Women Fight Harmful Cultural Practices By Lameck Masina
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Women Fight Harmful Cultural Practices By Lameck Masina
Sunday, December 6, 2009
MCHINJI DISTRICT, Malawi — The Home of Hope orphanage provides Chikodano Lupanga, 15, with three nutritious meals a day, new school uniforms, sensible black shoes and a decent education. Her orphaned cousin Jean, 11, who balked at entering the orphanage and lives with her grown sister, has no shoes, raggedy clothes and an often-empty belly. Repeating third grade for the third time, Jean said she bitterly regretted that she did not grow up in the orphanage where Madonnaadopted a boy. Had she stayed, she whispered, “I would have learned to read.”Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Women in developing countries will be the most vulnerable to climate change, a report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned.
The agency said there was a disproportionate burden on those women and called for greater equality.
They do most of the agricultural work, and are therefore affected by weather-related natural disasters impacting on food, energy and water, it said. Read full article from BBC.
Monday, November 2, 2009
NKAYA, 11 September 2009 (IRIN) - Degradation of the environment is reaching alarming levels in Nkaya in southern Malawi, where people have to walk ever greater distances to collect firewood and water. Mayi Chambo, a village head in Nkaya, blamed charcoal makers for the deforestation. This is her story.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
"The debate over foreign aid often pits those who mistrust "charity" against those who mistrust reliance on the markets. Jacqueline Novogratz proposes a middle way she calls patient capital, with promising examples of entrepreneurial innovation driving social change." Listen to this talk by Jacqueline Novogratz featured on TED Talks. HERE.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Excess food will be distributed to Zimbabwe
From Chifundo Malidadi in LILONGWE
MALAWI will export several tonnes of maize to Zimbabwe, part of its 80 000 tonne surplus of the grain. Some of that will be exported to Kenya, ravaged by a drought this year. Agriculture ministry officials did not give the breakdown of the expected exports.
The move is likely going to trigger a fresh wave of protests among Malawians who feel the embattled leader Robert Mugabe should not benefit from the tiny southern African country’s sound economic policies.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
What would an AIDS vaccine mean to the world?
In some ways, it would outshine a cure for the common cold. After all, even if the cold and its stealth wingman,pneumonia, kill more people, they don’t do it quite so grimly. Read the full article in the new york times.Friday, September 25, 2009
Exploring Malawi's Musical Heritage
Deep Roots Malawi, directed by filmmaker Kenny Gilmore, hopes to record the country's musical past and present.Watch a clip from the film.
courtesy BBC
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Malawi Inflation Slows
LILONGWE (Reuters) - Malawi's headline inflation slowed to 7.8 percent year-on-year in August from 8.0 percent in July due partly to weaker food price pressures, the National Statistical Office (NSO) said on Wednesday.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Malawi to use voter cards for fertilizer subsidy
LILONGWE (Reuters) - Malawi said on Monday it would use voter registration cards to identify beneficiaries for fertiliser subsidies to help fight fraud, a move human rights activists said could leave thousands out.
This year 1.6 million people are earmarked to benefit from the seed and fertiliser subsidy programme compared with 1.2 million people last year.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Child Mortality Rate Declines Globally
PATA, Malawi — The number of children dying before their fifth birthdays each year has fallen below nine million for the first time on record, a significant milestone in the global effort to improve children’s chances of survival, particularly in the developing world, according to data that Unicef will release on Thursday. Read more...
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Malawians hail Bingu for refusing to assent to ‘Chidyamakanda Bill’
Malawians have hailed President Bingu wa Mutharika for refusing to sign the Constinutional amendment bill into law that allows Malawian girls to marry at the age of 16 with consent from their parents. The Family Planning Association of Malawi argues that young girls are at a higher risk of death because of pregnancy-related complications and that the marriage of 16-year olds is akin to child abuse because, as a minor, they cannot give valid consent. Read More....
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind
Check out his post by Ethan Zuckerman of Worldchanging:
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
In Pictures: Malawi Child Workers
Child tobacco pickers in Malawi are being regularly exposed to extremely high levels of nicotine poisoning, according to a new report by children's organization Plan International.
courtesy: BBC, World News
Friday, August 7, 2009
Looking ahead to January 2010
Even though the last of the volunteers departed less than a week ago, it's already time to start looking forward to January 2010 in Malawi. It seems our understanding of Malawi and its people grows with every year we work here. This increased understanding, combined with the invaluable input from our volunteers, has yielded some great new ideas and initiatives that will greatly increase the effectiveness of our programing here in Malawi. Here are just a few things we've been working on:
1) The Four-day Curriculum -This is something we've been talking about for a few years, but it is finally time to make the move. Our curriculum has grown so much in the past few years that 3 days is just not enough. Feedback has been unanimous - from the teachers to the translators to the volunteers - that we need to move to 4 days. While we still need to do a fair amount of curriculum development before January, it is safe to say there will be longer empowerment sections and more information on alternative fuel sources. If you have any input we'd love to hear your suggestions. Let us know!!
2) Possible New Camp Schedule - One of the main reasons we're moving towards a four day curriculum is because we want a more sustained relationship with the children and teachers with whom we work. Another idea we had - which we're going to try out in January 2010 with one school - is to teach a four day curriculum spread out over 4 weeks. Basically we'll teach at one school every Friday for 4 weeks. The idea is to give the kids and teachers more time to digest what we're talking about in order to spur more thoughtful discussion that will lead to concrete solutions for the problems we're addressing. We're excited to see how this new format works and to see the effect it has on the learning experience for kids and teachers.
3) Reworking the City Kid Project - One of World Camp's most unique projects is the City Kid Project where we work with at-risk orphaned or vulnerable children (OVCs) living on the streets in Lilongwe. These kids come to the streets for different reasons but once there they are exposed to a harsh life that can lead to risky behavior, higher HIV/AIDS rates, and multiple other issues. Our work in the past has been rewarding for both the volunteers and the children, but we're hoping to make the program even better in January 2010. We're going to devote Saturdays throughout the January session to working with these children. The hope is to educate them about HIV/AIDS and encourage them to get off the streets and back to their families. We hope that a full month of working with these kids will allow us to better understand their situation and lend a helping hand where we can.
4) New Teacher Facilitator Role - The Teacher Facilitator role is one of the most important positions during our educational camps. Encouraging teachers to continue talking openly and honestly about the issues we work to address is key to the sustainability of our message. All this makes the Teacher Facilitator role one of the more challenging positions. Also, we know some people are more comfortable working with a group of 10-15 teachers rather than a class of 20-30 kids. Because of this we are hoping to recruit two volunteers to work primarily with teachers during our camps. If you're interested you can get more info on our website by clicking here.
It's been a busy and exciting few weeks. We're really excited about January 2010 and all the new ideas and programming that we have planned. Now all we need is volunteers! If you are interested in working with us in January or next summer apply online now! You can find an online application by clicking here. Keep posted to the blog for more updates and news from World Camp!
1) The Four-day Curriculum -This is something we've been talking about for a few years, but it is finally time to make the move. Our curriculum has grown so much in the past few years that 3 days is just not enough. Feedback has been unanimous - from the teachers to the translators to the volunteers - that we need to move to 4 days. While we still need to do a fair amount of curriculum development before January, it is safe to say there will be longer empowerment sections and more information on alternative fuel sources. If you have any input we'd love to hear your suggestions. Let us know!!
2) Possible New Camp Schedule - One of the main reasons we're moving towards a four day curriculum is because we want a more sustained relationship with the children and teachers with whom we work. Another idea we had - which we're going to try out in January 2010 with one school - is to teach a four day curriculum spread out over 4 weeks. Basically we'll teach at one school every Friday for 4 weeks. The idea is to give the kids and teachers more time to digest what we're talking about in order to spur more thoughtful discussion that will lead to concrete solutions for the problems we're addressing. We're excited to see how this new format works and to see the effect it has on the learning experience for kids and teachers.
3) Reworking the City Kid Project - One of World Camp's most unique projects is the City Kid Project where we work with at-risk orphaned or vulnerable children (OVCs) living on the streets in Lilongwe. These kids come to the streets for different reasons but once there they are exposed to a harsh life that can lead to risky behavior, higher HIV/AIDS rates, and multiple other issues. Our work in the past has been rewarding for both the volunteers and the children, but we're hoping to make the program even better in January 2010. We're going to devote Saturdays throughout the January session to working with these children. The hope is to educate them about HIV/AIDS and encourage them to get off the streets and back to their families. We hope that a full month of working with these kids will allow us to better understand their situation and lend a helping hand where we can.
4) New Teacher Facilitator Role - The Teacher Facilitator role is one of the most important positions during our educational camps. Encouraging teachers to continue talking openly and honestly about the issues we work to address is key to the sustainability of our message. All this makes the Teacher Facilitator role one of the more challenging positions. Also, we know some people are more comfortable working with a group of 10-15 teachers rather than a class of 20-30 kids. Because of this we are hoping to recruit two volunteers to work primarily with teachers during our camps. If you're interested you can get more info on our website by clicking here.
It's been a busy and exciting few weeks. We're really excited about January 2010 and all the new ideas and programming that we have planned. Now all we need is volunteers! If you are interested in working with us in January or next summer apply online now! You can find an online application by clicking here. Keep posted to the blog for more updates and news from World Camp!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Session II Departs
With the departure of the last 15 volunteers from session II yesterday, World Camp’s summer is drawing to a close. After a successful City Kid Project, the group headed to Cool Runnings, located in Senga Bay, Lake Malawi, for a few days of well earned relaxation. Volunteers got to work on the tans that had been eluding them over their 5 weeks spent inside the classroom teaching, while they went through curriculum changes and our final evaluation of the summer.
The session seems to have flown by. It’s hard to believe we had time to work with 5 different primary schools, the Yossa After School Orphan Care Center, and the Crisis Nursery. In total, we fed and taught almost 1800 primary students from standards 5 through 8, and met with over 60 teachers. In between all of this, the group squeezed in trips to Mount Nkhoma, Zambia, and Lake Malawi, as well as numerous locations in and around the city, and a home stay in Mpemba village.
Scott, Katy, Ashley, and I are still around for a few more days, closing things down at the World Camp house for 2009, and getting things ready for 2010. Some changes to note are a new, 4 day curriculum, which will be implemented in the January session and should allow World Camp to further and more effectively address the challenging issues the primary students we work with face every day. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with World Camp, contact us at info@worldcampforkids.org or apply online at our website www.worldcampforkids.org
In the meantime, thanks to everyone for all their hard work and what turned out to be an incredible summer. Keep checking back for more updates on Malawi and World Camp.
Jaren Folden
The session seems to have flown by. It’s hard to believe we had time to work with 5 different primary schools, the Yossa After School Orphan Care Center, and the Crisis Nursery. In total, we fed and taught almost 1800 primary students from standards 5 through 8, and met with over 60 teachers. In between all of this, the group squeezed in trips to Mount Nkhoma, Zambia, and Lake Malawi, as well as numerous locations in and around the city, and a home stay in Mpemba village.
Scott, Katy, Ashley, and I are still around for a few more days, closing things down at the World Camp house for 2009, and getting things ready for 2010. Some changes to note are a new, 4 day curriculum, which will be implemented in the January session and should allow World Camp to further and more effectively address the challenging issues the primary students we work with face every day. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with World Camp, contact us at info@worldcampforkids.org or apply online at our website www.worldcampforkids.org
In the meantime, thanks to everyone for all their hard work and what turned out to be an incredible summer. Keep checking back for more updates on Malawi and World Camp.
Jaren Folden
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Final Camp and Homestay
The last week and a half of camps have practically flown by, and as we drove away from the screaming, waving, Malawian school children this afternoon it was difficult to believe that it was for the final time. Last week, we ran two three-day camps at Kalamba and Mpemba FP schools, and we rounded off the session with a two day program this week with city children at a center called YOSSA. The highlight of the past week, however, definitely had to be our homestay experiences Friday Night in the villages outside Mpemba FPS.
Volunteers helped shuck corn, learned to tie babies to their backs, toured the villages on bicycles, and even got to stir the nsima in the many different houses in which we stayed. None of our evenings would have been complete, however, without the community dance circle in which the “azungus” were the stars of the show. In front of a huge crowd of women and children, volunteers were called out and invited to sing or to dance. For many of us, this mini jam session went on forever, as the villagers never seemed to run out of songs to sing or enthusiasm for watching us try to dance.
The sense of being a special guest to the whole villages was one of the common threads tying together a myriad of homestay experiences, which ranged from crowds of staring children to surprise goat and chicken guests in the middle of the night. The people went out of their way to accommodate the large crowd of volunteers that needed homes. Overall, it can safely be said that the homestay was one of the more interesting, and at times, eye-opening, experiences that we have had this session and everyone came back to the house safe and content, although a little bit tired and extremely dirty.
As we head off to spend some relaxing days of rest and self-evaluation on Lake Malawi tomorrow, it seems weird to think that, come Sunday, the majority of us will be on our way back to our homelands. At the lake, we will be able to spend the next couple days reflecting on the things we have done, the people we have met, and the experiences we have shared. Malawi has been our home for the past four and a half weeks, and the country has offered something different to each and every one of us.
-Heather
Volunteers helped shuck corn, learned to tie babies to their backs, toured the villages on bicycles, and even got to stir the nsima in the many different houses in which we stayed. None of our evenings would have been complete, however, without the community dance circle in which the “azungus” were the stars of the show. In front of a huge crowd of women and children, volunteers were called out and invited to sing or to dance. For many of us, this mini jam session went on forever, as the villagers never seemed to run out of songs to sing or enthusiasm for watching us try to dance.
The sense of being a special guest to the whole villages was one of the common threads tying together a myriad of homestay experiences, which ranged from crowds of staring children to surprise goat and chicken guests in the middle of the night. The people went out of their way to accommodate the large crowd of volunteers that needed homes. Overall, it can safely be said that the homestay was one of the more interesting, and at times, eye-opening, experiences that we have had this session and everyone came back to the house safe and content, although a little bit tired and extremely dirty.
As we head off to spend some relaxing days of rest and self-evaluation on Lake Malawi tomorrow, it seems weird to think that, come Sunday, the majority of us will be on our way back to our homelands. At the lake, we will be able to spend the next couple days reflecting on the things we have done, the people we have met, and the experiences we have shared. Malawi has been our home for the past four and a half weeks, and the country has offered something different to each and every one of us.
-Heather
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Camp 4 and Empowerment
***Sorry for the delay in posting. Should be another one coming tonight, so check back!
We returned from Zambia Wednesday evening and started our fourth camp on Thursday morning. With the exception of the windy (thus very dusty) weather conditions, camp was successful. The teachers at Mdunje primary school were extremely welcoming and open to sharing information and ideas with the World Camp team.
Empowerment sessions also went really well with this school. On the second day of each camp, we hold empowerment sessions to open a dialogue with the students about sex, gender, HIV/AIDS and decision-making. Boys and girls are divided into classes by their age, so that we can address issues and topics that are specific to the student’s gender and age group. During these sessions, we encourage students to share their goals and aspirations and how they can achieve them through positive decision-making. Puberty, menstruation and pregnancy are also explained, as students often have questions about their bodies and the changes they are experiencing. Sex is discussed more in depth with the older students of each school and we address the positive and negative consequences of their decisions regarding sex.
As sex is often a difficult subject for teenagers to discuss, World Camp has incorporated anonymous questions into our empowerment curriculum. Students write down questions and WC teachers answer all questions openly and honestly. With limited access to resources and lack of channels for communication about sex in their communities, anonymous questions offer the students a chance to have their questions about sex answered. Malawian teenagers are no different than youth from all around the world and anonymous questions allow for WC teachers to clear-up common teenage misconceptions about sex and their bodies.
Empowerment sessions usually have mixed reviews during our nightly evaluations of the camp; some groups of students are more open to discussion than others. Reviews were extremely positive for camp at Mdunje, as the students were quite inquisitive and spirited.
Today has been a day of rest for the volunteers including church services and trips to the market. We have two camps this coming week, with a homestay on Friday night. Posts about our homestay visits to come…
-Jenn
We returned from Zambia Wednesday evening and started our fourth camp on Thursday morning. With the exception of the windy (thus very dusty) weather conditions, camp was successful. The teachers at Mdunje primary school were extremely welcoming and open to sharing information and ideas with the World Camp team.
Empowerment sessions also went really well with this school. On the second day of each camp, we hold empowerment sessions to open a dialogue with the students about sex, gender, HIV/AIDS and decision-making. Boys and girls are divided into classes by their age, so that we can address issues and topics that are specific to the student’s gender and age group. During these sessions, we encourage students to share their goals and aspirations and how they can achieve them through positive decision-making. Puberty, menstruation and pregnancy are also explained, as students often have questions about their bodies and the changes they are experiencing. Sex is discussed more in depth with the older students of each school and we address the positive and negative consequences of their decisions regarding sex.
As sex is often a difficult subject for teenagers to discuss, World Camp has incorporated anonymous questions into our empowerment curriculum. Students write down questions and WC teachers answer all questions openly and honestly. With limited access to resources and lack of channels for communication about sex in their communities, anonymous questions offer the students a chance to have their questions about sex answered. Malawian teenagers are no different than youth from all around the world and anonymous questions allow for WC teachers to clear-up common teenage misconceptions about sex and their bodies.
Empowerment sessions usually have mixed reviews during our nightly evaluations of the camp; some groups of students are more open to discussion than others. Reviews were extremely positive for camp at Mdunje, as the students were quite inquisitive and spirited.
Today has been a day of rest for the volunteers including church services and trips to the market. We have two camps this coming week, with a homestay on Friday night. Posts about our homestay visits to come…
-Jenn
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Lake Malawi
So, yeah, we just got back from the Lake and it was AMAZING. More like an ocean than a lake really, Lake Malawi (aka: "the Calendar Lake") is 365 miles long and 52 miles across. Which meant that we couldn't even see the shore on the other side and had to content ourselves with looking at canoes, islands, swimming children, and rare types of fish of every kind... really not such a bad deal in the long run. The first day at the Lake a few of us attempted to swim out to a certain "lizard island" about a mile away from shore, but gave up after going approximately 1/117th of the way and returned to come lounge on the beautiful beach instead. Never fear though, for we were later redeemed when we took a boat dubbed BAD NEWS sailed by the very competent "Captain Magic" out to the island and frolicked amongst the large lizards and colorful fish. That night we spent our time chilling around the "Cool Runnings" camp ground (basically a
hippie heaven on earth) climbing trees, playing bao, stalking some especially attractive Danish boys, hunting for books from the lodge library complete with Tolstoy and Hugo, ordering passion fruit Fanta from the bar, and consuming some especially delicious vegetarian fare. The tents we slept in were quite an adventure, as were the ants that seemed to be rather attracted to our sleeping bags and clothes... let's just say that it's gonna be nice to sleep in a real bed again tonight. Anyways, the rest of our time at the Lake was spent in much the same way as the first day, as we continued to enjoy the beautiful landscape and our relaxation time in between our very busy teaching schedules. We also taught one afternoon for a couple hours to a group of students at the lake.(Written yesterday)
PS On the way home, some of the more adventuresome of us tried some of the culinary delights available along the road. Pictures to follow...
hippie heaven on earth) climbing trees, playing bao, stalking some especially attractive Danish boys, hunting for books from the lodge library complete with Tolstoy and Hugo, ordering passion fruit Fanta from the bar, and consuming some especially delicious vegetarian fare. The tents we slept in were quite an adventure, as were the ants that seemed to be rather attracted to our sleeping bags and clothes... let's just say that it's gonna be nice to sleep in a real bed again tonight. Anyways, the rest of our time at the Lake was spent in much the same way as the first day, as we continued to enjoy the beautiful landscape and our relaxation time in between our very busy teaching schedules. We also taught one afternoon for a couple hours to a group of students at the lake.(Written yesterday)
PS On the way home, some of the more adventuresome of us tried some of the culinary delights available along the road. Pictures to follow...
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Why did the hippo Cross the Road? Because he was in Africa?
Not funny? You just had to be there!
The World Camp team has just experienced three enthralling nights on safari in Zambia. On arrival volunteers pitched their tents and headed off to explore what the next three days had in store for them.
Literally 50m from camp we encountered lazy hippos and cunning crocodiles sunning themselves and basking in the sheer delight of a glorious sunset that we all enjoyed as we excitedly snapped photos. Little did we know our cameras would be our closest friend over the next three days because there was just too much to see and too many memories we all wanted to take home.
The following day volunteers relaxed beside the pool and took in the sun that the crocs and hippos seemed to relish. Setting off on a night drive in Luangwa National Park was surely the most exciting part of the trip. Not only did we learn so much about nature and the animal food chain; we encountered lions, leopards, water buffalos, elephants, porcupines, hyenas, wild dogs, pukus, impala’s and so much more. An early morning safari also enticed many volunteers who found themselves addicted to the wonders of the wild African ways.
The sheer beauty of mother-nature itself and the understanding that all wildlife has its place in the eco system was truly inspiring. Not only did we have time to enjoy each other out of work mode but we had time to find ourselves and how survival in the wild is truly magnificent; everything and everyone has its place in the world.
A truly memorable moment would have to be the late night arrival of a baby elephant and its mother, along with the noise of a hippo munching on leaves and grass outside of volunteers' tents. We were all so scared, but also excited that we were living in their world and would have to fit in and become accustomed very quickly to the ways of the wild. Well some of us did, others just slept straight through.
The World Camp team has just experienced three enthralling nights on safari in Zambia. On arrival volunteers pitched their tents and headed off to explore what the next three days had in store for them.
Literally 50m from camp we encountered lazy hippos and cunning crocodiles sunning themselves and basking in the sheer delight of a glorious sunset that we all enjoyed as we excitedly snapped photos. Little did we know our cameras would be our closest friend over the next three days because there was just too much to see and too many memories we all wanted to take home.
The following day volunteers relaxed beside the pool and took in the sun that the crocs and hippos seemed to relish. Setting off on a night drive in Luangwa National Park was surely the most exciting part of the trip. Not only did we learn so much about nature and the animal food chain; we encountered lions, leopards, water buffalos, elephants, porcupines, hyenas, wild dogs, pukus, impala’s and so much more. An early morning safari also enticed many volunteers who found themselves addicted to the wonders of the wild African ways.
The sheer beauty of mother-nature itself and the understanding that all wildlife has its place in the eco system was truly inspiring. Not only did we have time to enjoy each other out of work mode but we had time to find ourselves and how survival in the wild is truly magnificent; everything and everyone has its place in the world.
A truly memorable moment would have to be the late night arrival of a baby elephant and its mother, along with the noise of a hippo munching on leaves and grass outside of volunteers' tents. We were all so scared, but also excited that we were living in their world and would have to fit in and become accustomed very quickly to the ways of the wild. Well some of us did, others just slept straight through.
Friday, July 10, 2009
1st day teaching at camp ;)
BLOG
~ First day of camp WHOO!
~ Got off at the wrong school but finally made it about an hour late
~ Having a great time figuring out a group dynamic
~ Long rides with the translators are always fun and interesting, learning more about the Malawian culture
~ Divided into cook groups, planning meals is always exciting ... we've had veggie stir-fry w/ rice, Mac&Cheese w/ baked
beans, tomato soup w/ grilled cheese and fruit salad, and fried rice w/ egg rolls tonight
~ Learned a new game called Bao
~ Anna, Lauren, & Nick went running at the golf course at 6:45 AM :O but Pete read in the car
~ Went to fabric market yesterday and gave material to Lali (tailor) to make skirts/bags/etc
~ Have a nice journey ...
~ First day of camp WHOO!
~ Got off at the wrong school but finally made it about an hour late
~ Having a great time figuring out a group dynamic
~ Long rides with the translators are always fun and interesting, learning more about the Malawian culture
~ Divided into cook groups, planning meals is always exciting ... we've had veggie stir-fry w/ rice, Mac&Cheese w/ baked
beans, tomato soup w/ grilled cheese and fruit salad, and fried rice w/ egg rolls tonight
~ Learned a new game called Bao
~ Anna, Lauren, & Nick went running at the golf course at 6:45 AM :O but Pete read in the car
~ Went to fabric market yesterday and gave material to Lali (tailor) to make skirts/bags/etc
~ Have a nice journey ...
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Camp II: Ng'ozi FPS
This weekend was a weekend for celebration! First of all we had Canada Day on July 1st; then good ol’ American Independence Day on July 4th; and then to top it all off Malawian Independence Day was on July 6th, which resulted in an extra day off! Most of the volunteers spent the day hiking up Mount Nkhoma
-Natasha and Amelia
Monday, July 6, 2009
Mt Nkoma Hike
Today we went to Nkhoma Mountain about 35 kilometers south of Lilongwe. Alongside the other World Camp volunteers living in the "pink palace" (other house), we hiked to the top. Although it was an enervating three hours, the panoramic view at the top was worth all of our hard work. This trip also gave us a taste of life in rural Malawi as we passed many villages along the way. We are excited to observe our first camp tomorrow before we begin teaching on Thursday.
-Lauren, Elise, Karen, Nick, Sam, Kirsten, Mackenzie, and Anna
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Muli bwanji!
Muli bwanji! The long arduous flight to Malawi fortunately consisted of comic reliefs. For example, Kirsten and Nick sat behind an elderly white South African couple who needed “beef explaining”. As soon as we disembarked the plane, we experienced a culture shock. On the ride to our house, for instance, we witnessed a man carrying a stick of dead mice. We also fully appreciate the beautiful scenery.
This morning, everyone slept in. Until Ashley came knocking on the door and awoke us from our deep slumber and disrupted our sweet dreams. Well Elise woke up at 6:30. After being lethargic for the first hour or so, we went to the college house, which was aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and got pumped up by playing games while waiting for the arrival of the translator. Once he arrived, we started reviewing the curriculum for a mock day one at camp. Afterwards, we gallantly rode a Land Rover to the ambassador’s mansion and ravenously devoured the gastronomically appealing culinary delights until we bordered gluttony. The opulence of the party juxtaposed to the conditions of the native Malawians was strange. So many Americans concentrated in a small area! Mackenzie and Lauren volunteered their faces as canvases for patriotic works of art. Sam and Anna exchanged discourses with a UNC Chapel Hill student who volunteers with the Peace Corps. After eating and people-watching, we headed to town and attempted to exchange our money. Most inauspiciously, due to the seemingly erratic bank schedule, it was closed and we were unable to exchange our dollars. Fortunately, World Camp had sufficient amount of spare money for us to do some grocery shopping for food. Afterwards, we came back to our humble abode and continued with our orientation. John provided us with delish food, including fries and quiche. John is the person who so graciously provided us with dinner. Room 1 was assigned to servitude and washed the dishes. However, they made the best of the time and had some fun. Towards the end of the evening, we all sat around and had a good time chatting.
We miss you!
Karen and Nick
(Excuse the superfluous overly ornate words as our choice of diction)
This morning, everyone slept in. Until Ashley came knocking on the door and awoke us from our deep slumber and disrupted our sweet dreams. Well Elise woke up at 6:30. After being lethargic for the first hour or so, we went to the college house, which was aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and got pumped up by playing games while waiting for the arrival of the translator. Once he arrived, we started reviewing the curriculum for a mock day one at camp. Afterwards, we gallantly rode a Land Rover to the ambassador’s mansion and ravenously devoured the gastronomically appealing culinary delights until we bordered gluttony. The opulence of the party juxtaposed to the conditions of the native Malawians was strange. So many Americans concentrated in a small area! Mackenzie and Lauren volunteered their faces as canvases for patriotic works of art. Sam and Anna exchanged discourses with a UNC Chapel Hill student who volunteers with the Peace Corps. After eating and people-watching, we headed to town and attempted to exchange our money. Most inauspiciously, due to the seemingly erratic bank schedule, it was closed and we were unable to exchange our dollars. Fortunately, World Camp had sufficient amount of spare money for us to do some grocery shopping for food. Afterwards, we came back to our humble abode and continued with our orientation. John provided us with delish food, including fries and quiche. John is the person who so graciously provided us with dinner. Room 1 was assigned to servitude and washed the dishes. However, they made the best of the time and had some fun. Towards the end of the evening, we all sat around and had a good time chatting.
We miss you!
Karen and Nick
(Excuse the superfluous overly ornate words as our choice of diction)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Orientation and Camp 1: Karonga FPS
Sixteen new volunteers arrived over the weekend and added to the 2 that stayed from last session (G-Funk and Megan) we have a total of 18 for session 2 including the first boy (Reinier)!! Orientation took three days and it was a lot of fun. We learned a lot and got more familiar with the curriculum and each other. On Tuesday we had a meet and greet with all the translators and everyone got to know each other, while enjoying delicious pizza from Macdauds (you’re lovin’ it)! After packing boxes on Wednesday we were all ready for our first camp on Thursday. Although the school didn’t realize we were coming that day, they were so excited to see us and they loved the morning songs. Lunch was a bit challenging but everybody enjoyed NSIMA TIME! World Camp teachers may have been nervous at first but quickly got into the swing of things and will soon be expert World Camp teachers! The kids really enjoyed playing with the Frisbees during afternoon games, and they can’t wait for us to come back tomorrow! We are looking forward to some great empowerment sections and some awesome presentations on day three. We are so glad the session finally started and we can’t wait to see what lies ahead of us! Zikoooomo!
-Reinier and G-Funk
-Reinier and G-Funk
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Rollin with it
At World Camp Honduras, a central attitude that we have to adapt is "rolling with it." There can often be sudden changes and things you don't understand when living in a new culture.
As most of you probably know by now, World Camp has decided not to proceed with the July session due to the political situation here. All June Volunteers are safely in the United States, and the three program coordinators have a flight scheduled for this Saturday at 2:50. We really appreciate all of your and your understanding. I encourage those of you who aren't coming to take the Honduran lesson of rolling with it and make the best of wherever you are.
Thanks for sharing this adventure with us!!!
As most of you probably know by now, World Camp has decided not to proceed with the July session due to the political situation here. All June Volunteers are safely in the United States, and the three program coordinators have a flight scheduled for this Saturday at 2:50. We really appreciate all of your and your understanding. I encourage those of you who aren't coming to take the Honduran lesson of rolling with it and make the best of wherever you are.
Thanks for sharing this adventure with us!!!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Signing off...
It is hard to believe this session's last full day in Honduras is almost over... The day began early for some, as five of the volunteers left the house at 3:30am to head to the airport and catch their flights back to the United States. We weren't completely sure what to expect, as the president of Honduras was arrested and imprisoned last night, but other than increased security (never an unwelcome thing) things at the airport went off without a hitch. So, it was a lonely three volunteers who spent the day cleaning, packing, and at the beach. We then enjoyed a rousing game of CatchPhrase before partaking in a lovely last dinner with the coordinators, our driver,and our translator. Overall, it has been a peaceful day in Tela despite the political unrest.
At the beginning of the weekend, on Friday, we went back to the Garifuna nursery in the morning to spend a few more hours playing with the children. Helpful hint: if you ever feel unloved, go and meet these kids. We were bombarded with hugs as soon as we stepped off the van, and the children did not lose their enthusiasm as we played games such as Pato Pato Ganzo (Duck Duck Goose), sang songs such as Cabeza Hombros Rodillas y Pies (Head Shoulders Knees and...Legs), and of course broke out the much-anticipated parachute. Despite all the fun we were having, however, it was eventually time to say goodbye to the children, so we loaded back into the van to have lunch at a restaurant on the beach. We got in a few good hours of sun and wave time, ate some yummy fish, and then returned home to prepare for our final party later that night. At the party, we enjoyed an incredible meal, good company, a healthily competitive game of trivia, and, of course, a good amount of dancing.
After a late night on Friday, we were able to sleep in on Saturday before we began our mission for the day: cleaning. We cleaned the house, the living room, the kitchen, the bathrooms; we scrubbed the fridge, the showers, the toilets; we swept, mopped, and swept some more. Due to a combined group effort, however, we were able to get everything checked off by around noontime, so we headed out to the beach for the afternoon. Alas, our time in the sun was shortlived as clouds quickly moved in and it then started to rain. In order to preserve the dry clothes we later needed to pack, we returned the house for chill time, dinner, and a movie and popcorn. We then turned in for what was, for five of us, our last night sleeping in this house.
Reflecting back on this month, it is hard to believe we have accomplished so much. We educated over 700 students ranging from 8 to 20 years old, plus a group of prisoners and a handful of local teenagers. We climbed waterfalls, rafted rivers, hiked up 653 stairs, saw the Mayan Ruins, and flew through the forest on ziplines. We hauled rocks, built walls, painted signs, and took a census. We ate beans, rice, licuados, beans, pupusas, tortillas, and some more beans. But most importantly, we made countless new friends, and forged an even larger number of new memories. You know never what to expect when you throw nine strangers together for four weeks in a foreign country, but I believe we were all pleasantly surprised at how well our group got along, and how good of an experience we all enjoyed. Returning to the states is certainly a welcome event, but our time in Honduras has been unforgettable, to say the least. To all you readers in the states - we will see you soon!
Ciao, and thanks for reading,
Anna
At the beginning of the weekend, on Friday, we went back to the Garifuna nursery in the morning to spend a few more hours playing with the children. Helpful hint: if you ever feel unloved, go and meet these kids. We were bombarded with hugs as soon as we stepped off the van, and the children did not lose their enthusiasm as we played games such as Pato Pato Ganzo (Duck Duck Goose), sang songs such as Cabeza Hombros Rodillas y Pies (Head Shoulders Knees and...Legs), and of course broke out the much-anticipated parachute. Despite all the fun we were having, however, it was eventually time to say goodbye to the children, so we loaded back into the van to have lunch at a restaurant on the beach. We got in a few good hours of sun and wave time, ate some yummy fish, and then returned home to prepare for our final party later that night. At the party, we enjoyed an incredible meal, good company, a healthily competitive game of trivia, and, of course, a good amount of dancing.
After a late night on Friday, we were able to sleep in on Saturday before we began our mission for the day: cleaning. We cleaned the house, the living room, the kitchen, the bathrooms; we scrubbed the fridge, the showers, the toilets; we swept, mopped, and swept some more. Due to a combined group effort, however, we were able to get everything checked off by around noontime, so we headed out to the beach for the afternoon. Alas, our time in the sun was shortlived as clouds quickly moved in and it then started to rain. In order to preserve the dry clothes we later needed to pack, we returned the house for chill time, dinner, and a movie and popcorn. We then turned in for what was, for five of us, our last night sleeping in this house.
Reflecting back on this month, it is hard to believe we have accomplished so much. We educated over 700 students ranging from 8 to 20 years old, plus a group of prisoners and a handful of local teenagers. We climbed waterfalls, rafted rivers, hiked up 653 stairs, saw the Mayan Ruins, and flew through the forest on ziplines. We hauled rocks, built walls, painted signs, and took a census. We ate beans, rice, licuados, beans, pupusas, tortillas, and some more beans. But most importantly, we made countless new friends, and forged an even larger number of new memories. You know never what to expect when you throw nine strangers together for four weeks in a foreign country, but I believe we were all pleasantly surprised at how well our group got along, and how good of an experience we all enjoyed. Returning to the states is certainly a welcome event, but our time in Honduras has been unforgettable, to say the least. To all you readers in the states - we will see you soon!
Ciao, and thanks for reading,
Anna
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Session I Done. Session II Begins
The first session finished up on Thursday with the last of the volunteers departing from Lilongwe. After much consideration and consultation with their respective airlines, Megan and Sarah G. decided to stay on for one more session. It will be great to have them around for another five weeks to help bring the new volunteer up to speed.
The new group arrives today and tomorrow, with orientation starting on Sunday. The first camp will start on Thursday and then I am sure the time will fly right by. We'll keep updating this blog regularly so keep posted for more info.
Below is a story from a 2007 volunteer describing her experience in Malawi. Check it out. http://www.jpgmag.com/stories/11972
Until next time!
-Scott
The new group arrives today and tomorrow, with orientation starting on Sunday. The first camp will start on Thursday and then I am sure the time will fly right by. We'll keep updating this blog regularly so keep posted for more info.
Below is a story from a 2007 volunteer describing her experience in Malawi. Check it out. http://www.jpgmag.com/stories/11972
Until next time!
-Scott
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Home Stretch...
We have all returned safely to Tela after five days in El Pital, located on the beautiful Cangrejal River. This trip was quite the adventure. We woke up bright and early Saturday morning to smush 12 people into our rental van and begin the two hour journey from our home in Tela up into the Cangrejal River Valley, known by locals as La Cuenca. We made it to El Pital around lunchtime on Saturday, and were dropped off at different families' houses to begin our homestay. We ate lunch with our respective families and then met back at the local high school (which, by the way, World Camp helped to construct last year) for an orientation of what we were scheduled to do Monday and Tuesday morning: a census of the Yaruca community. These questionnaires were quite the adventure, as we surveyed families ranging in size from one to 15 members, and talked to some people as old as 85. By lunchtime Tuesday we had almost completed the entire community, consisting of about 70 families.
Those surveys were not the beginning of our work, however. On Sunday morning we had painted and installed some "SLOW: SCHOOL ZONE" signs to put on the road outside the school. We also installed a few trash cans near the community soccer field, which involved hauling rocks from the river up a hill and down the road. It was pretty exhausting physical labor, but the river itself was gorgeous.
Emily with our basurero and newly-constructed wall
Monday and Tuesday afternoon we taught at the primary school in Yaruca, where we found the kids were the best behaved out of all those we have taught. The groups were split into boys and girls for both days of the curriculum, which seemed to make a huge difference in the flow of the class. We were pretty exhausted after two mornings of doing the census, but we made it through teaching the kids and enjoyed a yummy snack of pastelitos and soda on Tuesday after we finished teaching.
Our trip was not all work, however. On Sunday afternoon we embarked on a "river hike" that actually turned out to be a "trek up a raging tributary over three waterfalls and some raging rapids"... in a torrential downpour. Thanks to some intense teamwork we made it up the river safely, and enjoyed a natural rock slide at the end before walking through the jungle to a cooperative on the other side of the river from where we were living. How does one get back across the river, you ask? Well. The answer lies in the form of a canasta - which is basically a metal basket suspended on a cable across the river. It was up to the lone male individual in our group, one of our translators, to use the crank-type device to ferry us all across. Of course, he was up to the challenge, so once we were all safely across we changed into some dry clothes and then went home to have dinner with our host families.
Oh, just climbin' a waterfall
The canasta in the middle of the river
On Wednesday morning, we said goodbye to our wonderful hosts at around eight in the morning and then drove down the mountain to Omega Tours, where we were scheduled to go white water rafting. In three rafts, the group wound its way down seven miles of the Cangrejal River, going over several rapids and enjoying one boulder that offered a prime spot to jump off. When we reached the end, we were all exhausted from the trip coupled with the work we had been doing the previous days, so we piled into a few trucks to be driven back up the mountain and be fed a delicious lunch of pasta. We then relaxed around the pool for a few hours before traveling back to Tela in the afternoon. All in all, El Pital was an enjoyable trip, but we were all happy to use our own shower and be back in our own beds... our house in Tela really has become home during the past month.
The group at our last school!
Hasta pronto,
Ana
Friday, June 19, 2009
Another Week On the Job
It is hard to believe we have reached the end of our last full week in Tela, and what a busy week it was. After arriving back from Copan, we jumped right back into teaching Monday afternoon. We were all glad to get back to working with the students since it had been a while since we last taught. We were at the same school for Monday afternoon, all day Tuesday, and Wednesday morning - many Honduran schools have one group of students that comes in the morning and a completely different group that comes in the afternoon, so we were fortunate enough to be able to work with both groups at this school. Also, for the first time we worked with actual parents in the community: we normally do a teacher training at each school, and the director decided to invite parents of the students along with a few teachers. Over 40 parents showed up! It was very rewarding to see adult members of the community taking the initiative to educate themselves about HIV/AIDS.
Holding class outside!
On Wednesday afternoon, we were in for quite the surprise. We have been working with a group called Projoven that is working to unite and educate the youth of Honduras. Last Wednesday we taught them our curriculum, and we were told that this Wednesday they were going to teach us about their culture. When we arrived at the designated meeting location, we discovered that we were the guests of honor at a cultural show that showcased more than ten different cultural acts from both the city of Tela as well as more distant communities. We received a beautiful certificate recognizing our program in Honduras. The show lasted for more than three hours, and we experienced traditional dance, an acrobatic display, and two impressive break dancing groups, among other acts.
On both Thursday and Friday afternoon we taught children ranging from 12-20 at a rural school. We were pleasantly surprised to find that many of the children already had some basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS, so we were able to correct a few misconceptions as well as impart more important informations. This whole week we have been privy to another Honduran cultural event: Carnival. The festivities began last Sunday and will last through tomorrow night. The entire town is bedecked with decorations and flags, including the boulevard right outside our house. We found this out in full force when a live band played on our street corner from around ten at night until four in the morning... it was difficult to sleep, to say the least. Several nights this week we tried to attend a nearby event, but we seem to have officially entered the rainy season as we have experienced torrential downpours for the past two nights. Every night, however, we have been able to hear live music from downtown while remaining cozy and dry inside our house.
Tomorrow morning we are departing at 8:00am for the rural community of El Pital. We will be doing homestays, and most of us will experience life without electricity or running water. Many of us have been looking forward to this experience from the beginning of the program, and it is hard to believe that it is already here... these past few weeks have flown by! We will enjoy one last shower tonight before squishing into our rental van in the morning. It is sure to be an adventure!
Until next time,
Anna
Holding class outside!On Wednesday afternoon, we were in for quite the surprise. We have been working with a group called Projoven that is working to unite and educate the youth of Honduras. Last Wednesday we taught them our curriculum, and we were told that this Wednesday they were going to teach us about their culture. When we arrived at the designated meeting location, we discovered that we were the guests of honor at a cultural show that showcased more than ten different cultural acts from both the city of Tela as well as more distant communities. We received a beautiful certificate recognizing our program in Honduras. The show lasted for more than three hours, and we experienced traditional dance, an acrobatic display, and two impressive break dancing groups, among other acts.
Meredith receiving our certificate
On both Thursday and Friday afternoon we taught children ranging from 12-20 at a rural school. We were pleasantly surprised to find that many of the children already had some basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS, so we were able to correct a few misconceptions as well as impart more important informations. This whole week we have been privy to another Honduran cultural event: Carnival. The festivities began last Sunday and will last through tomorrow night. The entire town is bedecked with decorations and flags, including the boulevard right outside our house. We found this out in full force when a live band played on our street corner from around ten at night until four in the morning... it was difficult to sleep, to say the least. Several nights this week we tried to attend a nearby event, but we seem to have officially entered the rainy season as we have experienced torrential downpours for the past two nights. Every night, however, we have been able to hear live music from downtown while remaining cozy and dry inside our house.
Elise and our translator Monica teaching the Day 2 curriculum
Tomorrow morning we are departing at 8:00am for the rural community of El Pital. We will be doing homestays, and most of us will experience life without electricity or running water. Many of us have been looking forward to this experience from the beginning of the program, and it is hard to believe that it is already here... these past few weeks have flown by! We will enjoy one last shower tonight before squishing into our rental van in the morning. It is sure to be an adventure!
Until next time,
Anna
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Letter from Mr. Nkhoma
The following is a letter from Mr. Petros Nkhoma, the head teacher at Chadabwa Full Primary School in Mitundu Malawi.
On behalf of teachers, students, parents, and my own behalf, I would like to thank you for your nice three day visit here at Chadabwa. Learners, parents, and us have enjoyed your interesting lessons. For your interesting lessons taught in these three days, learners and parents are requesting that you come again next year.
So, may you kindly take this request seriously. We too, would like to meet you again next year.
Lastly, I hope you have enjoyed your stay here. Visit us again in the near future. May our mighty god bless you all.
Many thanks,
Petros Nkhoma
Head Teacher
Chadabwa Full Primary School
On behalf of teachers, students, parents, and my own behalf, I would like to thank you for your nice three day visit here at Chadabwa. Learners, parents, and us have enjoyed your interesting lessons. For your interesting lessons taught in these three days, learners and parents are requesting that you come again next year.
So, may you kindly take this request seriously. We too, would like to meet you again next year.
Lastly, I hope you have enjoyed your stay here. Visit us again in the near future. May our mighty god bless you all.
Many thanks,
Petros Nkhoma
Head Teacher
Chadabwa Full Primary School
Camp VI at Chadabwa + Homestay
We’re now back at the World Camp house after yet another successful three-day camp at Chadabwa. This camp has been especially exciting because on Tuesday we were able to stay overnight in the village for the volunteers’ second home-stay. Before we got to go into the village, we were able to enjoy a steaming hot dinner cooked from our homemade solar ovens. It was a canned food feast of “short spaghetti,” “creamed corn,” and everyone’s favorite—“spicy chakalaka.”
While the men (Scott, Jaren, and Peter) held down the fort by camping at the school, the girls were split between three different host families in the village. G-Funk and Alex stayed in one home where G was especially pleased to be surrounded by babies and sugar cane, while Megan, Paige, and Laura stayed in another home where a good portion of the night was dedicated to a photography session. Meanwhile, Katy, Jess, and I were led into what seemed like Narnia--a home tucked away behind a shop—where our host family proceeded to give us Chichewa lessons for the rest of the night.
Overall, the home-stay went really well. As everyone packs their teacher boxes for our last camp of the session, we all are excited to meet the new students and teachers, but also sad to be leaving so soon.
Christine
While the men (Scott, Jaren, and Peter) held down the fort by camping at the school, the girls were split between three different host families in the village. G-Funk and Alex stayed in one home where G was especially pleased to be surrounded by babies and sugar cane, while Megan, Paige, and Laura stayed in another home where a good portion of the night was dedicated to a photography session. Meanwhile, Katy, Jess, and I were led into what seemed like Narnia--a home tucked away behind a shop—where our host family proceeded to give us Chichewa lessons for the rest of the night.
Overall, the home-stay went really well. As everyone packs their teacher boxes for our last camp of the session, we all are excited to meet the new students and teachers, but also sad to be leaving so soon.
Christine
Monday, June 15, 2009
week 3!
As we approach the halfway mark of our stay in Tela, we find that we are continuing to learn as much as we are teaching! Last week we spent the first half at some rural schools, learning what over-crowding and under budgeting can feel like. It was difficult to say the least. By the end of the week we were more than happy to be getting on a bus that would take us to Copan.
Copan is a very cute little mountain village with cobble-stone streets. This is a place where one can find ancient mayan ruins as well as some beautifully crafted jewelry. The first day our group took a tour of the ruins, where we learned about Mayan games, towns, and Mayan art. Copan is said to have been the hot spot for artist and even now one can see the detail that was put into their statues and other decorations. That afternoon some of us decided to explore the town, while others did more adventurous things such as a canopy tour (ziplining down a mountainside)! We all soon discovered the beautiful jewelry and good food that Copan offered. It was nice to have real coffee and something besides rice and beans!
Now we are back in Tela enjoying a cool afternoon because of the first rainfall we have seen since we arrived! Teaching started back up today and will continue for the rest of the week until we go to El Pital. WE all can agree that it felt good to be back in the classroom and are looking forward to teaching some more tomorrow!
Copan is a very cute little mountain village with cobble-stone streets. This is a place where one can find ancient mayan ruins as well as some beautifully crafted jewelry. The first day our group took a tour of the ruins, where we learned about Mayan games, towns, and Mayan art. Copan is said to have been the hot spot for artist and even now one can see the detail that was put into their statues and other decorations. That afternoon some of us decided to explore the town, while others did more adventurous things such as a canopy tour (ziplining down a mountainside)! We all soon discovered the beautiful jewelry and good food that Copan offered. It was nice to have real coffee and something besides rice and beans!
Now we are back in Tela enjoying a cool afternoon because of the first rainfall we have seen since we arrived! Teaching started back up today and will continue for the rest of the week until we go to El Pital. WE all can agree that it felt good to be back in the classroom and are looking forward to teaching some more tomorrow!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Mwanzeze FPS
We just completed our fourth camp Mwanzeze Full Primary School in Chimwamba. Little did we know that on Monday there would be no children at the school due to a “holiday” that only the children knew about. Despite the small glitch in our schedule, we were able to enjoy a nice day off and then using our quick improvisational skills, we combined our curriculum into a jam-packed two day camp. The days started earlier and lingered well into the afternoons, but we are confident that our objectives were met and that the kids still had just as much fun.
Adding to our theme of unexpected turns of events, today’s camp started a little bit later than planned due to a special celebrity guest appearance by President Bingu Wa Mutharika. The roads were blocked on our way to school, so we took a detour and waited with several Lilongwe locals for the chance to see Bingu drive by. Excited cheers and waves greeted the President as he and his motor brigade of supporters (decked out in Bingu gear and riding in Bingu-decorated vehicles) passed by. It was definitely a worthy excuse for being late to our school today.
So overall, it was yet another successful camp for the World Camp volunteers. Time seems like it’s flying by as we realize we only have two weeks left here in Malawi. We look forward to meeting new students and teachers at our next schools and can’t wait to see what else the future holds. Maybe a surprise Bingu visit to the house? We can only hope.
Adding to our theme of unexpected turns of events, today’s camp started a little bit later than planned due to a special celebrity guest appearance by President Bingu Wa Mutharika. The roads were blocked on our way to school, so we took a detour and waited with several Lilongwe locals for the chance to see Bingu drive by. Excited cheers and waves greeted the President as he and his motor brigade of supporters (decked out in Bingu gear and riding in Bingu-decorated vehicles) passed by. It was definitely a worthy excuse for being late to our school today.
So overall, it was yet another successful camp for the World Camp volunteers. Time seems like it’s flying by as we realize we only have two weeks left here in Malawi. We look forward to meeting new students and teachers at our next schools and can’t wait to see what else the future holds. Maybe a surprise Bingu visit to the house? We can only hope.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Safari, Safari, Safari
Just got back from our safari holiday in Zambia, and it was awesome! We camped at a resort called Flatdogs (or Lazydogs, either way). Due to some delays crossing the Zambian border, we arrived at our campgrounds after dark. We were apprehensive at first about all the sounds we could hear in the bush, but Katy reassured us that they were just hippos far away in the river. On our way back from dinner, however, we were quickly confronted by a giant hippo munching its way through our campsite. So thanks for the reassurance Katy. We soon discovered that hippos weren’t the only wildlife we would find in our campsite. Elephants, monkeys and giraffes were frequent visitors as well. We also quickly discovered how delicious the food was, and how friendly the staff was. G-Funk was quick to befriend a lovely British chap named Ed (or Todd by Scott and Jaren). We think it was the mice in his pocket that was the source of his endearing and charming demeanor.
On our first drive, we stopped for bunny rabbits and owls among others like elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, bison, wild dogs, hyenas, baboons, velvet monkeys, and a leopard. Lions weren’t spotted until the second and third drives for some, on which some of us witnessed them hunting at night, which also may be the scariest thing ever. Saturday night was full of fun and hilarious bonding time among the group, and more hippos wandering the campsite. On Sunday morning we packed the bus to return to Lilongwe, but were delayed again due to some curious and hungry elephants digging through the bus for snacks and Katy’s bag. After a while they moved on, but Katy’s snack and memory card were eaten unfortunately. After a lovely four days of rest, relaxation and adventure, we are now back in Lilongwe and ready for the next camp!
Paige and Laura
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