The Nu Skin Force For Good Foundation's Build A Village Project

In 2007, the Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation celebrated the dedication of the Mtalimanja Village. Named by the local people of Malawi, Mtalimanja means "long hands that give." After one year at Mtalimanja Village, about 30 families are thriving on the fruit of their own labors. Their knowledge of farming, carpentry, and fishing has expanded, and they have become more self-sufficient. After the first year, the farmers' maize yields have doubled. In addition, with the support from Nu Skin distributors in Europe, there are two new facilities under construction-a daycare center for children and a dormitory for volunteers who help in the village.

The foundation's "Build a Village Project" is focused on helping the people of Malawi, Africa — one of the poorest countries in the world where the majority of the people are farmers and live on less than one dollar a day. Even more significant is the fact that one in three people in Malawi is threatened by hunger.

The Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation, in partnership with local non-profit organizations and civic groups, initiated the project in 2006 with two goals. The first was to build an actual village. The second objective was to make the village a "living classroom" where 40-50 farmers and their families would come to be educated and trained in numerous disciplines including fish farming, drip irrigation, sustainable farming, forest conservation and tree farming.

According to Sandie Tillotson, member of the Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation's executive committee, "What is so significant about this program is that it's not about giving handouts — it's about giving people knowledge, skills and hope. It's a real opportunity to become self-reliant and help others to do the same."