We started our first camp on Thursday January 8, 2009. We spent three days at Kamwana Full Primary School, which is about 65 kms north of Lilongwe.
Monica and I (Jay) had the pleasure of working with the amazing teachers of Kamwana Primary. Based on other volunteers previous experiences, we came into the process not expecting our teachers to know as much as they did about HIV/AIDS, Deforestation, and Population Control. We were completely wrong! These teachers not only had taken the time to school themselves on issues surrounding their community, but also go so far as to create an HIV/AIDS prevention club with other schools in their area.
Even still, many myths in Malawi seem to prevail; for example, having relations with a virgin may heal you or a certain doctor in the south of Lilongwe has healed people of HIV/AIDS. Monica and I were able to dispel these myths with facts provided by World Camp, and the teachers seemed to trust us more and more as each day passed. By the end of the three days, we had the entire group of teachers performing a drama to their students about the importance of finding alternative energy sources to prevent further deforestation in their area. This was the first time the teachers performed a presentation for their students.
The teachers seemed to be most happy when presented with their certificates of completion for finishing all three days of the World Camp curriculum. This, combined with World Camp gifting the teachers, students, and some community members with saplings to plant on their school grounds, sent them over the moon. Thanks to Mokuzoku for the generous donation of tree saplings!
Despite being very tired and dirty after the three days of teaching, each World Camp volunteer returned to the house with an understanding of the impact of our work here in Malawi, and that change, even if on a small level, is change nonetheless.
-Jay Brollier
Below are some pictures of the tree planting.
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