Permaculture Design Course at Butterfly Space, Malawi.
Facilitator: Tichafa Makovere
Dates: March 19th- March 30th
Location: Nkhata Bay Malawi
Venue: Butterfly Space
Requirements: A passion to help with food security in the developing world; strength of will and dedication; a previous PDC or experience practicing PC is not necessary though may come as an advantage.

Cost: $600
Included:
Two week accommodation at Butterfly Space, Nkhata Bay with breakfast and evening meal.
Two weeks Permaculture Design Course with Tichafa Makovere.
Lunch provided as part of the Permaculture Course
An amazing experience.

Tichafa Makovere will host a two week PDC at Butterfly Space in Nkhata Bay Malawi. In this first collaboration we hope to invite a mixture of International guests and Malawians to learn about the principles o f permaculture in a practical setting for rural third communities. The local community will be involved and areas linked to two local schools and communities incorporated within the practical’s. Other local schools also involved in permaculture will also be included in what we hope will be part of the on-going collaboration between Butterfly, local schools and the community.

The focus will be on appropriate technology, soil and water harvesting, indigenous knowledge systems and Permaculture in schools, since schools are a key focus point for the community, a chance to influence the coming generation to shift away from the mentality of dependence on aid towards self sufficiency and sustainable resource use.
Facilitator:
Tichafa Makovere grew up in a marginalised farming community in Shurugwi, Midlands Region of Zimbabwe. He developed a career in education over 30 years; 20 years as a successful headmaster in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Botswana. In June 1994 he participated in a PDC at the Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre in Zimbabwe sponsored by the SCOPE (Permaculture in Schools and Colleges Outreach) Program. He went on to take first prize for best Permaculture implementing school nationally in 1995. He sat as secretary of the Permaculture Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) for 2 years from 1994 – 1996 and subsequently as chairperson from 1996 – 1998. He has produced handouts for SCOPE trainings which are still used by the SCOPE program in Zimbabwe today. Tichafa holds a certificate in synergistic agriculture from a course conducted by Emilia Hazelip of the Pyrenees, France in Botswana in 1995. Recently Tichafa did a Green Warrior Permaculture Field Trainer’s Course and co-facilitated with Steve Cran, the course focuses more on communities’ sustainability.

His activities at SCOPE, and more latterly ReSCOPE, as lead facilitator have included: Drawing up 1-week and 2-week programs for SCOPE, facilitating at both 1-week and 2-week workshops; producing training materials and handouts, making follow-up visits to schools after inclusion in the SCOPE Program; participation on the curriculum, training and fundraising committees for the advancement of permaculture in Zimbabwean schools; reviewing and monitoring workshops for expansion of permaculture in schools in 66 districts of Zimbabwe, representing SCOPE at international levels and reviewing books on permaculture before they were published.

In November 2008 Tichafa travelled to Ethiopia and took up the role of Resident PC Facilitator for Strawberry Fields Eco Lodge (SFEL) in Konso, where he has to date facilitated a total of 25 PDCs. He subsequently went on to spear-head the formation of the Permaculture in Konso Schools Project working in partnership with various NGOs such as Save the Children Finland, Mercy Corps, CISS Ethiopia, Ethiopia Permaculture Foundation as well as SFEL itself. In October 2009 Tichafa in partnership with Alex formed Permaculture Training and Consultancy (PERMATEC). In June 2010 Tichafa formed his own independent consultancy, Shumba Integrated Eco Designs (SIED) which is now active around Ethiopia with various GOs and NGOs. Tichafa coordinates Slow Food’s 34 projects in schools across the country as national coordinator.

In 2010 the regional Education ministry Southern Nations Nationalities People Regional States (SNNRPS) of Ethiopia recognised the impact of permaculture in two of the pilot schools and the permaculture teacher was given first prize for the drastic change of school environment. The teacher went on to win a national prize from Ministry of Technology and yet another national prize from the Ministry of Education. On the second pilot school, the teacher was invited to Rome to the Slow Food Conference to share the success of implementing the permaculture project in the school.

Butterfly Space
Butterfly Space is a unique community space aiming to bring together Passionate volunteers and the local community. Community self- sustainability and environment are amongst our central principles and we are involved in numerous projects within the local community including a nursery school, information room, and youth club. Tree planting and work with local schools has led to an increasing interest in permaculture and this is an area we seek to build on. For more information about the work we do please visit our web-site www.butterfly-space.com

Course Curriculum
 Ethics and principles of Permaculture and sustainability
 Ecological processes
 Zones
 Principles of permaculture design
 Water harvesting
 Situational analysis, transect walk and mapping
 Soil improvement techniques
 Integrated Pest Management
 Animal integration
 Nursery practice
 Whole design care and management
 Planning for implementation care and monitoring of sustainable permaculture project
 Goal formation
 Final design presentation



Character of workshop
Participatory, practical, hands on to balance with the theoretical background from the class. Group work will plan real permaculture designs which will remain a permanent feature in the schools and Butterfly

Certification

Participants, who attend, participate and complete the 72 hour PDC will be issued certificates which has the collaboration with the Green Warrior permaculture which is accepted in most permaculture circles.

Contact details
Postal Address: Butterfly Space P O Box 211 Nkhata Bay
Physical Address: Nkhata Bay Malawi
Phone Number: +265 (Ophanuel)
Fax: N/A
Mobile Number: Josie: +265 (0) 999156335
Email: josie.redmonds@gmail.com
Mobile Number: Ian/Enid
Email: enid_van_mierlo@yahoo.com
Mobile: Tichafa +251913544164 +263777626137
Email: bog55chimbwa@hotmail.co.uk

Deposits will have to be finalised by the end of February 2012 to ensure we can carry out the programme so if you don’t want to miss out on this unique opportunity please get in touch as quickly as possible. A minimum of 8 people are needed for the course to run.