Blogs from Central, Malawi, Africa - page 2

Week 13th November to 17th Baptism by encroaching insects when I got back to Sam's Village. The rains are nearly here, so everything is trying to get inside. I sprayed Doom by the front door step, and I think it made everything that was under the wooden step come inside. Large ants were streaming in, and a couple of biggish spiders and beetles too. The safest place was under the mosquito net. The next morning outside both front and back doors were millions of long thin translucent wings, and large queen ants trying to get hidden before the children came round to pick them up - they're apparently quite a delicacy, but I think I'll pass on it. I was just sweeping them out as fast as possible. This week I'm determined to cook for myself, ... read more

Yesterday I met Libitina, the girl I'm supporting through secondary school at Chikhutu School. She is 18 now, and hopes to go on to university to be a journalist. She is a lovely girl. Two years ago she was in the girls’ group that Shelby, the Peace Corps volunteer was working with. Shelby said she always had something to say, and encouraged the other girls to speak too. The head teacher said she works hard in class, and her results are very good. I also met Petro, who is a lad I worked with at M’teza school two years ago, and a friend of mine is now supporting him through secondary school. He wants to be a doctor. Gift, Landirani's monitoring and evaluation manager, gave me a lift there on his motor bike. It was brilliant ... read more

It's lovely being at Mabuya camp this weekend. A sunbathe and swim in the pool from 7am Saturday followed by bacon, egg and beans for breakfast. I have to leave my room, and transfer to another tonight, which has an ensuite bathroom - such luxury, I shall hardly know myself. Last night's burger at Ad Lib restaurant was wonderful and a Carlsberg green gave me a good night's sleep. I went to Bishop McKentie School fete and bought some overpriced dolls for the CBCC, and some enormous beaded earrings for me. Then, with two NGO (non- governmental organisations ie charity) workers i shared a ride to Dowa, about an hour's drive away from Lilongwe, to Dzalela refugee camp for the Tumaini festival. There was some fabulous drumming, and dancing on stage, as well as different sorts ... read more

Travel back to Lilongwe Malawi was long and uneventful. The border crossing was very slow. It was time to wrap up our trip and prepare to go home. We had a great group dinner at a local restaurant where many of us chose burgers and steak. I think we were all hankering for familiar food. The morning of our departure the Habitat staff came to take many of us to a Habitat sponsored water and sanitation project. As one of the fastest urbanizing countries in the world, the housing and health situation in Malawi’s cities is desperate. People come to the cities to seek economic stability, only to find no work and limited shelter options. Growing numbers of overcrowded, low infrastructure slums border the city limits of Lilongwe. In partnership with the government and other NGOs, ... read more

I am writing you from the last leg of our long journey to Malawi. Our flights through Washington DC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia were uneventful. I’ve never been on a plane with more children than the long flight to Addis. I figured I would take this time to introduce you to our partner families. Anne Eliya is a widow who lost her husband some years back. She currently takes care of her 6 children, ranging in age from 4 – 16. Anne engages in farming to earn a living and support her family. Anne, lives in a dilapidated house with one broken window. The house is built with unburnt bricks (made with just dirt and water) and thatched grass roof. The house leaks heavily during the rainy season. In her own words Anne says “I’m not happy ... read more