Reinier Terwindt Continues His Involvement with Malawi - Even in Grad School

Our much adored former Program Development Coordinator, Reinier Terwindt left Malawi after this summer to earn his second Master's. This one will be from Columbia University in New York City in International Education. Despite moving from the Warm Hear of Africa to the Big Apple, Reinier is still focused on Malawi. In fact, this week he will be presenting his research on decentralization of Malawian education at the Comparative and International Education Society Conference along with members of the Malawian Ministry of Education. We are proud to consider Reinier a part of the World Camp family, and honored by his continued participation in our work. Below you can find the abstract of the research he will be presenting. Many of the groups mentioned in his abstract are the very groups World Camp works with in it's partner communities to try to improve school management and education delivery.

In 2010 Malawi initiated its Primary School Improvement Programme (PSIP) to expand equitable access, increase quality and relevance, and strengthen governance and management in education – that is, to achieve key objectives in the country’s National Education Sector Plan. With technical assistance from USAID’s Education Decentralization Support Activity (EDSA), PSIP was initiated in six districts in 2010-11 (Phase 1) and expanded to twelve districts in 2011-12 (Phase 2), with plans to include thirteen more districts in 2012-13 and the remaining nine districts in 2013-14. A key element of PSIP is having school management committees (SMCs) and parent teacher associations (PTAs) lead a process of developing, implementing, and monitoring school improvement plans (SIPs), which are supported partially by funds from proposed and approved school improvement grants (SIGs). Besides giving more decentralized authority and responsibility to head teachers, PSIP encourages parents and other community members to participate in school governance through the SMCs and PTAs, especially in relation to the SIPs and SIGs. This presentation reports on findings from studies conducted in March 2012. One study consisted of structured interviews with head teachers, SMC chairs, and a parent in 81 schools, which are located in the six Phase 1 districts and which had received SIGs during 2010-11 and/or 2011-12. The interviews elicited perspectives on their school’s experiences with the SIP and the SIG. A second study collected data from primary education advisors on the SIG budget decisions for 2010-11 and/or 2011-12 of all 1084 schools in the six districts included in Phase 1 of PSIP. Findings indicate that community stakeholder meetings were held before and after developing the SIPs in at least 75% of the schools, although the percentage decreased slightly over the 2010-2012 period. Moreover, over 70% of head teachers, SMC chairs, and parents interviewed reported that the SIP process had contributed “to a very great extent” or “to a considerable extent” to improvements in access and equity, quality and relevance, and especially governance and management. In comparing SIG budget priorities for 2010-11 and 2011-12, we observe an increase in the percent of schools employing teaching assistants, and decreases in the percentages of schools procuring teaching and learning materials, constructing latrines, and purchasing materials for school management and record keeping. However, we did not find differences between schools which had received SIGs for one versus two years in how they implemented the process nor in the percentage of schools budgeting for various items as part of their SIGs (with the notable exceptions of teaching assistants and learning materials). Moreover, the percentages of 2011-12 SIG funds devoted to employing teaching assistants and to buying teaching and learning materials were not significantly associated with the school’s pupil-teacher ratio, dropout rate, repetition rate, and Primary School Leaver Certificate Exam pass rate (in 2011), indicating that other factors informed their SIG budgeting decisions. These and other findings are discussed to illuminate opportunities and constraints on efforts to engage community members in enhancing educational quality in countries like Malawi.

Current Events in Malawi

Last week, the Malawi Humans Rights Commission (MHRC) urged for human rights issues be included in HIV/AIDS programs in Malawi. At a meeting held by the MHRC in conjunction with District Commissioners in the Northern Region, concern was raised over the human rights violations that occur in response to the stigma of HIV/AIDS. This bias against people who are HIV positive leads to further discrimination within society and the workplace as well. The MHRC are urging district commissioners to gain and acquire tools to combat the degrading stigma that exists. This stigma in the workplace and public sector has caused many people to go untreated. The MHRC believes sensitization to this issue and the needs of the HIV positive community in Malawi is vital in ensuring human rights are applied to all people, regardless or HIV status. Similar meetings in Central and Southern Regions of Malawi are anticipated in the near future.

http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/10/21/integrate-human-rights-in-hiv-activities-urges-malawi-human-righsts-commission/

Our Inspiring Visit with a Community Based Organization in Malikha

World Camp Country Manager Michael Kumwenda, Program Coordinator Karen Clark, and Professional Capacity Building Intern Rufus Faggons ventured to meet with the leadership and members of Kasumba CBO (Community Based Organization) near Liwera Full Primary School in the Malikha Primary School Zone.

We were warmly welcomed by the staff, who had arranged nametags on our seats. They dove right into sharing with us the meat of their efforts. The Kasumba CBO membership hovers around 30 and they serve 58 villages! There are over 200 orphans living in their catchment area, but the number is increasing at an alarming rate.

The CBO has been serving the Kasumba area for five years, and when asked why each member joined, they all provided different and very personal responses. One woman’s sister-in-law was handicapped and she wanted to provide support not only for her sister-in-law, but for everyone in her area who faced physical handicaps (both women are pictured right). One man, frustrated that his children couldn’t go to school during the rainy season because the road washed out, has personally vowed to plant 1,000 trees during the year 2012 to combat deforestation and preserve his environment. Another man observed the human rights of youth being abused in his community.  He joined the CBO to learn more about child rights and use the group as a way to educate and sensitize the community to the fragility, resilience, and potential of youth. One woman noticed the growing number of orphans in her community and the fact that they weren’t getting the support they should from their extended families. She’s been at the forefront of Early Child Development Centers and Orphan Support Units in the area.

The main room in the CBO’s office. The sign reads,
“2010: HIV and AIDS Outside the Box: Living Positive with HIV and AIDS.”

So far, the CBO has realized amazing success: they have set up and sustained seven Community Based Childcare Centers, supported school drop outs and orphans through the donation of school uniforms and feeding programs, held weekly after school athletic events and tutoring sessions during the school year, handed out five wheelchairs for those with disabilities, and sensitized the community to the benefits of education and the risks of early

marriages. But there’s still a long way to go. HIV rates are rising, the Home Based Care group lacks adequate training, the CBO shares a building with all other community groups and the church, some of the husbands of the female members don’t like when they go to meetings, adult literacy is low, and funding is a large problem.

Two CBO members show a map and posters
used to log information

Despite the future struggles of Kasumba, we were struck by the members’ openness, articulation of past success and future objectives, complete commitment to positive growth and development, and passion for those living in their communities. Kasumba Community Based Organization is a forum for activists in Liwera to plan and accomplish their dreams for community improvement, and with the passion we saw this week, we have no doubt they will!

Meet our friends from KOMAI!

© Komai

Today we wanted to introduce a pair of amazing women who founded Komai. Komai is an online portal that provides a “creative lens for sustainable innovation.” Amelia and Katelyn, the founders of this initiative, have created a unique community that serves as an online marketplace for creative and sustainable products from around the world. This community also fosters and supports an open forum for these creative professionals to network and collaborate as well as share stories of inspirational people that promote a sense of respect for past generations, future generations, and the environment.

This inspirational duo spent time with World Camp in Malawi and got a first hand account of the work we do and the change we strive to create. We thought we'd share a few excerpts from their recent visit with us. We were fortunate to have them write about the stigma of HIV/AIDS in Africa and the contribution World Camp is making to break down barriers and reduce this stigma within Malawi:

“Realising the myriad of issues faced by Malawians from overpopulation to deforestation and soil erosion, to gender inequality and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, World Camp was motivated to start combating unsustainable development through building the self-worth and confidence of younger generations who would one day be equipped to lead the country to a brighter future.”

© Komai

Their feature highlights our week long program, Camp Hope, for young children living with HIV. Throughout the week, these children learn to live positively and regain optimism through interactive lessons and counseling sessions about growing up and living with this sickness. At Camp Hope, children build independence, gain self-confidence and enhance their coping and resilience. The goal is to instill optimism, possibility, and hope within each child.

“Spending time in the communities served by World Camp, one can see the progress that has already been made. We witnessed first-hand the pure excitement on the faces of students, village elders and teachers and their urge to learn and create positive change in their villages. And now, communities have even begun to set up their own local not-for-profits which World Camp supports through information disemination and facilitation, providing a perfect example of how the ripple effect can occur at the grass-roots level of sustainable development.”

© Komai

While Camp Hope is a powerful program specifically tailored for children living with HIV, World Camp does not stop there. In fact, much of our curriculum within the classroom setting is dedicated to informing youth as well as debunking myths and misconceptions about the illness. These lessons are designed and tailored for school-aged children and include units that provide basic HIV disease biology, transmission methods,  and preventative methods. These programs include breakout sessions for male and female anatomy/puberty discussions, as well as sessions in male and female gender empowerment. Special attention is also paid to educating these children on how to care for people living with HIV/AIDS within their community.

Working with the infected population as well as the affected population in rural regions of Malawi are two initiatives close to our heart. Educating children creates the foundations and resources for an empowered population to make substantial change for themselves.

“They are working on a ‘village model’ which aims to build understanding from traditional village leaders to primary school students on how to create a bright future through investing in education, de-stigmatising HIV, protecting the environment and empowering women.”

Click HERE to check out the rest of the article, see more of their amazing photos from Malawi, and learn more about Komai.