Current Events in Malawi

Malawi launches early childhood education week

The Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Jennifer Chilunga has recently launched the 2012 National Early Childhood Development Awareness Week. The week will comprise of several activities aimed at promoting early childhood development (ECD), which Chilunga emphasizes, helps children excel in school as well as become more successful later in life.

Recently the Malawi government has put more emphasis on ECD starting with an increase in ECD policies and an increase in the amount of education centers available throughout the country. These programs seek to protect and promote children’s rights to develop emotionally, socially, and physically, to their potential.

Yet despite this progress, nearly 65% of children in Malawi do not have access to these Early Childhood Development facilities and resources. However the government and other enterprises have come together to create the National Advocacy and Communication Strategy in 2009 to increase public awareness and to seek more funding for these ECD programs.

http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/09/11/malawi-launches-early-childhood-education-week/

Government wants 80% of all sexually active men circumcised

As another measure to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, the Malawi government plans to circumcise 80% of sexually active men from the age of fifteen to forty-nine. The Deputy Health Minister announced this policy of national voluntary medical male circumcision last week. This additional measure was advised by the World Health Organization to the government of Malawi.

Deputy Health Minister stated the importance of male circumcision as a part of a comprehensive plan to thwart the spread of this disease, which also includes other methods of protection, including male and female condoms.

While this large-scale program has been controversial in this more conservative country, governmental officials are convinced of the benefits that voluntary male circumcision could mean for the country. Currently, this policy is implemented in nine pilot districts, including one called Mulanje where the estimated infection rate hovers at 17%.

http://www.malawivoice.com/2012/09/06/govt-wants-80-of-all-sexually-active-men-circumcised-82251/

World Camp Club: Liwera

“The more we increase the active participation and partnership with young people, the better we serve them. … And the more comprehensively we work with them as service partners, the more we increase our public value to the entire community.”

- Carmen Martinez, U.S. Diplomat

In seeking the active participation of young people World Camp started a World Camp Club at each of the schools we visited this summer. World Camp Clubs are after-school groups that focus on civic engagement and improving community improvement.

Cyrus Jenda, beloved Field Staff and now World Camp Club Mentor, developed the idea for World Camp Clubs and created guidelines for each of our 11 partner primary schools in the Malikha Primary School Zone. Cyrus was instrumental in planning and carrying out World Camp’s first student activism follow-up project this summer.

Liwera Full Primary School was the first we visited during this year’s summer session, staying there from July 10^th through the 13^th. We were struck by the school’s warmness and desire to introduce us to Malawi. We were given sugar cane, taught to make nsima and relish, started a fire, saw our first Gule Wam Kulu (traditional dancers), received Chichewa names, played with our kids well into the dark, and truly felt like part of our host family.

Before leaving Liwera, we set up our second ever World Camp Club (the first was started at Mkhoma Full Primary School this January with hugely successful student-led reforestation projects). The school’s headmaster appointed a matron and patron of the club, and the student body was left with materials to create their own banner. And they surpassed all of our expectations with the end result!

Just two weeks later, in the end of July, we returned to Liwera to hold a quiz competition, challenge students to recall what they’d learned at camp, and dare them to apply what they’d learned to more challenging questions and topics.

The entire WC team was close to tears at the reception we got upon our arrival. The kids were cheering, dancing, jumping, yelling, waving. The Club did their school cheer and the enthusiasm during group songs was infectious. What was even more impressive, though, was the critical thinking and creative responses they provided during the actual quiz. Not only did the students remember how HIV affects the body and how to protect themselves, they knew how to care for someone living with HIV. Perhaps most importantly for a World Camp Club, they could articulate tangible differences they could make in their own community in the fight against HIV!

Zikomo Kwambiri Liwera World Camp Club!!

You impressed us all with your hard work, knowledge, activism, and dedication.
We can’t wait to work with you again!

From Brooklyn to Asheville :: meet Emily Stallings

At World Camp, we're passionate about reinventing development strategies through innovation in education. Our team is working every day to explore new strategies that will help communities in Malawi overcome issues surrounding poverty and disease. We have always been driven by a small, nimble team, and it's not uncommon for past volunteers to end up working with us in the field or as in this case, heading up our U.S. office.

Emily Stallings

She's been dreaming of joining a non-profit and applying her masters degree - now that's exactly what she'll be doing for us as our new Managing Director! Emily is a veteran when it comes to World Camp, first volunteering in Malawi in 2005 and later working as a Program Coordinator for our pilot programs in Honduras in 2008.

We're growing and exited to have a new addition to our already outstanding team.

Emily Stallings :: Managing Director

Tell us where you're from? 

"I'm from Ohio originally, then attended the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs in Pittsburgh, PA. I studied International Development there. I just moved down here (Asheville, NC) from Brooklyn, NY."

How did you first hear about World Camp?

"I've been familiar with WC since 2004. I volunteered with WC during a January session in 2005. I had just graduated from undergrad and wanted a challenging and rewarding experience in a place unlike any where I'd ever been. I'd volunteered with a camp for children impacted by HIV/AIDS and was interested in continuing that sort of work so WC was a perfect fit!"

Where’s the coolest place you’ve ever traveled?

"Malawi is up there! But I also really loved Morocco and Cuba. I just got back from a trip to Greece that was wonderful!"

What’s your favorite Olympic sporting event to watch?

"I like swimming, diving and gymnastics. I didn't get to see that much of the Olympics this year, though."

What are you looking forward to most in Asheville?

"I am really excited about the job itself! But, I'm excited about trying new restaurants, finding new music spots, and playing in the mountains."

What are you going to miss the most about New York?

"I'm going to miss my friends the most. There is a lot to miss about New York, though! I will miss the museums and parks, music venues and never ending flow of acts coming through. There is also an endless array of restaurants and people - that's fun."

What do you like to do while you’re not in the office?

"I like to spend time with my friends and boyfriend. I like to enjoy a beer, knit, see live music, go on weekend trips to new places, eat and cook."

How would you like to see World Camp grow and evolve?

"I am excited to help WC continue to grow the new SchoolsWork programs - they are not directly related to the volunteer programs (though it is close to my heart!), but are more inline with my interests for sustainable development. I am hoping that my time in New York will help me lead WC in a way that's ahead of the curve on trends in programming and funding."

What is one fun/interesting fact about yourself?

"I've driven across the country 3 times and count Alaska, North Dakota and Rhode Island as the only states I have yet to visit."

We're always looking to welcome more incredibly talented people to get involved with our programs. If you want to volunteer in Malawi and help change the lives of thousands of people then World Camp is a great place to start - who knows, one day you might even work here!