The Big Issue Malawi
Encyclopedia
The Big Issue Malawi is a street paper in Malawi
. It is a bimonthly magazine sold only by homeless individuals. The project's facilitator is a local charity known as the "Culture Awakening Society"
The Big Issue Malawi project started on the 24th January 2009 with the first issue of the magazine coming out in January 2009.
The founder and current Executive Chairman of the project, Dr. John Chikago, imported the street paper concept from Japan, where he was working as Malawi's ambassador. He said that he was fascinated by the experience of The Big Issue Japan and decided to establish a similar project in Malawi.
Vendors buy the magazine for 150 Kwacha
(around 1 USD) and sell it for 300 Malawian Kwacha. They are trained in business management skills and sign a code of conduct outlining rules they must adhere while selling the magazine (including no begging
, no drinking, no swearing and no harassment of the public) and are issued an official identity card. Vendors wear identifying bright reflectors. As of 2010, approximately 200 people have been recruited; the majority of whom are women.
. It has also received financial support from Ubuntu Trading, the company the produces the fair trade version of Coke.
The magazine has its head offices in Blantyre and regional office in the Lilongwe.
The Malawian street paper belongs to the International Network of Street Papers (INSP) and it is affiliated to The Big Issue London. Malawi has become the sixth country in Africa to introduce the magazine.
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
. It is a bimonthly magazine sold only by homeless individuals. The project's facilitator is a local charity known as the "Culture Awakening Society"
The Big Issue Malawi project started on the 24th January 2009 with the first issue of the magazine coming out in January 2009.
The founder and current Executive Chairman of the project, Dr. John Chikago, imported the street paper concept from Japan, where he was working as Malawi's ambassador. He said that he was fascinated by the experience of The Big Issue Japan and decided to establish a similar project in Malawi.
The magazine
The Big Issue Malawi is currently sold in the main Malawian cities: Lilongwe, Blantyre, Zomba, Mzuzu and Karonga. In July 2010 its circulation accounted to 2000 copies. The language of the magazine is both English and Chichewa, a Bantu idiom widely spoken in Malawi.Vendors buy the magazine for 150 Kwacha
Malawian kwacha
The kwacha is the currency of Malawi as of 1971, replacing the Malawian pound. It is divided into 100 tambala. The kwacha replaced other types of currency, namely British, South African and Rhodesian, that had previously circulated through the Malawian economy...
(around 1 USD) and sell it for 300 Malawian Kwacha. They are trained in business management skills and sign a code of conduct outlining rules they must adhere while selling the magazine (including no begging
Begging
Begging is to entreat earnestly, implore, or supplicate. It often occurs for the purpose of securing a material benefit, generally for a gift, donation or charitable donation...
, no drinking, no swearing and no harassment of the public) and are issued an official identity card. Vendors wear identifying bright reflectors. As of 2010, approximately 200 people have been recruited; the majority of whom are women.
Funding
The Big Issue Malawi receives funding through the Scottish Government’s International Development Fund, who are supporting the project with a three-year grant of £93000 GB sterling (starting in 2009). The publication is produced with the assistance of the United Nations Democracy FundUnited Nations Democracy Fund
The United Nations Democracy Fund was established by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in July 2005 at the African Union Summit in Sirte, Libya, as a United Nations General Trust Fund under his authority. Its primary purpose is to support democratization throughout the world...
. It has also received financial support from Ubuntu Trading, the company the produces the fair trade version of Coke.
The magazine has its head offices in Blantyre and regional office in the Lilongwe.
The Malawian street paper belongs to the International Network of Street Papers (INSP) and it is affiliated to The Big Issue London. Malawi has become the sixth country in Africa to introduce the magazine.
Timeline
- 24 January 2009: the Big Issue Malawi magazine is launched
- January 2010: Lameck Masina is appointed as Chief Editor
- February 2010: Scotland’s Minister for External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, meets the Big Issue Malawi's staff, board and vendors in the headquarters in Blantyre
- June 2010: Omega Chanje-Mulwafu is the new Executive Director at The Big Issue Malawi
- July 2010: Shoe manufacturing firm Bata Shoe Company donates jackets and reflectors to over 60 vendors
- July 2010: Islamic charity Gift of Givers Foundation donates 120 blankets to vendors of The Big Issue Malawi street magazine