Blogs from Southern, Malawi, Africa - page 13

As I'm getting used to solids again and tucking into my breakfast toast, I am delighted to see a lovely couple I met on my first night at the hostel. They are from the UK but work here for an NGO making education more accessible in the Mulanje district. The couple arrive wanting to see if they can book a room for the night to go out in Blantyre to celebrate new year's eve. They kindly ask if I want to join them, and as I have no plans, I quickly accept! Later that evening we meet up and head off to eat at one of the big hotels. They are well read and knowledgeable about Malawi so I enjoy finding out more, and their opinions on things. Impressively they can speak Chichewa too. Over dinner ... read more

Christmas Eve Early on Christmas eve a taxi takes me to the local mountain - Mount Mulanje, which is about an hour's drive out of Blantyre. As we drive away from the town and the scenery becomes more rural - I see how spaced out and separated the rural dwellings are from each other. Children play and adults sit outside at the front of their thatched houses. Life in the countryside looks isolated. The road to Mulanje is long and straight and as with every other road here, there is a constant stream of people walking on both sides. The driver hoots every now and then to ensure those walking are aware we're there and don't step out in front of us. As we approach, the mountain is draped in mist creating a very romantic scene. ... read more

‘If the shoe fits’ (or even if it doesn’t) - Friday 21st Dec. The ‘MTO attackers’ first big match was on African time, starting an hour late, with a first half of 30 minutes and a second half of 1 hour 10 minutes. The game ended with the other team walking off as they disagreed with a decision made by the ref (who was from their team). African logic?! Final score was 2-2 which wasn’t bad considering that the second, longer half of the game, we had somewhat of a disadvantage, being that we were shooting towards the goal that happened to be behind a path that is frequented by women carrying loads on their heads, children on bicycles, and any other obstacle you can imagine. We brought our trainers with us to lend to some ... read more

When I arrive at the orphanage I discover that no children are here and that today is for the staff to complete things before the holiday. Communication has been tricky at times especially in regard to which days the orphanage will be fully open, closed, and half open with the feeding programme (now that the fund has paid for bags of maize). Skills for work Centre I take the opportunity of this quiet day to visit another project within the Orphan Care Malawi NGO work: a Vocational Skills Training Centre just down the road from the orphanage. As I walk down the road with one of the volunteers I walk past the King of the village who is having her breakfast outside her house and she smiles and waves as we pass by. The Vocational Centre ... read more

Once we had finished making up the school bags with the Christmas goods. We started decorating the hall. Tinsel, balloons, crape papers twisted together, steamers and even toilet paper was strung about over string tied across the room. The primary+ kids sat on the stage area watching everything being put up. I was keen to get the children involved in the preparations, and as it's a Christian orphanage, had decided to get them to make a large picture of the nativity scene. A few days ago I had cut out some silver stars with some of the infants (although the safety scissors were a bit difficult for them to use). Some volunteers helped to stick four large sheets together and cut out shapes to make a stable. Then a group of primary boys stuck the silver ... read more