TOPIC 4: FAMILY NEEDS AND RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• Sustainable development is the use of available resources to meet people’s needs while considering the needs of future generations.

FAMILY NEEDS

Needs are the basic necessities or requirements of people. These include:

• Food
• Shelter
• Health care
• Education
• Clothing
• Security

FAMILY RESOURCES

These are materials or things found in the environment that people use to satisfy their needs. Examples of family resources include:

• Plot of land
• A house
• Livestock
• People in the home
• Kitchen utensils
• Food
• Maize granary
• Car or oxcart

WANTS

Wants are things people desire to make life comfortable. Examples include:

• Entertainment
• Jewelry
• Toys
• Expensive smartphones
• Computers
• Television
• Cars

ACCEPTABLE WAYS OF ACQUIRING FAMILY RESOURCES

• Practicing farming
• Receiving aid from others
• Being allocated a plot of land by chiefs
• Engaging in casual work
• Employment in government or private companies
• Engaging in small-scale businesses

UNACCEPTABLE WAYS OF ACQUIRING FAMILY RESOURCES

• Robbery and theft
• Prostitution
• Corruption
• Illegal trading

These can lead to:

• Contracting sexually transmitted diseases
• Imprisonment
• Injury or death
• Loss of integrity

MANAGEMENT OF FAMILY RESOURCES

• Proper care and use of family resources
• Careful planning
• Budgeting
• Recycling: Treating used materials so they can be reused
• Re-use: Using something again, e.g., water used for mopping can be reused for watering a garden
• Substituting: Using alternative resources, e.g., cow dung instead of firewood

IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• Family members spend less time searching for basic needs.
• The family is self-sufficient and not a burden to others.
• It brings peace, harmony, and stability within the family.
• It reduces debt within the family.
• Excess resources can be saved for future use.

TOPIC 5: HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

HUMAN POPULATION

The human population refers to the number of people living in a given area at a given time.

ENVIRONMENT

The environment includes all of our surroundings, both living and non-living.

POPULATION GROWTH RATE

Population growth rate measures the annual population increase or decrease, usually expressed as a percentage. It reflects the average annual percent change in the population.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE POPULATION GROWTH

1. Natural Increase: When the birth rate exceeds the death rate, the population increases.
2. Migration: When immigration exceeds emigration, it leads to population growth.
3. Culture: Some cultural practices promote high fertility, placing value on large families and many children.
4. Early Marriages: Women who marry early have a higher chance of bearing many children.
5. Desire for Large Family Sizes.
6. Unavailability of Modern Contraceptives.

WAYS OF REDUCING HIGH POPULATION GROWTH

• Use of family planning methods such as child spacing and contraceptives.
• Eradication of cultural practices that promote large families, e.g., wife inheritance (chokolo).
• Avoiding teenage pregnancies.

TRENDS IN THE MALAWIAN POPULATION

• High Birth Rate: Leads to rapid population growth, putting pressure on natural resources.
• High Fertility Rate: Results in large families and increased pressure on resources.
• Relatively High Death Rate: Leads to a decline in population and an increase in the number of orphans.

TOPIC 6: MALAWIAN CULTURE

CULTURE

• Culture is the way of life for a particular group, including both material (objects) and non-material elements (ideas, values, beliefs).
• Cultural diversity refers to a combination of different cultures.

ELEMENTS OF MALAWIAN CULTURE

• Housing: Round or rectangular houses thatched with grass.
• Food: Maize meal (nsima), eaten with bare hands.
• Etiquette: Children are taught to use both hands when receiving items from adults.
• Dress: Women wear a headgear (duku) and a wrapper (chitenje).
• Moral values: Sharing, hard work, honesty; laziness and theft are frowned upon.
• Traditional dances: Gulewankulu (Chewa), Beni (Yao), Ngoma (Ngoni).
• Language: Many words are shared across languages.
• Religion: All religions in Malawi focus on God.
• Customs: Initiation ceremonies for both boys and girls.
• Beliefs: Most cultural groups believe in life after death.

IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE

• Ensures continuity of society.
• Provides standards of good behavior.
• Promotes peace, unity, and cooperation.
• Acts as a source of entertainment.

FACTORS THAT PROMOTE UNITY IN MALAWI

• Language affinity: Many words are similar across languages.
• Intermarriages: Relations through marriage enhance unity.
• Teaching of morals: Schools and religious institutions promote love and respect.
• National symbols: Flag, coat of arms, and national anthem.
• Civic education: Encourages national unity.
• Bill of rights: Promotes coexistence.

IMPORTANCE OF UNITY IN CULTURAL DIVERSITY

• Ensures peace and stability.
• Enhances the country’s reputation.
• Prevents foreign enemies from attacking.

CHANGES IN MALAWIAN CULTURE

• Dressing: Influence of foreign styles.
• Eating habits: Preference for western-style food.
• Moral values: Erosion due to western influence.
• Individualism: People focus on self-interest.
• Family values: Shift toward parents raising and providing for their children.
• Gender equality: Modern society treats women equally to men.
• Language: Introduction of English words into local languages.

FACTORS INFLUENCING CHANGES IN MALAWIAN CULTURE

• Urbanization: Rural-to-urban migration exposes people to new cultures.
• Religion: Introduction of Christianity and Islam.
• Intermarriages: Cultural blending through marriage.
• Westernization: Emphasis on individual happiness and materialism.
• Colonization: Introduced new beliefs and values.
• Migration: Cultural exchange through movement.
• Mass media: Exposure to foreign cultures.
• Education: Educated individuals prefer urban, western lifestyles.