MANGWENDE ORPHAN CARE TRUST Concept Design Proposal “The future of all people is linked with the condition of the land. If the people enrich the land the land will enrich them in return. Permaculture gives a way of redesigning our communities, cities and habitats in a way that enhances nature our local economies and a healthy lifestyle. If applied correctly, permaculture design can be used to solve many if not all our planets and species current problems.” Evans Mangwende Case study by Viktoria Szilvas, Nadia Khuzayim, Eve Allemand and Tilla Theiss GEDS Design Studio 2019 1 GEDS Design Studio 2019 - Mangwende Case Study Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Economic, social and environmental issues are interlinked and so require a common worldview to tackle them in an integrated way in order to address the questions of climate change and sustainability so that the needs of individuals, communities and the planet are met without compromising the conditions of survival for present and future life. While there is a pressing call to reduce worldwide consumerism, energy consumption, carbon emissions, and wastage of water and other natural resources, there are also a number of issues associated with rural disadvantaged communities in Zimbabwe with regards to the financial burden and the lack of access to appropriate education on sustainable practices. The mechanistic, reductionist and linear economic system destroyed the ecosystem and social integrity. Moving away from this dysfunctional pattern incentivises the emergence of an alternative mode of thinking and behaving, respectful of the intrinsic environmental and human rights. This way, nature and people can coexist to mutually profit from a thriving livelihood and long term viability. The Mangwende Orphan Care Trust, a grass root initiative, originally took on the task to look after vulnerable members of society and wishes now to expand this responsibility beyond the locality and most importantly to the environment. The key drivers are the development of a vibrant trade-based economy through the development of environmental services together with the revival of the Zunde traditional culture encouraging social cohesion and caring for the needy. Indeed, economy and ecology mutually strengthen the foundations for life and happiness for all. This project presents an opportunity for innovating skills and personal empowerment. The initiative’s goals are to minimize the need for resources consumption (mainly water and energy), prevent waste leakage (economic, energy, pollution, recycling) and maximize the use of locally available natural resources while enhancing community social development (skills, services, network) and bioregional biodiversity. Change needs to be ingrained in daily practices for sustainability and love to become once again communal wisdom to share at a larger scale. One way to achieve this is by focusing on food. Land degradation, biodiversity loss and air and water pollution can all be resolved by the implementation of permaculture farms. A restored soil requires fewer inputs to produce higher yields, which translate into higher profit. Feeding the orphans was the trigger behind the creation of the Trust but step by step, the founders are hoping to build the foundations for a more resilient local food economy that can be both climate and income resilient in the face of global fluctuating challenges. The local population knows that the virtue of wealth resides in the soil, not money, and needs to regain lost knowledge. Soil and its ecosystem are valuable to life. Its health is determinant to our wellbeing, yet soil has no official intrinsic value. The current worldviews and policies favour an economic system that emphasizes on the generation of monetary profit while disconnecting with the true essence of our existence, health and happiness, namely what cannot be bought: peace, love, meaning and above all Nature as a source of water, food and shelter. Most of Zimbabwe’s agro-economy is based on smallholder farming. Small farms play an important role in supporting rural households, their community and the local economies. Unlike large monoculture fields, which yields high amount of one particular crop (a significant portion of which is wasted), small subsistence diversified farms produce more food and more kinds of food per surface area, despite the smaller scale, and so are more efficient at fighting against hunger. The right to food production is determinant to the future resilience of the rural community and embraces sovereignty and freedom. Throughout human history, food has always been at the centre of community life, culture, traditions, cooperation, spirituality and celebrations. Its diversity is also the basis for health and survival of individuals, communities, whole ecosystems, and life on Earth. Its stability and success are highly dependent on the holistic understanding and respect for Nature. 2 GEDS Design Studio 2019 - Mangwende Case Study Report Growing one’s own food offers self-reliance, it is the essence of freedom. Regenerative agriculture and permaculture can be considered as a mode of thinking and living, beyond farming, that lead towards sustainability for the whole community. By making smaller farms profitable, it attracts people back to the land and thereby boost the economy. Education here is the weapon against scarcity. The plan for the Trust includes adding value by developing its two sites: an orphanage school and an agricultural hub. Both consist of educating and practicing farming and environmental protection while engaging in socio-economic activities honouring the local traditional identity. This pilot study serves as a demonstration model, via peer to peer training and exchange, to show a successful starting point for weaving a larger scale transition network and spreading the seeds of transformation. By creating abundance through collaboration and by reinstating local cultural wisdom for collective healing, the current story of separation is reversed so that the new narrative passed across the borders of land and time empowers the values of hope and care. 3 GEDS Design Studio 2019 - Mangwende Case Study Report Table of contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 Table of contents 4 List of figures 8 List of tables 10 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 11 1.1 Background 12 a- Site information 12 b- Mangwende Trust 14 c- Statement of needs 15 1.2 Case Study 18 a- SWOT analysis 18 b- Concepts 19 c- Project statements 20 d-Integration design 22 2. WORLDVIEW DIMENSION 25 2.1 Current Worldview Situation 26 a - Worldview background summary 26 b- Worldview analysis and statements 27 2.2. Worldview Solutions 29 2.2.1 Worldview perspectives 29 a- Guide to anticipate future issues 30 b- Human rights 30 2.2.2 Respecting nature’s resources 31 2.2.3 Stories of transformation 33 a- Body, mind and spiritual health 33 b- Healthy lifestyle 34 2.2.4 Engaged spirituality 34 2.3 Worldview Conclusions 36 3. ECOLOGICAL DIMENSION 39 3.1 Current Ecological Situation 40 a- Ecological background summary 40 b- Ecological analysis and statements 41 3.2 Ecological Solutions 43 3.2.1 Permaculture design 43 4 GEDS Design Studio 2019 - Mangwende Case Study Report a- Permaculture ethics 43 b- Zero waste 45 c- Zone planning 47 3.2.2 Food production 52 a- Farming techniques 52 b- Edible landscape 57 c- Ecosystem restoration 62 3.2.3 Water supply 66 b- Water distribution (usage) 72 c- Wastewater management 75 3.2.4 Green building 77 a- Sustainable building design 78 b- Materials 81 c- Storage 84 3.2.5 Clean energy 87 b- Energy sources 89 c- Utilities 92 d- Transport 97 3.3 Ecological Conclusions 99 4. ECONOMIC DIMENSION 102 4.1 Current Economic Situation 103 a- Economic background summary 103 b- Economic analysis and statements 103 4.2 Economic Solutions 105 4.2.1 Global-Local economic impact 105 a- Dealing with inequalities and prevention of exploitation 105 b- Designing ecological growth to stay within the Nine Planetary Boundaries 108 4.2.2 Economic resilience 113 a- Reviewing the potential of complementary currency systems 113 b- Funding Guidance 115 c- Legal structures for the agrihub 116 4.2.3 Stakeholders values 116 a- Economical ethics 117 b- Minimising negative impacts 119 c- Designing for generosity and gift services 120 4.2.4 Social enterprise 121 a- Principles of One Planet Living 121 5 GEDS Design Studio 2019 - Mangwende Case Study Report b- ReEconomy Toolkits and How to Guides 124 c- Solidarity Economy 126 d- Inspirations 127 4.2.5 Business planning 130 a- Business Model Canvas 130 b- Business Model Innovation Grid 134 c- Primary sources of finance 135 d- Overview of feasibility studies and business plan 136 4.3 Economic Conclusions 140 5. SOCIAL DIMENSION 142 5.1 Current Social Situation 143 a- Social background summary 143 b- Social analysis and statements 144 5.2 Social Solutions 147 5.2.1 Community governance 147 a- How to deal with conflict 147 b- Nonviolent communication 147 c- System of governance 149 5.2.2 Leadership 150 a- Sharing leadership 151 b- Skills to practice to become good leaders 152 c- Guidance during meetings 152 5.2.3 Community celebrations 153 5.2.4 Bioregional analysis 154 a- General bioanalysis context in Zimbabwe 154 b- Bioregional analysis of the project 154 5.3 Social Conclusions 156 6. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 158 a- MOCT Overview 159 b- Action plan 161 7. RESOURCES 163 7.1 References 163 7.2 Further reading 165 8. CONTRIBUTIONS 173 8.1 Acknowledgements 173 8.2 Authors 173 8.3 Disclaimers 174 6 GEDS Design Studio 2019 - Mangwende Case Study Report 9. APPENDICES