Palorinya Mass Farming Project
We are proud to be supporting the work of Towards a Better World in Uganda. Below is an inspiring update…
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Empower Malawi: The Next Five Years
Over the last few months our team across Malawi and Australia have been reflecting on our work to date. We’ve been dissecting the key factors underpinning our many successes and perhaps more so, our failures and the rich learnings
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What is permaculture?
Here at Empower Projects, we are CONSTANTLY talking about “permaculture” and whether our approaches to agriculture, community financing, technology or training are being informed by it. But what is it exactly? Why is it so important to us? Our Founder Shanil Samarakoon is here to explain!
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Development as Freedom
Here is our Founder Shanil Samarakoon’s TEDx talk on “Development as Freedom”. Drawing upon
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The 3 Greatest Lessons I’ve Learnt Through 5 Years of Working in Development
I joined the Empower Malawi team in 2010 as a fresh young graduate with no experience about development work. A scientist at heart, equipped with theories, hope and confidence amassed from the long lecture hours, I was eager to get down to work. I cared less where and how.
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Unpacking the Ego
It became clear to me upon examination that it (working on social projects) was an escape – a drug of sorts. My intentions on the surface were good…but the internal drivers of this call to action were not entirely altruistic.
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Empower Sri Lanka: An Era Beyond War
Empower and partner Sewa Lanka chose to collaborate with Puthumunmarchicholai in Batticaloa, a war affected community of 614 residents that currently face deep social, economic and environmental hardship.
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Interview with Joyce Mwale – December 2012
So far there has been good progress. More and more people now understand what our project is about and in particular they understand their roles to achieving our vision of making Kapita a self reliant area, with booming businesses powered by green energy.
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The Pursuit of Purpose
I was 4 years old as I stood with my mother in a crowded public bus in Kandy, Sri Lanka. I heard the drop of coins across the floor of the bus as an elderly women prepared to pass her bus fare to the conductor who was squeezing through.
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Interview with Empower’s Executive Director
Empower started as a university project in 2007. I had the idea of a rural electrification project in Sri Lanka – I suggested it to fellow students and there was a lot of interest. The designing and fundraising led to us form a not for profit organisation.
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