre District, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Machinga, Mulanje, Neno, Nsanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, Zomba City and Zomba District. (My underlining because that is where we are.)

Cumulatively, TCF-induced flooding, strong winds and mudslides have displaced 19,676 households (approximately 88,312 people) with 165 camps set to accommodate the displaced. The death toll has risen from 190 (as reported in our previous update dated 14th March 2023) to 225 with 707 injured and 41 reported missing.   

As indicated by clusters, the affected people require various relief items as shown below. 

SHELTER                                                        NON FOOD ITEMS

Plastic Sheet                                               Plates

Blankets                                                      Cups

Sleeping mats                                           Pots

                                                                    Buckets

                                                                     Soap

EDUCATION                                                  FOOD SECURITY

Lighting lamps for studying                     Maize/ Maize Flour

Writing materials and Backpacks          Cooking Oil

Re-usable sanitary pads                         Pulses (beans, peas etc)                                

                                                                     Soya Pieces/instant relish     

HEALTH                                                         Dry Fish/ kapenta

Mosquito nets                                             Sugar

Hand sanitizer                                             Salt

Chlorine                                                           

I am approaching Rotary International, who contributes over $100 million to worthwhile projects annually as well as my own Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to request assistance in dealing with this catastrophe. I am also sending this letter to all my friends around the world, asking for their support. The good that might come from this is not only the “Band-Aid” that can be put over the wound caused by TCF, but it could also be the Feasibility Study that allows us to build a Sustainable Solar Community that will create jobs, ownership and new opportunities for the citizens of Malawi. It starts with helping them get through a very difficult tropical cyclone and the damage it caused.

I have a 501(c)(3) non-profit that you can contribute to by making a deposit in my Venmo Account, my Zelle Account or by sending me a check to 1 Putney Road, Bow, NH 03304. That account will enable you to receive a tax deduction. The money will then be deposited in Nir Gess’s account who will purchase and distribute the goods from the list above.  

I hope you can find a few dollars in your dresser drawer that can be donated to this dire need and important cause. I would be so grateful, but more importantly, my friends in Malawi will be very grateful.

Your friend,

Ambassador (ret) Richard N. Swett, FAIA