During the last phone call from Gerard Adriaanse with Wim van den Bos (our local oikonomos consultant in Malawi) he complimented us on the received products. Especially the brainstorm based on the book “Leading change” of John P. Kotter about the farmer groups was very inspiring and stimulating. He liked the structure and creativity.  

The main goal of our real life project is establishing a farm enterprise development trust in Malawi helping paprika farmers to get organised so they will get a higher output and a better price for their paprika's. One other goal of our Real life business project is to improve our innovation. Robert Mares organised an evening workshop at the Creativity Company in Rotterdam for our project team and also the Moldova growth experience project team.

On Thursday morning we achieved to have an appointment with Mr Harrison B. Kalua, CEO of Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union (MCPCU) that comprises five primary Coffee Cooperatives and became effective on 1st April 2007. The decision to form Cooperatives was made by Coffee Growers after consultation meetings that took place between Government through the Privatization Commission and Coffee farmers.

On Sunday we stayed in the capitol of Malawi and joint a bilingual service in the local Presbyterian Church.  The African singing was touching heart and mind and appealed very much to the local feel. Next day we prepared for a four hours trip by bus to Blantyre in the south of Malawi, where we met with Wim van den Bos, project board member representing the users.