Asimenye Nthakomwa
Education:
- BSc in Natural Resources Management, 2007, Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi
Current Employment:
Catholic Development Commission, Enhancing Community Resilience Project - Kasungu as Project Coordinator. CADECOM's mission is "to create awareness and empower disadvantaged men, women and the youth at all levels to undertake development which is integral, gender and environmentally sensitive, sustainable and which promotes justice, human dignity and self-reliance with the active participation of the people themselves so that they take up the responsibility of their own destiny." Asimenye introduces practices such as soil conservation, savings and loans, agro-forestry, and small-scale livestock production to communities.
Work History:
Asimenye previously worked with the Mountain Biodiversity Increases Livelihood Security Project to introduce alternative ways of making a living that reduce pressure on the Mount Mulanje Forest Reserve.
Home:
She was born and grew up in central Malawi (Lilongwe and Mzuzu) and now lives and works in the district of Kasungu. Kasungu region is a plain in central Malawi, where the main source of income is agriculture. The estimated population for the district is 616,085.
Greatest Satisfaction:
"What gives me the greatest satisfaction in life is knowing that I have the ability and potential to impact people's lives in a positive way," she says.
Future Challenges:
In terms of personal challenges, Asimenye says, "I have plans to study for a Master's degree soon and a PhD later. I have had challenges to secure funding for my studies though, but I will not give up on that because furthering my studies is in my career plan..."
Interests:
"When I am not working I travel a lot, spend time with my relatives and friends, I also read a lot of inspirational and Christian books." Asimenye is also engaged to be married and plans an October 2012 wedding with her fiancé, Rollins, an economist.
Asimenye's Family:
She considers her older brother Boniface her role model and inspiration. He also attended University of Malawi and now works for the government as an irrigation engineer. Older sister Kissa is still in school pursuing secretarial studies. Following the death of their parents, Asimenye and her two siblings went to live with their father's older brother and his family. He was a senior accountant before retiring. This extended family also included two girls and a boy.
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