from the field: inside malawi

A new president, a new HIV test, and a new World bank pledge for HIV prevention.

These are just a few of the numerous changes and transformations Malawi has seen over the past few weeks. While we've been busy preparing for our SchoolsWork program launch, Malaw has ushered in now President, Joyce Banda, and she's already expanding opportunities for Malawi to improve education and health initiatives, while strengthening foreign relations.

 This week we look inside Malawi, with reports from local news sources following trending topics:

President Joyce Banda rallies for health of women and children

Shortly following her inauguration as president on April 7^th, Joyce Banda initiated the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood.  The goal of the initiative is to lower Malawi’s high rates of maternal deaths.  In order to tackle this mission, Banda has vowed to work closely with traditional village leaders, encouraging them to provide education on “safe motherhood” to their communities.  Another factor vital to lowering the rate of maternal deaths is the education of female children.  While addressing the Chief Steering Committee of the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood, Banda emphasized the importance of sending young girls to school.  Without an education, young girls are vulnerable to early marriages and pregnancies.  Many Malawian girls cannot afford secondary school because of the required fees.  According to Banda, the solution is easy; the school fees can be donated by those who are financially able.  “Most of these girls can’t go to school because of K5,000 and many of us here in town spend more than that in a day, yet we fail to pick one or two children and pay their school fees” argued Banda.

Sources:

http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/05/17/girl-child-education-key-to-safe-motherhood-jb/

http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/04/25/jb-launches-presidential-initiative-on-safemotherhood/

Submitted by Mohit Joshi 

Malawi testing effects of HIV saliva self-test

The Malawi-Liverpool-Welcome Trust and the London School of Hygiene have begun researching the effects of HIV saliva self-tests in communities across Malawi.  The goal of the study is to see if self-testing will lead to increased cases of HIV counseling and care.  Current stigma against HIV and AIDS leave some citizens hesitant to get tested at clinics.  Researchers are hopeful that the HIV self-tests will provide confidentiality and convenience, resulting in an increased number of people knowing if they are HIV negative or positive.  The study will provide around 18,000 adults from various high-density towns with oral HIV testing kits, which detect HIV by testing an individual’s antibody response.  Previous research conducted by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center and McGill University concluded that oral HIV testing kits have comparable accuracy to HIV blood tests.

Source: 

http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/05/04/malawi-surveys-hiv-saliva-self-test/?cp=all#comments

World Bank approves $80 million for prevention of HIV/AIDS and reduction of child malnutrition 

Promising news came from the World Bank at the end of March.  The World Bank has pledged $80 million to Malawi through a project focusing on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and the decline of child malnutrition.  The goal of the project highlights women and children, specifically working towards improving their nutritional status and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.  The money will be invested in 15 districts currently not covered by existing development plans.  According to World Bank statistics, each year “about a quarter of the country’s new HIV infections result from mother-to-child transmission. Malnutrition-related problems are also widely prevalent, with child stunting at 47 percent.”  The money received from the World Bank will help Malawi get closer to the Millennium Development Goals that are due in 2015.

Source:

http://www.malawivoice.com/2012/03/29/world-bank-gives-malawi-80-million-for-nutrition-hiv-and-aids-project-51374/

Malawi devalues the Kwacha in order to meet IMF conditions

Joyce Banda has begun repairing the rocky relationship between past President Bingu wa Mutharika and the International Monetary Fund, but it has come at a cost to the Malawian people.  International donors previously halted support to Malawi after Mutharika refused to comply with many IMF requirements. Although Mutharika devalued the kwacha 10% in December, it was not enough to mend strained relationships between international donors and the Mutharika administration.  In order to access blocked aid from the IMF, Banda has agreed to devalue Malawi’s currency by 40%.  Banda hopes that devaluing the kwacha will influence the IMF to help reduce Malawi’s current food and fuel shortages.  As Banda stated in an interview in South Africa, “We are willing to devalue, they are willing to begin the process of engaging with us.  The sad bit is that we were advised to devalue three years ago.  We didn’t listen, so now we have to do it all at once.”

Source:

http://www.malawivoice.com/2012/04/27/malawi-to-devalue-kwacha-by-40-to-meet-imf-conditions-41072/

Words of Thanks

We wanted to thank all of the generous supporters who sent 75 children living with HIV in Malawi to Camp Hope. Camp Hope is one of World Camp's most recent projects that offers a once in a lifetime opportunity for children trying to live positively.

"This is the happiest I've ever been in my entire life!"
                            Alex, 12 years old and living positive

At Camp Hope we respect the privacy of our campers and therefore celebrate their experiences at camp in words. On behalf of all the campers and everyone at World Camp we cherish the experiences that you made possible. Your support does change lives and we have the words to prove it.

Blessings is 17 years old, deaf, and HIV positive. He came to the first session of camp with the 12-14 year olds because he is developmentally stunted due to his HIV, and he looks like he is 13 or 14. Blessings received constant support during his time at camp. He always had a staff member next to him repeating what the facilitators were saying so that he could read their lips to understand. Blessings truly flourished at camp, culminating in an address that he signed to Camp Hope during Stage Night. While we can never fully share the power of this performance (picture the entire camp silent as Blessings beautifully and emotionally signed this address), we share his words:

Feel welcomed my fellow campers
By our Mentors, Leaders and Doctors

Let us all feel honored
To have made it to Camp Hope
So little do we know
That others wish they were here

Like our elders say
Let us all hold hands
Let us all have one goal
With love, respect and safety
In all our endeavors
As we begin this journey
Until we touch the sky

Let us not forget my friends
To take our medication
And supplement it with proper nutrition
As directed by our Doctors at Baylor

Let us have hope my friends
We are in safe hands

To our leaders
Keep on the good work
And don’t forget to always be our role models
We look up to you for support, encouragement
And above all, LOVE.

Where are they now? - Recognizing WC alumni past and present!

Molly Cohen, Alumni  2010

Molly,
Where are you and what are you doing now?
I am currently working in NYC for Alicia Key's nonprofit, Keep a Child Alive, which shares a similar mission to World Camp.  I work on securing sponsorships for our annual events and maintain the database of volunteers and donors.  This fall, however, I will be moving to Chicago to begin my master's in Urban Education.

Did WC influence the education or career path you chose - if so how?

Yes.  Prior to visiting Africa, I had just received my degree in business and had very different career prospects.  My trip to Africa helped me realize that I wanted to focus my career on giving back -- whether it be to those in need abroad or within our own country (hopefully a combination of both each year!).  After my five weeks with World Camp in Malawi were up, I told Jesse I wasn't ready to leave.  I met up with a friend from college and we returned to Malawi a few months later to live in Mchezi and work forming the foundations of the professional program through teaching CBO members basic business skills.  I never expected to enjoy the teaching aspect so much.  I recently finished a fellowship at a charter school in Harlem and look forward to starting my graduate studies as well! 

What inspired you to go to Africa in the first place?

Ahhh...I always had this desire to travel to Africa, but if we're being totally honest, I came across Madonna's documentary on Hulu and found out through World Camp after doing some research.  I don't like saying Madonna brought me to Africa but unfortunately, it is kind of true!

What color most reminds you of Malawi - why?

 The turquoise color of MCBO's building reminds me of my time in Malawi.  It was always in such contrast to the musty, dry surroundings and represented a glimmer of hope, just like MCBO did for the community.

What is your favorite experience from Malawi to tell your friends about?

I probably told them enough stories that they would never want to hear another one again!  If I had to think of one experience in particular, it would definitely be the relationship I formed with a young girl from Mchezi, Maggie.  Maggie was an HIV+ orphan who immediately latched on to me during my first day living in Mchezi.  She would wait for me to wake up outside my window, be there when I finished class, and hang on my lap until the sun went down.  I know, I know, I am guilty of favoritism with Maggie, but I really felt like she needed the support.  Even with the language barrier, we shared plenty of laughs and smiles.  Just recently, Chris Goma, the director of MCBO, sent me a picture of Maggie with a sign saying she missed me.  It was really important for me to see that she is looking healthy and happy! 

Describe the people of Malawi in 5 words?

I've never felt so popular.

If you could go back to Malawi what would you want to do there?

 First stop off the plane, I would need to go visit John and Ngoni and have a nice bowl of nsima (somehow I miss it!).  After, I definitely want to spend time living in Mchezi and revisiting all the adults I taught and the children I played with.  I loved watching the church choir practice in the early afternoon and soccer, netball, and laughs with the children pre-dinner was always a blast as well..... finish the night off with a flashlight (headband, of course) game of competitive Scrabble.

What do you miss most about Malawi today?

Of course, Maggie (see picture)

What is one thing you learned from your experience?

In Malawi, there is a unique, almost innate, sense of unity embedded within the community. Children do not belong to their parents alone, but are the entire village’s responsibility. People look for help from one another, unlike my suburban childhood where cutthroat competition, soccer Moms, and fenced property lines were the norm. By reaching out to others, I reached inward – a mutually rewarding relationship.

What would you tell others who are thinking of traveling to Malawi w/ WC?

Just do it. No hesitations!