Blogs from Malawi, Africa - page 12

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Africa » Malawi » Lake Malawi September 16th 2015

Over the last few days we have witnessed and learned so much. Now we can experience what building is like in Malawi. Once again we were welcomed into the village by song and dance of the local women. What a lovely tradition! The homes we were building were modest by any standard, but they were a significant improvement over the family's original home. Although the bricks we were using were rudimentary bricks made from local mud, they were 'fired' (aka 'burnt') making them better able to keep out water during the rainy season. Bricks used in the substandard homes were un-fired and were likely to crumble during the rainy season. Vulnerable families do not have the money to purchase wood to fire homemade bricks. The original homes had thatched roofs, usually in need of major repair. ... read more
Matope
Michelle laying brick
Girls rule.  We are the supervisors today!

Africa » Malawi » Lake Malawi September 15th 2015

It is very difficult to get to my blog by the end of the day. Our days are packed full of activity, time for a quick shower and then reflections and dinner. Before you know it, it is time for bed. Tuesday, we left our hotel in route to The Salima District of Malawi. On the way, we stopped at a village to learn about the Community Based Organization (CBO). These self started, community run groups, look after the health and social welfare of several nearby (usually within 5-7 km) villages. With the help of the village chiefs , community volunteers, and the government, they monitor: How many children are in school Which households have orphans (vulnerable children) TB and HIV status in households And other things I can't remember. Using this information, they work with ... read more
Inside the CBO
A New Habitat Home and Family
Their Old Home

Africa » Malawi » Central » Lilongwe September 14th 2015

Monday began our official Global Village program. At his is not a traditional Habait build trip, but an exploration by habitat leaders to experience and learn more about how American dollars are being used to alleviate poverty in Malawi. We spent our first half day and the Habitat Malawi office in Lilongwe. We were briefed in turn by Ronald, the HFHI Africa, Middle East & Europe Coordinator, Amos, the president of Habitat Malawi and Kelvin the XXXXX. We learned about the need in this part of the world and how Habitat, alongside its partners, are tackling the challenge. Malawi is one of the poorest nations in Africa. Sustenance agriculture is the primary industry. 80% of the population lives in substandard housing, 69% of the population lives in slums. There are 1.4 million orphaned children in Malawi. ... read more
The Old Well
Waiting with Mom for Water
Selfie!

Africa » Malawi » Central » Lilongwe September 13th 2015

Sunday 13th September I spent the weekend at Mabuya camp in Lilongwe. I needed to do some shopping and I wanted to be nearer civilisation. Yesterday morning, shopping done, with a heavy rucksack and two bags I set off for the local hotel, where I could get a drink and get a taxi back to camp. This hotel, the Kiboko, is one I have had a drink at every time I've been to the shopping centre: in 2012, 2014, and about four times this year. It's about 300 yards from the shopping centre, admittedly round two corners, but still very local. There I was, carrying 10 litres of water, saucepan, vacuum flask and general provisions, feeling the way one does when one has spent half the night in the loo, and couldn't find the hotel. I ... read more

Africa » Malawi » Central » Lilongwe September 13th 2015

Why is it when I have an early morning flight I don't sleep well, or at all, the night before? The alarm chimed at 5 am after only 2 hours of sleep. (Bonus- while I was awake I did get to watch the final episode of Breaking Bad). We headed to the airport at 6 am. Kevin, Habitat Wake's CEO and my traveling companion for this trip, met at RDU. Despite the early hour, we were cheerful and excited. Our itinerary: Raleigh - New York- Johannesburg, South Africa - Lilongwe, Malawi. Estimated travel time - 25 hours. Long, but we were prepared. Minor delays on our flight to JFK continued to build. 'Luckily', we were able to get on a different flight so we could make our tight connection in NY. After a hold on the ... read more
My first African wildlife
Prohibited items?!?!?!
Really?????

Africa » Malawi » Central » Dzaleka September 13th 2015

Shortly after our arrival in Lilongwe, we had dinner with our team. We are both a diverse and surprisingly similar group. We are 9 women and 6 men, ranging in age from mid 20's to mid 70's. Our Habitat connections are varied: Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) staff, affiliate leadership (executive staff and board), affiliate employees and one person new to Habitat. We all share a desire to learn, impact and advocate for housing solutions in Malawi. Our first day was intended to acclimate to and experience the culture in Malawi. We bused 3 hours to the Kungoni cultural center. There we learned about the anthropology (birth, puberty, marriage and death rituals) of the three main tribes. The Ngoni, Yao, and the Chewa. We enjoyed a buffet of local food in an open air restaurant. So ... read more
Kungoni
Kugoni
Creek bed

Africa » Malawi » Lake Malawi September 12th 2015

Frühe Abfahrt von der Kaffeplantage, trotzdem durch Mbeya durch Stau und natürlich sind die tiefen Rillen im Teer über Nacht nicht verschwunden. Die Fahrt zur Grenze war nochmal schön, wir verloren stetig an Höhe (von 1800 m bis 500 m Seehöhe), die Gegend war feuchter, alle Blätter waren grün und nicht von einer rostroten Staubschicht bedeckt. Dichte Vegetation, z.B. Bananenstauden. Nochmal lauerten die tz Polizisten und machten auch fette Beute, jedenfalls bei den üblichen Verdächtigen. Die Schweden sind da ja fast immer dabei... Erstaunlicherweise gab es diesmal mehrere Polizisten, die sich nicht auf das Spielchen einließen “Ich brauche keine Quittung!”. Normalerweise kostet es dann 10.000 tz Shilling (5 US $) und geht direkt in die Tasche des Polizisten. Diesmal wollten die Mitfahrer das auch so handhaben, aber sie mussten 30.000 tz S bezahlen und bekamen eine ... read more
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Es gab Bonbons

Africa » Malawi » Lake Malawi September 12th 2015

Das war seit langem der erste gemütliche Morgen. Mein Wecker hat nämlich die Zeitumstellung nicht mitgemacht (+1 Std an der malawischen Grenze) und mich um 6.00 geweckt. Ich blieb noch eine Stunde im Bett, schaute von dort aus zu, wie die Sonne aus dem Nyasser See kroch, ging dann zu einem gemütlichen Frühstück und fuhr kurz vor 9.00 los. Um mein Gepäck zu verringern, verteilte ich fleißig Bonbons, jetzt habe ich nur noch 7 Stück und deutlich mehr Platz. Auch die Kugelschreiber sind sehr begehrt. Sie gingen mehr an die größeren Kinder, die in die Schule gehen und Schreibzeug brauchen. Wenn ich irgendwo stehen blieb, dann immer bei einer kleineren Gruppe, aber sie kamen aus allen Himmelsrichtungen angerast und ich war schnell von einer Horde Kinder umgeben und mir streckten sich zahllose schmutzige Hände entgegen. Ich ... read more
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Africa » Malawi » Central » Lilongwe September 11th 2015

Wed 26thAugust First potential emotional meltdown. Was trying to book a safari in Zambia and Botswana for a week after my teaching sojourn, and needing a Zambian visa nearly became my internet Nemesis. Various websites seemed definite that I would not be able to get one at entry, though one hinted that I might. A live chatroom suggested I ask the Zambian Consulate. Their website was stiff with phone numbers to ring, which on closer inspection were all the same number, and they obviously had staffing problems, as all I got was a cheery announcement telling me to phone between 9am and 4.30 Monday to Friday. Eleven thirty on a Wednesday clearly wasn't good enough. Luckily my cousin works for a Zambian company so I rang him. 'Just pay US$50 on entry,' he said. Problem solved. ... read more

Africa » Malawi » Lake Malawi September 11th 2015

Thursday 3rd September Yesterday's blog was sent from the comfortable bar where opportunist thieving baboons attacked Laurence's plate and snatched at his tempura. Then we were a little late leaving for the second safari as a group of elephants had collected round our truck and they needed to be chased away first. They, and the hippos, come to feed from the fruit of the sausage tree and other fruits and seeds. A few stones catapulted at their leathery rumps see them off. The baboons are a permanent feature of the park and we were warned not to leave food in our tents. Toby, the nine year old refuses to use he ketchup because he saw a baboon lick the top of it. The afternoon/evening safaris surpassed all our expectations - we saw the pride of nine ... read more




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