Thanks to generous donations to Permaculture Australia, Mlatho Farms and Agri-Learning Hub in Malawi was one of the organisations that received a Permafund grant in 2024.
Daniel Chibwe, the Founder and Managing Director of Mlatho Farms has sent us this update on their progress. We appreciate Daniel keeping us up to date, and heartened to hear of the opportunities that have arisen to take Mlatho Farms and Agri-Learning Hub from strength to strength during this year.
“I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to sincerely thank you and to provide an update on the growth and impact of Mlatho Farms and Agri-Learning Hub following the USD 1,300 Permafund 24 support we received in 2024.
Since that support, our journey has accelerated significantly: In 2025, USD500 from the Aspire Leaders Program and USD5,000 has been received from the Tony Elumelu Foundation,strengthening our institutional capacity and confidence from global partners.
I’ve participated in the Young Leadership Incubation Program (YLIP) in South Africa under AHA International and SACAU, with three learning visits to Johannesburg, South Africa.
In January 2026, I will be traveling to Germany to attend the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) and the Young Farmers Forum (YFF). I have already secured a visa and am fully sponsored by the Federal Government of Germany through the Ministry of Agriculture, joining 20 young farmers selected globally.
Beyond travel and leadership exposure, our work has gained strong visibility. This year alone, Mlatho Farms has been featured twice in national newspapers and several times on local and national radio and television, sharing our story of permaculture, youth empowerment, and climate resilience in Malawi.
I genuinely believe that these recognitions and opportunities were ignited by the Permafund 24 support.
You truly lit the candle that opened doors to networks, platforms and trust at a global level. Without that early belief, much of this progress would not have been possible.
As our organisation continues to grow, we are now better structured, more visible and increasingly capable of handling larger responsibilities and partnerships. Should there be future opportunities, collaborations, or advanced funding windows, we would be deeply honored to be considered.
Thank you once again for believing in grassroots permaculture initiatives from Africa. Your support is creating ripple effects far beyond what can be measured in numbers.”
The Permafund grants program, with 103 creative community projects worldwide supported so far, has seen many examples of the multiplier effect of donations, where a small amount of seed funding for an environmental restoration and permaculture education project has produced a positive result in one grant location to then be replicated by others through the inter-community network and has encouraged professional development among community leaders.
Donations to support environmental projects and environmental organisations in Australia and overseas are tax deductible in Australia and can be made here.
What better way than to stand on a stage surrounded by 38 young shouting Timorese to celebrate that they are the 100th recipient of a Permafund grant since we started handing them out 15 years ago.
We were attending the first International Permaculture Youth Convergence held in Timor-Leste last October and this group is from the Aileu Resource & Training Centre, (ARTC) not far from the capital Dilli. They received a grant of AU$3,200 from Permafund to allow 8 of their members to attend the event and take knowledge back to their community to implement what they’d learnt.
The Aileu Resource and Training Centre (ARTC) was established as a registered NGO in 2005 with the aim of providing education and training for people of Aileu, Timor-Leste. It serves a vital role, offering adult learning opportunities integrated with development of cultural expression, environmental protection and improved livelihoods, always supporting women’s development and participation. This approach is designed to respond to local needs and conditions, and to build on people’s existing capabilities in a largely subsistence farming community.
Both ARTC and Permafund have a connection to the first Permaculture NGO in Timor Leste, Permatil. Ego Lemos and Lachlan McKenzie, along with others, for 25 years have steered Permatil to play a prominent role in this new nation’s future at a high Government level in the areas of Education, Water Management and Youth Engagement.
President of Timor-Leste Ramos Horta and Permatil legend Ego Lemos
This first international youth gathering was organised by Permatil and Permatil Global. Both Permaculture Australia and Permafund are very proud to have supported this event and continue the long beneficial relationship we share.
Reflecting on our 100th grant recipient takes me back to the start of Permafund 15 years ago at a meeting held in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. “What does good Permaculture Aid and Development look like?” was the question asked. “Let’s find out” was the response, so we formed a volunteer committee and settled on offering a small grant round of amounts up to AU$2000 every year to Permaculture aligned NGOs most in need. Our 100 plus grants have seen funds sent to 19 countries throughout Australasia and the Pacific as well as the Asian and African continents.
There are many opportunities for growth in Permafund including to research the ‘lessons learnt’ from our over 100 applicants to answer the question we first asked ….”What works?” The story of Permatil operating as a small NGO to be now sitting at the table, participating in Timor Leste’s future is a lesson we can all learn from.
Permafund member Jasper Simmons facilitating a workshop
What we’ve also learnt is that Bill Mollison’s vision of spreading the concept of permaculture globally through a 72 hour Design Certificate Course has been successful. We’ve made contact with hundreds of NGOs and individuals from their native country that took that PDC and acted locally following their course.
The success of Permafund can be attributed to two important ingredients – a dedicated group of volunteers to carry out the workload and to you, our donors. Without your generous contributions we can’t do the work we do and apply the ethic of FAIR SHARE. The donation figures continue to grow and are a testament to us at Permafund that you value our integrity in the work we do……thank you.
John Champagne in front the of the Permafund stand at the IPYC
John Champagne
Permafund Chair on behalf of all past and present Permafund members.
Donations to Permaculture Australia’s Permafund can be made here.
Eight organisations in the Asia Pacific region were awarded Permafund grants in the 2025 grant round. Recipients came from countries around the region including Timor Leste, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands. The wide range of projects shows that permaculture is being implemented in ways that improve the natural environment as well as food security, as summarised below:
Asharprodip Somaj Unnyan Songstha (ASUS) community circle Bangladesh
Expanding ASUS’s permaculture activities in Sundarban coastal region of Bangladesh.
Friends of Wildlife, Myanmar
Ensuring the sustainability of a Community Conservation Committee in Southern Bago Yoma, Myanmar, through Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) mitigation and livelihood support.
ALEY-NM, Philippines
Promotion of permaculture among Higaonon youth leaders in 5 villages in Mindanao.
Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Development for Communities, Inc (SEED4Com), Philippines
Equipping women, youth, and smallholder farmers of Sibugay, Cebu City, with practical skills in producing organic fertilisers aligned with permaculture principles.
Metsa Foundation, Philippines
Metsa Foundation for women in the Philippines
Creating closed-loop permaculture systems for food security and waste management using black soldier fly & chickens.
Baetona Farmers Association, Solomon Islands
Taro patch & trellises Baetona Farmers’ Association Solomon Islands
Promoting increased consumption of local and nutritious foods, and improved incomes of rural women.
Aileu Resource and Training Centre (ARTC), Timor Leste
International PermaYouth Convergence delegates
Assisting with Kadalak Dame garden project workers’ participation in the first International PermaYouth Convergence and follow-up activities in their district.
Permatil Global Inc.
Earthworks workshop at IPYC
Providing support to the organisation of the inaugural International PermaYouth Convergence, Timor Leste
Thanks to the generous donations we received this year, we are able to assist these grassroots initiatives to grow a better future for their communities. Watch this space for reports from the projects over the coming months.
The inaugural International Permaculture Youth Convergence (IPYC) is to be held in Timor Leste from October 20 –25 this year.
Drone photo of Fatequero village where IPYC is to be held
Permatil of Timor-Leste & Permatil Global of Australia are co-hosting the event with The PermaYouth Association of Timor Leste. 500 permie youth leaders from Timor Leste are planning to host another 500 from around the world with the intention of building an active global PermaYouth network of future leaders & change makers and global environmental stewards.
The day program includes permaculture practice and development of leadership skills in:
Water resilience
Sustainable Agroforestry
Agro ecology
Permaculture in action
Art, music and indigenous culture
3D model for learning water catchment techniques
Artists creating new illustrations for Permatil guidebooks
The night program can only be described as a festival, with participants coming together to share a celebration and exchange of indigenous knowledge, culture, music, art and friendship.
This event rides on the shoulders of 8 years of Timor Leste National Youth Convergences and promises to be an unbelievable learning, and sharing cultural event. The IPYC fits Permaculture Australia’s Permafund charter of promoting and supporting educational and environmental projects around the world that have a strong permaculture basis.
Permafund is providing funds to sponsor and part sponsor international participants who financially may not be able to attend otherwise. In addition, letters of recommendation and promotional material to support this awesome initiative have been provided.
Our most challenging contribution however is to activate youth from Australia to participate in the International Permaculture Youth Convergence. Members of the Permafund committee put the message out to their communities about IYPC being an opportunity to see permaculture in action in a youth orientated international setting. Currently 16 young adults will be participating, all paying their own way. One group is from the NSW south coast and another from South Australia. All are excited, learning a few Tetun words and getting organised to attend.
When asked why they were attending, responses from some of the South Australian contingent included:
I feel really connected to nature and the idea of living in harmony with the earth.
After doing my PDC, I want to keep learning and growing, not just in land design but also in how permaculture can bring people together, heal communities, and create a better way of living.
I’d love to meet other young people who share the same passion, exchange ideas, and bring back inspiration to my own community.
I dream of starting a little community around rehabilitating a heavily disturbed section of the low rainfall Mallee in eastern SA. I would like to turn parts of it into a food forest. I have the dream and the property, I’m just lacking the knowledge, people, and the extra bit of passion to see it through; I’m hoping the IPYC can help me with these things.
I’m very keen on building more sustainable ways of living into everything.
I dream of creating an eco-friendly little village with sustainable and affordable housing.
I’m excited to have the opportunity to learn about permaculture and PermaYouth initiatives at this convergence
I want to return to my beloved tropics and learn a lot about Timorese life and culture.
For these reasons, or any others, if you are between 17 and 35 and would like to attend the IPYC or would like to talk about it but don’t have a group to support you, no matter where you come from, don’t hesitate to contact us at permafund@permacultureaustralia.org.au
Planting out a water catching small reservoir
The proceeds of fundraisers and donations to Permafund are gratefully received. Donations over $2.00 are tax deductible in Australia and can be made here.
So far, Permafund has provided seed funding grants for 93 community projects in Australia and 16 other countries around the world.
Thanks to generous donations and fund raising, Permaculture Australia’s 2025 Permafund grant round has been launched..
Considering the time and effort needed to write and submit an application, the closing date for applications has been extended to midnight AEST on 31 August 2025.
In the spirit of fair share, this year community organisations in Australia and the regions of Australasia, South-East Asia and the Pacific Islands are invited to apply for seed funding grants of AU$2,000 to support their environmental and permaculture education projects.
Applications for funding over AUD $2,000 will be considered and assessed on merit.
The 2025 Grant Application form and Grant Guidelines are available for download here.
Successful applicants will be notified at the end of October 2025. Applications received by 15 August and needing urgent response will be considered promptly.
Thanks to the generous donors to Permaculture Australia’s Permafund, our small grants program is ready to launch another round of grants. This time we are calling for applications from groups in Australasia, South-East Asia and the Pacific Islands.
A Sumatran Farmer teaching a PDC
We need your help to spread the word to any groups within the region, or any Permaculture teachers who may know of eligible groups amongst their past students. Please share this notice and our contact details with them.
We hope that by funding small projects we will help to build the capacity of Permaculture groups in our region while they do important work to improve the natural environment. By publicising the successful projects in our newsletter and social media, Permaculture Australia members and supporters will learn more about groups active in our region.
This work can include the provision of information or education, or the carrying on of research about the natural environment or a significant aspect of the natural environment as well as running on the ground projects which will improve the natural environment.
The Permafund grant program is only for projects that benefit or protect the natural environment, which includes regenerative agriculture and permaculture education.
Please read the 2025 Grant Guidelines carefully before deciding if your organisation is eligible to submit an application. To see the types of projects that have been funded in the past please look at articles on our website.
The 2025 Grant Application form and Grant Guidelines are available for download from the Permaculture Australia website as Word or Pdf documents here.
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