Gracious Thamanda plays the role of the nephew.  Also a first time actor, Gracious portrays the life of a young father millions of Malawians can identify with.  The typical challenges of a lack of seed and fertilizer and poor health are a major concern for him.  His family depends on him to produce enough maize to feed them for the next year.  He has several small patches of fields, making up less than a hectare of land.  Because of his health problems, he is late for planting.  The situation is desperate and he needs help.  It is a great relief when his uncle surprises them with a visit after they had no contact for three years.  Gracious is ready to receive advice and what Uncle shares with him is not what he expected. 

Gracious lives with his family in Lunzu, north of Blantyre, Malawi.  He worked for ten years as a farm foreman at Victory Christian Children's Home where he applied Farming God's Way principles on the land.  At the moment he is working with Aqua Aid Lifeline, an organization which provides food and schooling for hundreds of orphans in various districts in the nation.  Gracious serves as an agricultural supervisor at the Namisu Children's Village where Aqua Aid grows food for the orphans. 

Here at ROOTS we are convinced that the curse of poverty over Africa is about to be broken.  We see ordinary people doing extraordinary things.  People who are discovering their true roots.  Roots that go deeper than race, nationality, culture or history. Shooting out to the very beginning.  When there was God and a garden for man to thrive in. A place where God and man co-existed as Father and son.  Where the soil responded with abundant fruit to the tender care of man who mastered it in righteousness. Resources Out Of The Soil.

Our vision is to see the vulnerable people of Malawi released from poverty, restored with dignity and equipped with the ability to transform their communities.

Our mission is to empower the poor through an impartation of knowledge that is vital for them to prosper.

Times of Change film – A story from Africa for Africa.

Times of Change is a Chichewa movie, produced in Malawi,  the warm heart of Africa.  In the movie Henry Maliri Phiri returns after a three year visit to Zimbabwe, only to find his nephew, Gracious Thamanda facing some tough and yet very common circumstances in Malawi. He invites him on a journey up the picturesque Mount Mulanje, where Gracious starts to see his Creator and creation in a whole new way. 

African Horizons produced a movie that is culturally appropriate and humorous, while at the same time shares the principles of farming as observed in nature. It is unique in the sense that no set was built nor any script written.  No professional actors were used and the director himself is a novice.  It is a spontaneous outflow from the heart.   Yet to God be the glory for great entertainment and a very effective training tool.  This project was made possible by Crown Financial Ministries and inspired by Brian Oldrieve, founder of Foundations for Farming.

From African Horizons starring Henry Maliri Phiri and Gracious Thamanda.  Directed, filmed and edited by Johann van der Ham