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Jimmy Katuma is the director of a community-based organisation in Malawi that runs agricultural training courses for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Project staff also run HIV/AIDS awareness sessions - particularly vital for a country where almost 12% of the population is infected. In addition, the project provides vulnerable families with pigs and goats to enable them to earn a living.

The local organisation, a former MRDF partner, is helping to make a remarkable difference to families living in very remote areas. But when it started, its impact on the communities was severely limited by access to funding. Jimmy spoke to Small Miracles about his organisation's extraordinary journey.

What did your organisation look like when it began?

In 2004, we had six staff – all volunteers. Our budget was 10,000 MWK (£40) from local contributions and we were very disorganised! I heard about MRDF and applied for funding. We wanted to improve the livelihoods of people and families affected by HIV/AIDS.

In 2004, the organisation started a four-year funding partnership with MRDF. How else did MRDF assist you?

As a new organisation, we had to work on getting our systems to function properly. MRDF sent us Strength to Strength [MRDF newsletter for its partner organisations with tips and advice on how to develop organisational effectiveness] and I have them all here! They also sent us materials to conduct financial health checks. On visits, Menka Jha and Samantha Tuck (MRDF Programme Officers) facilitated training sessions on reporting, accounting and strategy and gave us advice on monitoring and evaluating our work.

Our partnership with MRDF went beyond funding. We talked to MRDF as partners and they listened. Sometimes, with other organisations, it is like talking to your boss – you have to be political and cautious. But with MRDF, there was openness.

What difference did the partnership with MRDF make to your organisation?

Five years after starting to work with MRDF, we have a turnover of 33 million MWK (£136,000), 18 full-time staff and six external funders. Now, when we apply to other funders, they say we are very organised. It was MRDF that organised us! We can conduct and present audited accounts and have good monitoring and evaluation for our reports, which is necessary when applying for funds.

What has been the impact on the communities you work with?

We used to work in 20 villages – we now work in 55. We have a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre, a Vocational Training School and four Community Action Committees, which are seeking to become community based organisations. We are saying to them: ‘You come up with an idea for your development and we will try and fund you!' They will manage their own budgets.

Now, we also advise other small organisations that are working with MRDF in Malawi. We will always be ready to assist MRDF here.

You have achieved some impressive results – through the project over 14,000 people have now taken part in HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, and farmers have planted 250,000 trees – but what are your plans for the future?

In ten years' time, we want to be a national organisation, based in rural areas, reaching the most unreached people, just like MRDF.

What would you like to say to MRDF?

Always remember your baby organisation in Malawi. Our growth depended on your willingness to take risks. Thank you for your support, and please keep sending us Strength to Strength!