A few weeks ago we introduced you to our 2011 Coordinator Team. As we're gearing up for this month's exciting new project with Hole in the Wall Camps and the summer OTE service internships, we thought you'd like to meet our 2011 Malawi Staff as well! Here are the amazing individuals we get to work with:
Michael Kumwenda: WC Project Coordinator for Hole in the Wall Camps
Michael joins WC this spring as our representative and project coordinator to run camps for kids who know their HIV+ status. This is part of a new partnership initiative between Baylor Pediatric AIDS Hospital, Hole in the Wall Camps and World Camp. With him, Michael brings years of teaching experience, personal connection to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Malawi and vast research and data collection on the educational system in Malawi. Michael is a children's book author; he writes stories that interweave important social issues and cultural practices. We're hoping to use one of his recently published stories in our Empowerment Groups. The story tells about how a kid who finds out she's HIV+ positive and how she navigates the relationships that change around her. Michael is what we affectionately like to call a "passionate educator." He's been a great source of inspiration to our team in the past few years. Aside from Hole in the Wall Camps, volunteers can look forward to Michael visiting camp days and as a guest speaker on various topics.
Marinus Taale: WC Assets and Business Manager
Originally from Holland, Marinus spent considerable time in Zimbabwe and South Africa before settling with his wife, kids and huge dogs in Malawi. In short, Marinus is a wonderful resource for WC because he understands Western and African perspectives and connects well with people from all over. Marinus currently owns Cluny Lodge, a beautiful little bungalow up the road from the WC house in Lilongwe. His extensive experience running successful business in foreign countries lends crucial support for WC's logistics in Malawi. Besides, he makes sure John, Ngoni, Vito and their families are well taken care of when we're in the US. Our local staff simply love him.
John Chizimba: WC House Manager
John's been with WC nearly as long as there has been a WC. He brings an incredible amount of joy to volunteers' (and coordinators') hearts and stomachs. Volunteers love sitting in the kitchen with him to practice their Chichewa, hear about the Chewa tribe in Malawi, his 10 kids and lovely wife, what he thinks of Bingu, or even just to see his infamous John Chizimba smile. As our house manager in Lilongwe, John works hard to make sure volunteers always have a clean, comfortable home to return to at the end of a long camp day. Perhaps most memorable, are John's famous chocolate cakes, enchilladas and curries. Have no fear parents, your kids will eat well during their service internship in Malawi!
Felix "Ngoni" Gilton: WC Day Security Guard and Grounds Keeper
Ngoni knows the WC grounds like the back of his hand. Each day he trudges around in his favorite rubber boots, working to ensure the safety and upkeep of the premises. He waters the plants, cares for the trees volunteers plant, keeps an eye on ripening mangoes, cuts the grass and mans the gate. Basically he makes sure our grounds stay nice and monitors who comes in/out of WC. Ngoni entertains volunteers with his various facial hair styles and his love of hoo-la-hooping. Occasionally Samson, the youngest of Ngoni's 10 children, comes to hang out with his dad for the day. Volunteers oogle over the baby's adorable cheeks while he learns all about his dad's work.
Lolesi Vito: WC Night Security Guard
Vito is perhaps the kindest, yet toughest, man in the WC family. He's been with WC for 6 years now, walks from his village to work every day, and puts his all into protecting the WC house overnight. Despite his long night shifts, Vito jumps up at the slightest sound or first sign of a volunteer or coordinator needing something. He makes regular rounds around the house throughout the night, checks safety lights and watches the gate. His loyalty to volunteers (and all of WC) keeps us in good, safe hands.
the "Amayis" (Monica and Margaret): WC School Lunch Cooks and Housekeepers
In Chichewa, "amayi" means "the women," and that is exactly who Monica and Margaret are-- our strong backbone, the women of WC. Primarily, these lovely women take on the huge responsibility of cooking between 100-250 traditional nsima and relish lunches each day for our educational outreach camps! This entails about 15 kg of ufa (the ground maize that eventually becomes nsima), 10 bushels of tomatoes and onions, and about 10 kg of whatever is making up that day's relish. Monica and Margaret also work with John inside the house to clean, finish laundry and basically keep the WC house sparkling. The Amayis love working at the same place as their husbands, John and Ngoni, and having village homes next to one another. These strong and beautiful women certainly make our lives happier and easier while in-country.
Margaret Chizimba: WC Accounts Manager
Margaret comes once a week to help Coordinators settle the accounts, copy receipts, log our finances for the NGO board in Malawi and keep our overall budget organized. Margaret currently studies computer science at a local college in Lilongwe. She's the eldest daughter of John and Monica, has a gentle nature and is a joy to have around.
Dennis: WC and Planet Car Hire Bus Driver
Dennis is, well, what most volunteers call, "the s**t." His smile and laugh will warm your heart, while his unbelievable driving skills will dazzle your mind. Dennis can turn around a 25 passenger bus in our driveway in 3 turns or less. Despite the nonexistent road signs in the villages, he knows every inch of communities we work in. Dennis can navigate through any and all road conditions and weather in Malawi. He ensures we're on time to camp, safe on the roads and always have a smooth ride.
And of course, there's the amazing team of WC Field Assistants, without whom, we'd be completely lost. We'll highlight this summer's Field Assistant team soon, so check back. Also, visit us on Friday for another Volunteer/Staff Story or Reflection and next week for information on one of our Impact Areas. As always, if you'd like to contribute comments, questions, or even write a blog post, feel free to contact us at info@worldcampforkids.org.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
 |
| Michael Kumwenda |
Michael joins WC this spring as our representative and project coordinator to run camps for kids who know their HIV+ status. This is part of a new partnership initiative between Baylor Pediatric AIDS Hospital, Hole in the Wall Camps and World Camp. With him, Michael brings years of teaching experience, personal connection to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Malawi and vast research and data collection on the educational system in Malawi. Michael is a children's book author; he writes stories that interweave important social issues and cultural practices. We're hoping to use one of his recently published stories in our Empowerment Groups. The story tells about how a kid who finds out she's HIV+ positive and how she navigates the relationships that change around her. Michael is what we affectionately like to call a "passionate educator." He's been a great source of inspiration to our team in the past few years. Aside from Hole in the Wall Camps, volunteers can look forward to Michael visiting camp days and as a guest speaker on various topics.
Marinus Taale: WC Assets and Business Manager
Originally from Holland, Marinus spent considerable time in Zimbabwe and South Africa before settling with his wife, kids and huge dogs in Malawi. In short, Marinus is a wonderful resource for WC because he understands Western and African perspectives and connects well with people from all over. Marinus currently owns Cluny Lodge, a beautiful little bungalow up the road from the WC house in Lilongwe. His extensive experience running successful business in foreign countries lends crucial support for WC's logistics in Malawi. Besides, he makes sure John, Ngoni, Vito and their families are well taken care of when we're in the US. Our local staff simply love him.
 |
| Ngoni, Marinus, John at the WC House in Lilongwe |
John Chizimba: WC House Manager
John's been with WC nearly as long as there has been a WC. He brings an incredible amount of joy to volunteers' (and coordinators') hearts and stomachs. Volunteers love sitting in the kitchen with him to practice their Chichewa, hear about the Chewa tribe in Malawi, his 10 kids and lovely wife, what he thinks of Bingu, or even just to see his infamous John Chizimba smile. As our house manager in Lilongwe, John works hard to make sure volunteers always have a clean, comfortable home to return to at the end of a long camp day. Perhaps most memorable, are John's famous chocolate cakes, enchilladas and curries. Have no fear parents, your kids will eat well during their service internship in Malawi!
 |
| Ngoni and John outside the WC House. |
Felix "Ngoni" Gilton: WC Day Security Guard and Grounds Keeper
Ngoni knows the WC grounds like the back of his hand. Each day he trudges around in his favorite rubber boots, working to ensure the safety and upkeep of the premises. He waters the plants, cares for the trees volunteers plant, keeps an eye on ripening mangoes, cuts the grass and mans the gate. Basically he makes sure our grounds stay nice and monitors who comes in/out of WC. Ngoni entertains volunteers with his various facial hair styles and his love of hoo-la-hooping. Occasionally Samson, the youngest of Ngoni's 10 children, comes to hang out with his dad for the day. Volunteers oogle over the baby's adorable cheeks while he learns all about his dad's work.
Lolesi Vito: WC Night Security Guard
Vito is perhaps the kindest, yet toughest, man in the WC family. He's been with WC for 6 years now, walks from his village to work every day, and puts his all into protecting the WC house overnight. Despite his long night shifts, Vito jumps up at the slightest sound or first sign of a volunteer or coordinator needing something. He makes regular rounds around the house throughout the night, checks safety lights and watches the gate. His loyalty to volunteers (and all of WC) keeps us in good, safe hands.
 | |
| Monica (John's wife) and Margaret (Ngoni's wife) |
In Chichewa, "amayi" means "the women," and that is exactly who Monica and Margaret are-- our strong backbone, the women of WC. Primarily, these lovely women take on the huge responsibility of cooking between 100-250 traditional nsima and relish lunches each day for our educational outreach camps! This entails about 15 kg of ufa (the ground maize that eventually becomes nsima), 10 bushels of tomatoes and onions, and about 10 kg of whatever is making up that day's relish. Monica and Margaret also work with John inside the house to clean, finish laundry and basically keep the WC house sparkling. The Amayis love working at the same place as their husbands, John and Ngoni, and having village homes next to one another. These strong and beautiful women certainly make our lives happier and easier while in-country.
Margaret Chizimba: WC Accounts Manager
Margaret comes once a week to help Coordinators settle the accounts, copy receipts, log our finances for the NGO board in Malawi and keep our overall budget organized. Margaret currently studies computer science at a local college in Lilongwe. She's the eldest daughter of John and Monica, has a gentle nature and is a joy to have around.
Dennis: WC and Planet Car Hire Bus Driver
 |
| Dennis and a WC bus |
And of course, there's the amazing team of WC Field Assistants, without whom, we'd be completely lost. We'll highlight this summer's Field Assistant team soon, so check back. Also, visit us on Friday for another Volunteer/Staff Story or Reflection and next week for information on one of our Impact Areas. As always, if you'd like to contribute comments, questions, or even write a blog post, feel free to contact us at info@worldcampforkids.org.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
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