Mission:
Zikomo Ireland is committed to fostering the long-term self-sufficiency of rural communities in southern Malawi.
Values:
Our work is guided by the following five principles:
Direct aid
We strive to ensure that our funding gets the most direct way possible to our community-based projects in Malawi. We keep administration expenses to an absolute minimum. All the Irish staff work for Zikomo on a completely voluntary-basis and do not claim expenses. We don’t spend money on advertising and we don’t have any offices, 4x4s or any other overheads.
Community-based development
We believe small, community-based development projects will play an important role in ending extreme poverty.
We work with local communities to find projects that best suit their needs and, wherever appropriate, involve them in the building and ongoing management of these projects. We avoid making communities “aid dependent”.
Effectiveness
We are results-orientated and committed to ensuring that funds are used effectively. Where appropriate we will work in partnership with other NGOs, Government departments, and/or community groups.
Integrity and Accountability
In all our activities we adhere to the highest ethical standards and consider the long-term effects of our actions. We will maintain transparency and aim to be accountable for all the donations that are entrusted to our organisation.
Independence
We are wholly independent of any political party, religious order, or corporate organisation.
Who we are
Zikomo is run by two boards of directors. One is based in Malawi and the other is based in Ireland. Both have a governance and an administrative role, are completely voluntary, and are driven by a strong emotional and personal commitment to the organisation’s cause.
Malawi Board:
Samson MacJessie, Zomba, Malawi
Winston Chiwaya, Blantyre, Malawi
Joseph Ngoli, Zomba, Malawi
Richard Saphiri, Zomba, Malawi
Jeane Kalinga, Blantyre, Malawi
Princess Kalua, Zomba, Malawi
Mabvuto Mangani, Zomba, Malawi
Thunga, Zomba, Malawi
Rines Sonjera, Zomba, Malawi
Irish Board:
Margaret Geraghty, Galway, Ireland
Clare O’Sullivan, Clarenbridge, Ireland
Michael Cadden , An Spiddeal, Ireland
Elizabeth Healy, Westport, Ireland
Gwilym Williams, Galway, Ireland
Catherine Geraghty, Dublin, Ireland
MairtÃn O’Conceanainn, Inis Mor, Ireland
Pat O'Connor, Galway, Ireland
Each Board is responsible for electing members onto their respective boards on an annual basis.
Each Board is responsible for assessing the effectiveness of current and future projects that enable Zikomo to achieve its mission and also to ensure the most efficient use of resources and funds available to the organisation.
Each Board is responsible to communicate with project managers so that they know their responsibilities, that they are aware of the organisation's goals and objectives, and that the actitives they are carrying out are in-line with those goals.
Zikomo took on its first full time employee in November 2008. Alice Sovereign Chisi has over 20 years experience working for development organisations in Malawi. She has a Bachelors Degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Malawi Bunda College of Agriculture and a Diploma in Agriculture and Rural Development. She is an excellent community organizer and understands the needs of rural Malawian communities. Alice worked for Zikomo up until August 2009 and we are highly appreciative of her commitment and hard work and we wish her every success in the future.
Bazwell Bazuka Macande is the current Programmes Manager for Zikomo. Bazwell has many years experience working as a project manager for various develpment organisations in Malawi. He has valuable training in community development, goat keeping, and bee keeping. He is very entrepreneurial and uses his own initiative to make sure that things get done. He is a valued asset to the communities he works with.
