Happy, happy news

Friends, I’ve officially been back in the US from Malawi for over a year! This year I’ve lived under 3 roofs in different Wisconsin towns and cities, and I’m just setting off for my newest, fairly permanent residency in Milwaukee. I’ll be starting a graduate program at Marquette University in Educational Policy while devoting some time to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in West Milwaukee as part of MU’s Trinity Fellows program. Exciting stuff, especially when several events this summer have been so affirming for my entry into the field of education.

Enough about me, it’s time to talk about why I’m posting a year after Peace Corps service – a young woman named Medfy. Thankfully, the village I called home for two years was replaced with another PCV, Torey. I was able to spend the last few, hazy days in the village with her as a site “hand-off.” Since she’s arrived in Kalowa, she’s been devoting her time and energy to the students, teachers and community in a way I could have only dreamed of. She’s gotten to know my former students deeply, and help them achieve big goals. It’s with a happy, full heart that I can share this post from Torey’s Facebook with you:

Yesterday I had the incredible opportunity of telling one of my students Medfy Banda that she has been selected to receive Africa’s Tomorrow Scholarship to go to college in the US! Medfy has literally defied all odds and overcome every challenge rural Malawian girls face in order to get an education. Medfy will be the first girl to continue her education to college from Kalowa Community Day secondary school, her village and her family.

This is an amazing achievement for Medfy and we are all so proud but the work doesn’t stop here. She still has to take tests, apply to schools, get a passport, visa which is a lot of work and also costs money. However, once that is process is all done Medfy’s schooling will be free.

If you want to help this spectacular young lady pay for applying to college please donate to Medfy on the donation page through Africa’s Tomorrow Scholarship website. Your donation will help to cover the cost of the TOEFL exam, colleges application fees, getting a visa and passport and eventually flying to college in the US. Any amount will help!

Please like, share and donate!

The link to Africa’s Tomorrow is  here. You’ll see several young, deserving African women on this page, but please consider contributing to Medfy’s fundraiser by clicking on her link. This is an incredible opportunity for Medfy, as you can imagine, and I’m hoping to gather as much support for her in my networks as possible. She plans on studying business and finance and has some amazing dreams for Malawi’s development:

“Our leaders are not honest in developing the country of Malawi because they are corrupt. They use government money and donor money as if it were their own. By working in the finance department I will make sure that government money is used to develop the country of Malawi and help the Malawian people that need help most.”

I have posted about Medfy in my blog before: she’s been a participant in Camp Sky (see Meet Eliya and Medify), TIECH, and has been so active with Kalowa’s CAMFED scholarship girls (see Camfed at Kalowa, Part 2: Camfed goes to the hospital!). She’s a role model for younger girls in the Kalowa community as well as her peers. I dream of congratulating her in the States once she starts her studies.

The moment captured – Torey tells Medfy about her scholarship opportunity!

The joys of Malawi, remembered

I’ve been back in the US for over three months, and while the instances I mention Malawi to friends are decreasing, the moments I feel a pang of sentiment towards this 2-year home still persist. One Returned Peace Corps Volunteer’s favorite memories, below:

25 cent avocados and sprouting their pits

Lakeside birthday mimosas

Climbing a mountain and earning a cross country view

Holding my breath as my four year old neighbor balances a small bucket of water on her head, then sighs of relief as she confidently struts by

Those cold Cokes and village restaurant meals

Tangly hair after hitching in the bed of a pick-up truck

Trails of mango juice running down my arms

Wandering through a vast fabric market, dreaming up new designs for the tailor

Closing the back cover on 100+ hand me down books

Binge watching TV shows under my bednet before bed, on those charged laptop days

Students seeking me out to borrow books and get extra help

Kitty snuggles and playing vet, every tick, flea, bee sting, and snake bite crisis

Biking fifty miles a day to Luso La Manja, long straight stretches of road and buying veggies along the way

Visiting the health centre and the little old lady comes out asking “Do you want to see the new baby?”

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Mmm. Malawi will always hold a special corner of my heart, but another time of transition is on its way. I’m soon leaving Williams Bay, then who knows. It’s all a grand adventure, and I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop.

A school that is student-friendly

Teacher development is a significant part of an education volunteer’s role in Malawi. Many of us are sent to site as subject area teachers (for me, English) but working with teachers is also a rewarding aspect of service, since they will be around long after the volunteer. I have spent a little bit of my second year holding workshops for teachers and community members at my school and other volunteers’ schools on Student-Friendly Schools.

These workshops are a few hours in length and tackle ideas that aren’t foreign to Malawian teachers, but are usually tucked too far back in their minds. It’s understandable that teachers in Malawi forget what education is all about: they’re underpaid, work in schools with few resources, and nearly every school is understaffed. The Student-Friendly Schools workshop reminds us all that we teach because we want to see students grow into responsible, smart change makers and good citizens. We shift the focus onto students and see how we can make small, progressive changes at school without fighting elements of the culture.

Jaryt and I introduce ourselves and the day’s workshop topics

A “student-friendly school” can mean many things. For our workshops, we spend most of the time on gender and children’s rights and how understanding these things can help our schools grow. Here’s an outline, with pictures from a recent site visit to Jaryt’s school, Luwazi CDSS:

– gender versus sex, gender stereotypes, & gender based violence
Gender norms in Malawi reflect a typical patriarchal society – the first part of the program reminds us that if we rely on gender stereotypes at school, girls especially will continue to fall behind and development will be slow. We begin talking about gender-based violence and how stereotypes influence those actions and attitudes.

Participants present their “gender boxes”

– gender-based violence at schools
GBV affects both boys and girls at school when teachers label students as “lazy” or give them physical punishments (slashing grass/drawing water) during school hours. The idea of “sugar daddies” is well-known in Malawi and we stress how this is an example of sexual and economic violence.

– The Convention on the Rights of the Child
We study the articles of this document related to education to see how children all over the world have the same rights. We remind the participants that ensuring these articles are met is not always within the power of an individual (how can you provide a quality education if there are limited resources or if there are few teachers?). Some changes need to be made on the governmental level, and we ask that teachers only do the best they can.

– bystander intervention
Bystander intervention is typically understood by participants when we discuss breaking up physical fighting, but the idea of being a bystander to bullying at schools is somewhat trickier to talk about. At Luwazi CDSS, we had teachers role-play two teenagers – one girl going through puberty and a boy teasing her – then ask what a teacher or community member should do if they overheard these interactions.

Participants really took on their roles as teenagers and made us all laugh!

– positive discipline techniques
In Malawi, corporal punishment isn’t legal but is still common. Threats of corporal punishment and pulling students out of classes to do physical labor are frequent. The word “discipline” is rarely used compared to “punishment,” so we talk about the difference and how positive discipline can create happier students and teachers at school.

Jaryt discusses positive discipline techniques with the group

– action planning
Turning the reigns over to the participants, we sit back and let school stakeholders (teachers, school support staff, Parent/Teacher’s Association, School Management Committee, chiefs, etc.) create an action plan for making their school more student-friendly. They identify a timeline for activities at school, resources needed, and who will be involved. This action plan is drawn up and hung in the staff room where it can remind the school of their ideas and keep them on track.

Teachers and community members draw up their school action plan

Most schools here are very involved with development projects: head teachers reach out to donors, schools work hand in hand with the Ministry on building labs and libraries, and communities sometimes know about grant applications from various embassies. It can be difficult to have teachers think about ideas rather than money or tangible rewards. The Student-Friendly Schools workshop equips the school community with skills and gives them the power to make small changes to allow their students to thrive – even if more buildings on campus (i.e. girl’s hostels, toilets) would also mean the school is student-friendly. Our role as Peace Corps Volunteers is to work with what we have – few resources and a hopefully committed group of teachers and community members – and create the best school environment we can.

Farewell Form Fours!

I wanted to share with you Mr Kasambala’s speech to the Form Four students at last week’s graduation ceremony. Mr Kasambala is our English & Chichewa teacher and head of the Languages department. He has been a great counterpart for me the last two years with the Spelling Bee and gardening. He is very patient with me, understands my perspectives on the Malawian education system, and is a careful speaker and writer. I thought his speech was really great – it includes some apt points about our school, he uses fabulous idiomatic expressions, and he left me feeling pretty sentimental about our school and community. Enjoy!

Mr Kasambala addresses the Form Fours at their graduation ceremony

FAREWELL FORM FOURS – 2015

The Headteacher, the Deputy Headteacher, the Group Village Head, members of staff, PTA & SMC Chairpersons, all invited guests, boys and girls; I thank all of you for the honour bestowed upon me to deliver a farewell speech as we will soon be parting with the Form Fours.

To begin with I would like to thank the Headteacher and the entire administration at Kalowa for allowing the gala to happen despite the many building projects taking place here at this school. I would also like to thank the DJ for running up and down buying things for the graduation ceremony. Thanks should also go to all those students who contributed financially towards the preparation of this auspicious occasion. Madam Kaylee Beck and a group of girls who have been responsible for cooking good food that is coming also needs to be thanked greatly.

Usually we expect the gala to have a lot of activities. Ours here, I beg for your forgiveness, will be half a loaf. We have encountered many problems that have deterred us organisers from making this gala as flamboyant as you would expect. However, half a loaf is better than no bread at all.

Secondly, I would like to thank you students for persevering from Form 1 up to Form 4. As a form master, I am proud to see most of you making it up to Form 4. I am prouder to see that none of our Form 4 girls has married before sitting for MSCE exams as it was the case last year. I will be the proudest to see all of you passing the MSCE exams. It’s only that wishes are not horses which beggars would ride. My wish however, is to see all of you passing the exams. The only obstacle is that one reaps what one had sown. May the almighty God guide you as you write your MSCE Examinations.

There is one thing that has saddened me greatly as a form master – cases of theft done by some students of my class. In Chichewa we say, “Tsamba likagwa manyazi amagwira mtengo.” (Literally meaning, “When a leaf drops from a tree, it is the tree that is ashamed.”) How can students steal things from a school in which they are? How can our Peace Corps Volunteer lose her things most probably by our own students? That is the same as a chicken sucking its own eggs. Stay away from evil companies. It is well said that evil communications corrupt good manners. As the Form 4 class teacher, I would like to see all of you sitting for the coming MSCE examinations – not sitting in some police cell waiting to answer charges of theft while your friends are sitting for exams. Take care not to cause trouble in these last days. Remember, it is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back. I want to assure you that it is not over until it is over. Even after leaving the school, you will need the same school in many ways.

Lastly, I would like to advise you that when you go home, be a helpful, responsible citizen of Malawi. Go back to the community and show that you have been learning Life Skills with Madam Kaylee. You have learned a lot of subjects here – agriculture, science, etc. – go and display your knowledge. You also need to help your parents in different activities at home. Again you can do something of your own to show the community that Kalowa ‘graduates’ can do something. My last word is that there is no one so deaf as one who will not hear. I hope you will put these pieces of advice into practice.

The HT, the members of staff and all our invited guests, may God bless you for patiently listening to my speech. Thank you.

Chats with Agogo

Believe me, my last few months in Malawi are making me feel mushy gushy about leaving this place – but, time for that later. Before I leave, I have vowed to chat more, blog more, and soak up every second of Kalowa life. Today, I interviewed my neighbor Agogo (grandmother) with the help of Mr. Kondowe’s translations. I asked the questions in Chitonga (translations courtesy of my Form 4 students), then agogo responded and Mr. Kondowe relayed her answers. What I’ve written here isn’t a perfect transcript of our conversation, but it’s close to what Mr. Kondowe told me. My favorite moments were when Agogo would giggle to herself after I asked her a few questions. I really enjoyed learning more about her life story, hope you do too!

My favorite Kalowa resident, Agogo – and me

What is your full name? Zina laku ndiwe yani?
Fanny Banda.

Age? Vyaka?
Oh, I don’t know.

Why were you named Fanny? Chifukwa uli zina laku leviyo?
I was just given that name when I was young, like Tamala’s (her granddaughter) age. It was the name of my agogo. Names are for remembrance, it’s a way of trying to recapture the one who passed away.

In what other homes/places have you lived? Ndimuzinji wajamu/malo ngo wajaku?
I stay in Dambanjoka village (in Kalowa), but have also stayed near Dwangwa at Nkhunga, a village named Kanyenda, and Bandawe. Bandawe is where my mother is from, I have relatives there.

Do you have a story or memory from childhood to share? Imwe wendi nkhani panyaki chikumbutso kutuliya pa wana wako kuti undikambiyeku?
When I was young, I would pound cassava and cook nsima instead of my mother; she was resting. That is different from today, when the children are playing and the mothers are cooking.

Where did you go to school? Until when? Wasambiranga pani sukulu? Pakazukwanji?
Kanyenda Primary, but I did not complete school. I have forgotten. I was Tamala’s age.

What do you remember most about school? Mukumbukanji ukongwa vyaku sukulu?
Nothing! I used to run away from school without learning anything.

Were you married? When? Unguwirwa? Zukwanji?
I was married to Rumphi Chirwa probably at fifteen years. It was two years after growing up. After, we moved to Zambia for 4 years.

How did you meet this person? Mungukumana uli ndi munthu uyu?
Most people were staying near the lake at this time. We were staying in the same location. He was a cousin, but he was shy and he sent a friend to propose love to me. At first I ignored his proposals, but after consulting with my parents I agreed.

How many children did you have altogether? Names? Mwendi wana walinga wosi pamoza? Mazina?
Seven. Firstborn, Goodwell. After that, Lovely. Anna. Lorelai. Rosie, Bettina, and Costan. Two passed away.

What advice do you have for me if I get married? Mwendi uphungu uli kwaku ine asani ndayirwa?
(She laughs) Oho! When you are married the head of the family is the man. Don’t quarrel outside, close the door of the house. It will bring more problems. Inside, you can find the solution. Marriage requires endurance to get old with your husband. There must be love from both sides. Without love, nothing can happen.

Who was the oldest person you remember as a child? Ndiyani mula ukongwa yo ukumbuka weche mwana?
Tamali. The year I was married, she was very old. Until today, she is still alive.

Who is your best friend? M’bwezi waku ukongwa ndiyani?
My best friend is Alice next door. We used to play together but today she has problems with hearing. She needs me to shout louder. She’s younger than me, it’s funny.

What are things that you have made that others have enjoyed? Ntchinthu uli cho ukupangapu anyaku chakukondwesa?
I make relish. Usually fish. Also African medicine for eyesight and hearing.

What do you like to do when you are not working? Ntchinthu uli cho utanjakuchita asani ugwira ntchitu cha?
Usually, I am drying cassava, cooking relish, or drinking tea. I like chatting with my grandchildren.

What is the longest trip you have ever taken? Ndi ulendo nuwu wo ukwenda utali ukongwa?
I have been to Chitipa, Salima, Lilongwe, Blantyre. Zambia is the farthest. We were speaking Chibemba.

What is one of your most memorable moments of your life? Ndiyani yo utimukumbuka ukongwa pa umoyu waku?
My firstborn used to work for the oil company Oilcom. Now when he was working, he was sending money to me. I was like a bank for my son. My son’s wife became jealous, and she told the police he was stealing from the company and sending it to his mother. The officers from Blantyre came to investigate, and when they found me, I was beaten. The children were watching, so I gave them all the money. The police were very corrupt. But, I will always remember how my son came with money and we bought cattle.

How would you describe Malawi to someone who didn’t know about this country? Mungamu kambiyanji munyinu yowaleka kuziwa zakukwaskana ndi Malawi?
How people in Malawi live – according to extended families. People are proud, they want to stay on their own. I can tell of the problems in Malawi, living below $1. A long time ago, people harvested a lot of food compared to today.

Anything else to share, agogo?

Please remember me. I have liked how you are free to chat, and “museka ukongwa” – you smile a lot.

My friend, Newton

Newton is a man who lives in my village. We met at the trading center and have brief conversations, sometimes in French, and they always leave me smiling. I asked him if he’d mind sharing a little bit about his life and education in Malawi many years ago, and we had a nice conversation on my porch while I took notes for you folks.

Newton Chirwa, 67

Tell me about yourself, Newton.

My name is Newton Chirwa. I am Tonga by tribe. My home area is Dwambazi, but I stay in Kalowa. I am a farmer and I used to be working in the cement industry. I farm maize, groundnuts, and cassava. I have three children; two are married, and one is suffering from epilepsy.

Where did you go to school?

I did my primary at Dwambazi up until Standard 3, there were no senior classes at the primary level there. Kalowa did have senior classes, so I walked there and back every day (about 4 miles each way). Later, Dwambazi got senior classes so we went back. In 1964, I passed my primary exams and went to secondary school. That was Nkhotakota, and where I met those three teachers I told you about – Peace Corps Volunteers. I went there from 1965 o 1967. I didn’t finish secondary school because of school fees.

You had Peace Corps teachers?

Yes, the ones I was telling you about. They taught me biology, English, and math. They sharpened our tongues, and we got used to them. They taught us how to grammatically speak English, solve sums, and we were impressed by them. It was our first year to be taught by those Americans.

Which subjects interested you?

Biology, English, math… yes, but not so very.

You’re one of the only Malawians I know who speaks French. How do you know it so well? When do you practice it?

Only with you. Most of these French words I’ve forgotten. It was an extra class taught by the Peace Corps teacher.

Tell me about education in Malawi during that time compared to today.

The difference is that then, it was just the beginning of education in Malawi. Today I think it is better. There were many girls at school, but that is because everyone who went to that school was privileged.

I have seen you give lessons to students at the secondary school. What do you teach them about?

When I was employed by a cement company, I was analyzing cement quality. I was telling the students how to analyze cement, the stages of making cement and what cement is made from.

Have you traveled?

No. In 2005, I was in South Africa for a short time looking for employment. I had a relative there.

How is Malawi different now compared to 30 years ago?

The biggest difference is in production. Malawi is now populated. I think at 16 million. Due to that, land where people can cultivate isn’t there. Cultivation is a problem because we are so many. There are more diseases. Behavior has changed. (For good or for bad?) Ah, for average.

Some Americans have never even heard of the country Malawi before. What would you tell them about this nation?

I would tell that American “be free.” We are God-fearing people. If they wanted to start a business, they can. You can shop from anywhere at a low cost. You can mix up with people, we are friendly – you should be friendly. We have very good lakes – you can go there for a swim. Mountains, too. Some people think Africa is dangerous, no. Not this place.

Are you named after Isaac Newton? You know who I’m talking about?

The one who founded the gravitation force. No, my father just named me that!

Camfed at Kalowa, Part 2: Camfed goes to the hospital!

And now for the second part of the Camfed blog posts – there’s no emergency here, but we went to the hospital!

This past Monday, the Camfed girls at Kalowa Community Day Secondary School walked 8 kilometers to Dwambazi, a neighboring village that is home to a rural hospital. Mr. Kondowe organized the field trip with the district officer for Camfed at Nkhata Bay, who allowed him to have a small budget for their trip (notebooks for jotting things down on the visit, celebratory Fantas at the trading center). Mr. Kondowe, the group’s teacher-mentor, wanted to give these girls a see-for-yourself experience – to tour the facility, speak with staff, get inspired to work hard in science subjects, and envision a professional life after secondary school.

The group of Camfed girls and Mr. Kondowe

I asked if I could tag along on the trip and the girls wholeheartedly said YES! We left during the school day, the girls marching down the M5 in their smart Camfed-issued uniforms, fresh notebooks in hand. At the hospital, we were met by Mr. Masanjala, the clinical officer. He gave us a brief introduction about himself and his schooling, the hospital departments, and then led us on a tour. We stopped by the maternity ward first, which the girls were most intrigued by, I thought. Afterwards we popped by the women’s ward, pharmacy, children’s ward, and nursing station. A nurse, Phyless, took a break from her work to talk female-to-females about the challenges and rewards of becoming a nurse. Removed from the school setting where boys dominate the classroom, the girls were curious and confidently asked wonderful questions.

Mr. Masanjala welcomes the girls

The maternity ward catches their interest

Listening carefully to Nurse Phyless

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After the visit, I chatted with the Camfed president, Medify. She answered some questions about the trip to Dwambazi Rural Hospital and gave her perspective on education.

Explain more about your job as Kalowa’s Camfed president.
My job is to advise my fellow Camfed girls to work hard, even if they’re doing something wrong, I need encourage them.

What did you do at Dwambazi Rural Hospital?
At Dwambazi, we visited a lot of offices and Mr. Masanjala taught us about the different sections that are found in the hospital, like the clinical office, pharmacy, nursing department, maternity ward, and many more.

What was most interesting to you and other girls?
To my side, I can say that I am more interested in the nursing deparment, because it’s the one that helps sick people and takes care for them.

What did you learn that was new to you?
Mr. Masanjala told us that when a baby is born early they use an oxygen concentrator to help that baby stay alive.

What did you think about Nurse Phyless?
I think that she’s encouraging, she has a lot of work to do, and she serves many people.

What is your message to primary level girls about education?
To those who are in primary, I can just advise them that they should not concentrate on boys while they are in school. They must also respect elders and ask questions in the areas where they don’t know.

Would you still be in school without the help of Camfed?
Yeah, of course! In some areas it is difficult, because we are two in secondary school (her brother Julius goes to a different school at Chintheche).

What are your dreams for the future?
I want to be graduated and have a diploma. Phd for accounting. It can be possible if you work hard!

—

Thanks to the Camfed girls and Mr. Kondowe for allowing me to learn alongside you. To the staff at Dwambazi Rural Hospital – thanks for accomodating us and giving our students this opportunity and inspiration. Three cheers for the girls, Camfed, and experiential education!

Camfed at Kalowa, Part 1: “My daughters”

Camfed (Campaign for Female Education) is an international organization that supports girls’ schooling in several African countries, including Malawi. My village, Kalowa, has 29 Camfed girls in forms 2, 3, & 4 sponsored for their secondary education. I’ve spent this week chatting with and gathering some write-ups from a few girls benefiting from this organizations’ bursaries, including our teacher-mentor, Mr. Kondowe, and Lumbani, a former beneficiary who continues to be supported through CAMA, Camfed’s alumnae organization.

Here at Kalowa, Camfed beneficiaries do not need to worry about finding school fees every term. They are given a uniform, shoes, all school supplies, and menstrual pads. The teacher mentor meets with them every week or so, and they have elected a board of Form 4 girls to handle more sensitive issues that can’t be brought to Mr. Kondowe. Since Camfed sponsors vulnerable girls, many would not be in school without outside help. A few representatives have shared their Camfed experience with me – Despina, Naomi, and Gift.

Despina, Form 2

How has Camfed helped you?
If I was not in Camfed I can fail to continue learning at school because of school fees and also school uniform.

Would you still be in school without Camfed’s help?
No madam, because in our family there is no way to find money for fees, exercise books and other upkeeps that Camfed has given us.

Why is school important for you?
School is important in many ways – without school I cannot be a doctor or teacher, nurse, or even have a good future.

Naomi, Form 3

How has Camfed helped you?
Camfed helps me by giving me things that are necessary for school, like school fees, school uniform, school shoes, exercise books, etc.

What are your dreams for the future?
Most times I dream that I am a nurse and I drive a car.

What message or advice would you give to girls in primary school?
I can advise them about the importance of school and ways that they can protect themselves from problems that make them drop out of school early.

Gift, Form 4

How has Camfed helped you?
Camfed helped me by giving me basic needs for example school fees, exercise books, and pads.

What message or advice would you give to girls in primary school?
I can say encouraging them to work hard at school and doing practices, for example, solving mathematics during free time.

Do you have anything else to add about Camfed?
Thanks to Camfed for giving things to many girls. Continue to help other girls who are in Form 1 or Standard 8.

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Camfed at Kalowa is more than the beneficiaries – we are lucky to have role models, Lumbani and Mr. Kondowe.

Lumbani Tchongwe, Camfed alumna

How has Camfed helped you?
Camfed has helped me through many ways. I benefited from school fees from Form 3 to 4 which is not an easy thing, beside the school fees, Camfed was giving me notebooks and ballpoint pens each and every term, including sanitary wears. After my secondary school, Camfed kept on sponsoring me through workshops and also gave me seed money for a small business. This helped me not to be lacking basic needs.

What are your dreams for the future?
My dream is to be a well educated female and also to be a big merchant.

What advice would you give your younger sister about education?
I can just urge her to work very hard for her to pass with flying colours and this will help her to be what she wants (achieving her goals).

How do you see girls education in Malawi?
Most of the girls are being influenced to get married earlier before completing their education; this is due to poverty and also peer pressure.

Mr. Kondowe, teacher-mentor

Why is Camfed important for Nkhata Bay district?
Nkhata Bay was one of the first districts for Camfed in Malawi. This is because of the lake – girls fail to complete school because of fishermen with money luring them. This is a needy district, there is a lot of poverty here. Camfed looks at the vulnerability of girls. Usually they are orphans, have single parents, or are living in poverty.

Have you run into problems being a male leading the girls of this school?
Not really problems, but I’ve had to make good decisions, listen to students and give support. I am like a father, and these are my daughters. I have appointed Medify (Form 4 beneficiary) as president and we have elected an advisory board to handle the more sensitive issues.

What’s your motivation for continuing to be the teacher-mentor for Camfed at Kalowa?
I like the advisory role of being a teacher-mentor. I feel like girls have suffered for a long time. I think males can have a positive role in a female’s life. And, I strongly believe that if ladies are educated, a nation is educated!

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I feel lucky to be surrounded by so many motivated students and community leaders here on the lake shore. It’s been inspiring to have them share their thoughts with me. But wait, there’s more on girls ed – stay tuned for Camfed at Kalowa, Part 2: Camfed goes to the hospital. Til next time! –

For more information about Camfed in Malawi, visit https://camfed.org/where-we-work/malawi/

Earth Day, Chikwawa, Malawi

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, every day is seemingly Earth Day – using 5 gallons of water a day, preaching about the positives of planting moringa and fruit trees, avoiding the blue plastic “jumbo” bags that are complimentary with tomato purchases (and inevitably become litter), and so on. When the actual Earth Day rolls around, we like to go BIG.

Environmental education extraordinaire Lea spent the last few months brainstorming an Earth Day event for her secondary school, Chikwawa CDSS. A handful of volunteers from the Northern region gathered at her home in Rumphi district for a few days of program planning and execution last Friday. Five of us conducted rockin’ lessons on moringa, composting, and permagardening three times each – to all students at the school! Britney and Alex’s moringa session involved songs and nutrition tips, Jaryt and Christine gave great compost recipes and advice, and I tackled the big topic of permagardening – focusing on watering and planting fruit trees.

Permagardening lesson

The theme of the day was “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in” – an important message for a dusty, dry village in rural Malawi that too frequently is faced with food insecurity. Although torrential rains struck the Southern part of Malawi this year, the North saw very little, and Lea’s village typically sees below average rainfall anyways. It’s a hard task to convince students they can have flourishing gardens year round when half the year is bone dry. Something I stressed in my permagardening lesson was recycling water from chores and bathing to keep gardens alive, mulching, and collecting rainwater. We know behavior change can be slow but we need to start somewhere, and somewhere easy at that.

The wonderful thing about collaborating with other PCVs at schools is that we can think up some intense, transformative practicals. With the help of a small, $100 Peace Corps grant, we lugged a collection of 65 moringa, avocado, improved mango, tangerine, and orange trees and pineapple suckers from Mzuzu to rural Rumphi. Armed with a whole morning of lessons, students put their new knowledge to work. Lea gave them a to-do list:

1. Grab a partner, find a location, dig a hole. These two students are responsible for the welfare of this tree from here on out.
2. Plant the tree. Add mulch to keep water from evaporating in the hot sun.
3. Protect your tree! Goats like to eat freshly planted seedlings at munching-level; students built impressive fences with thorns around each seedling!
4. Water the newly planted tree. These 65 trees were planted in the front school yard close enough to the water source, the borehole. This way, the students won’t forget to water their baby trees.

Helping out with the water collection – these trees are thirsty!

Student taking care to water and mulch his tree

A big project gets done quickly with many helping hands!

Watching the whole school at work planting, watering, and caring for the trees was an exciting sight – all the lessons and planting were done by noon and there was a vibrant energy all around. When our work as volunteers often has results we can’t measure, it was a meaningful accomplishment to work with a whole school towards continuing the legacy of Earth Day with lessons and planting. Here’s to a shaded, fruit-filled future, Chikwawa!

Spring break – Peace Corps edition

Lea & Kaylee go Malawi-wild!

I spent last year’s two-week term holiday in Durban with Connor, which made this break hard to top (but I think we came close). I have been keeping a Malawi bucket list of sorts so Lea and I thought this would be a good chance to check some items off.

We planned a multi-locale adventure, travelling through Northern, Central and Southern region, hitch-hiking (we could do this professionally by now), playing in the lake at Cape Maclear, and climbing up the rainy Zomba plateau.

Despite the prejudices this northern region girl has towards the southern lakeshore, Cape Maclear proved to be a beautiful, relaxing getaway with friends who had just finished up at Camp Sky in Kasungu. Cape Maclear is home to Lake Malawi National Park, where fishing is protected – it made for great snorkeling in clear waters off an island. We took a boat trip to feed the majestic fish eagles and jump off giant rocks into the lake just before sunset. I’m going to miss these beautiful places and people in a few months.

our afternoon snorkeling location

the Yenda Solidarity really took care of us

favorite friends

Peace Corps volunteers are wonderful at networking – case in point, we secured a ride out from Cape Maclear from the next-door lodge all the way to our next destination, Zomba (Malawi’s original capital)! Our driver propped up cushions in the back of his pickup, bought us ice cream and waters, and we zoomed directly to town in 3 hours. We considered ourselves lucky since we were anticipating a long, 9 hour travel day of waiting for buses or free rides. We slowly climbed up hills and got chilly as we neared the highly elevated town. Something I love about Malawi is how travelling a few hours gives you a completely different landscape and temperature. We met a friend in town, bought food and took a taxi up the mountain. A self-catering cottage waited for us at the top, and we watched the horizon and pointed out places below us in Zomba. In the distance, you can see Mt. Mulanje, Malawi’s tallest mountain and a place I’m doubting I’ll get to (this time). The view was probably one of my favorites in Malawi, especially as dusk turned to night with all the lights below us. Our full day on the plateau, it was rainy and foggy, but we hiked up to Chingwe’s Hole, a natural 70m-deep hole that’s sprouted trees and is full of legend. Apparently at that point the view is supposed to be incredible, but we only saw white clouds. We sped down the mountain, chilled to the bone, then warmed up by the cottage fireplace and ramen. I love cozy mountain trips.

Chingwe’s Hole

foggy view of Zomba town from the cottage

Check, Cape Maclear. Check, Zomba. We received our Close-of-Service date – July 31. I should be back home by August! Feeling pretty Malawi-sentimental and mushy about my service. I have been listening to Malawian artist, Lawi, a lot recently – he sings about his country and it makes me get choked up on runs. Until the end of July, I am planning cross-site visits and small weekend trips but not really starting any new projects besides teaching – things already feel like they’re winding down! Til the next adventure – xo :)