​Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer Ireen Kanjala

The time I spent with family and friends over the festive season was wonderful, but now it’s time to get back to work in my community. It's January again and it’s the beginning of a new academic term for primary students. There are both new students and old faces filling the classrooms, all who seem eager to be back in school. I think the students were as excited as I was to get back to learning and seize 2018! Although I have been in my community for two months, I am still familiarizing myself with my community and the bright faces I see every morning at school. These smiling faces make each and every day easier than the last.

Since I’ve been back from holiday break, I started attending a youth club organised by youth volunteers. This club is in collaboration with Child Legacy International (CLI) and Population Services International (PSI). The theme for the first club meeting of 2018 was “Empowering Youth Education.” During the meeting youth presented role plays, poetry, had a debate, and performed music and dances.

Some of the issues and messages highlighted in the performances were on school dropout, the importance of getting an education, and how to build a future from a younger stage. The question I had at the beginning of the meeting was, “Why are young people dropping out of school in my community?” The youth in my community have helped me understand the various problems and solutions associated with school dropout, which include:

1 - Lack of dedicated role-models holding youth-to-youth counselling and education awareness campaigns in the community.

• Conducting community career talks involving the youth in the community (by role-models) to inspire others.
• Conducting education awareness campaigns at the community level.
  
  

 2 - Low household income levels which makes education less of a priority

• Implementation of back-to-school programs which would help low income households send children back to school by providing essentials such as fees, school uniforms, school bags, and stationery.
  
  

3 - Lack of after-school programs

• Introduction of educational and recreational clubs that will help to keep students motivated even out of school.
• Creating reading and storytelling groups to promote the school reading program.

4 - Early marriages, which lead to early pregnancies

• Developing family life and sex education programs so that young people can face reality of their sexual life.

​I have been impressed by the way the youth in my community have a pool of shared understanding in these various topics, and it is amazing what young people can achieve together! As I continue my service as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, I am excited to attend youth club meetings every Wednesday afternoon because I am eager to learn and share my views with this new team. 

Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer Twambilire Kalolokesya 

Two months have passed since I was placed at my site and during this period I have been busy trying to integrate into my community. In doing this I have had individual conversations with community members, had introductory meetings, and have been teaching at the nursery school. All of these activities have helped me a lot in the integration process, as well as with personal development for myself. I am grateful for this.

In my first blog post I will share about a meeting I had with the secondary school girls at the orphanage I work with. During our discussion we talked about how the girls use their time on campus currently and what different activities the girls can do in the future. We also discussed the assets the orphanage has, and how they use them. The girls were divided into groups, determined by which asset they prioritized. They were so cooperative and after they chatted about how they could work with the asset of their group, they chose representatives to present the results. They did this with excitement and boldness.

Finally we came up with ideas of projects using the resources the orphanage already has. Some of these included starting a debate club to improve English and build confidence to speak in the public, and to create a timetable for tutoring sessions for all the classes to help improve students’ academic performance.
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It was exciting to interact with these girls because they are full of laughter and enthusiasm. They also spoke what was on their minds on every topic of discussion, which I really appreciated.

With this kind of experience I look forward to more interaction with these adorable girls.

Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer Ruth Chamangwana

Never in my life did I imagine that I would become a pro at carrying a bucket on my head, but I decided to embrace drawing water from the borehole as part of my physical exercise and I must say I enjoy it. The borehole is approximately five minutes away from my house, however this is not the case with most households. My community has about four functioning boreholes, but the one that is close to my house produces the tastiest water of them all. The water actually tastes like store bought bottled water. I was AMAZED. The other three boreholes produce water so salty that it leaves you looking all ashy after a bath.

All was rosy until a week ago when the community’s favorite borehole was damaged. I was told that in such circumstances, people buy water from the nearest household with a tap. A bucket of water costs K30 and a big basin costs K50. Right when I decided to go buy water from the tap, the electricity had gone out, hence no tap water. I almost cried. The only option was to draw water from the salty borehole, so I did. When I tried to drink the water I couldn’t swallow the first sip. The water was just too salty.

In the evening and the electricity was back on, I managed to buy some water at the taps. As I collected my water, I watched with sadness as some community members made their way to the lake to draw water. The fact that the lake is used to wash clothes and dishes makes the water seem unhygienic for consumption. Ordinarily, this wouldn’t make me sad, but the fact that my community members would rather drink dirty water from the lake than consume the salty water from the boreholes is a problem.

The second day without our dear borehole was as slow as the first day. I collected my bucket and proceeded to buy water. I was so shocked to see the type of water that fell into my bucket. I couldn’t believe it. It was so dirty that I couldn’t bring myself to drink it. One lady told me that once it rains the lake becomes dirty, and since the water from the taps is pumped directly from the lake, the tap produces dirty water. The same lady told me that it was a good thing that the borehole got broken so that I could see the problems my community members go through to access quality water.

To sum it all up, the lack of safe drinking water is responsible for the rise in diarrhea cases in my community. There is a need to engage the people in sensitization campaigns where they are taught what “safe” drinking water is, and how to prevent waterborne diseases. It is also clear that new water sources such as boreholes (with tasty water) are needed since there is such a lack of good water currently.

Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer Tawonga

​You know that moment when you wake up and you're not exactly sure what time it is, what day it is, or where you are? Now imagine being in such a state and then hearing the sounds of waves crashing nearby and you're like "Hold up. What's going on? Where am I?"

That was me, Tawonga, a CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer, the first morning I woke up in my new community. You can imagine my panic at hearing the sounds of the waves when I had just woken up from a peaceful sleep... especially since I'm used to the peace and quiet I usually wake up to at home in Lilongwe. It took me a moment to gather my thoughts, find my bearings, and remember that I was at my site, in a new house, which happens to be very close to Lake Malawi.

After realizing again that I was no longer in the comfort of my home in Lilongwe, the nerves kicked in. Thoughts went through my head like, “What was I supposed to do all day? What was I supposed to bring the community members?” However, before I could completely lose it, my host sister, Lonje, knelt by the door and said "Asisi ndikupita ku nyanja tu, mufuna kupita nawo?" (Sister, I'm going to the lake, would you like to come along?). Of course I said yes! So I quickly got ready, met her outside, and we walked the short distance to the lake.

I sat by the beach and watched everything. The girls playing. The men and boys fishing. The women washing clothes and dishes. Every once and awhile the women would steal a glance at me while they whispered to each other "Ndi awotu alendo akubweretsa chitukuko aja." (There is the visitor that is bringing development.) I wasn't at all bothered by the whispers and what they were saying. It simply reminded me why I am here; to make a difference. And while the women are right about me being a visitor, they are wrong about who will be bringing the development. I am just the catalyst toward the change that is to come to this community, and they are the ones who will bring that change. 
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But I guess they have about ten months to realize that and so do you! So join me on this journey as I serve as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer in Malawi.

Until next time

Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer James Matipwiri
 
“Doing your best is the only option even if it results in failure,” said Christopher Walken in the movie Eddie the Eagle. This is one of my favorite quotes because it shows the important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. How much do we struggle to attain triumph? This is a question I ask myself frequently, and I hope to find out in the coming year. I am James Matipwiri, born and raised in Dwangwa, Nkhotakota. I am serving as a CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer in Dedza East. This blog space will be used to update you on my experience serving over the next ten months.

When I heard about CorpAfrica my ignition system sparkled … vroom! And that is when I knew my journey started. During PST at the Malawi College of Forestry and Wildlife in Dedza District I spent four weeks training, interacting and absorbing the best tools that will help me serve well in my community. Some of these tools are Human-Centered Design (HCD), Asset Based-Approach to Community Development (ABCD), and Permaculture. Allow me to say that it was a life changing experience for someone like me, with a background in Science, used to solving problems from experiments to laboratory prototypes. Now my community is my laboratory. I don’t have the answers to the problems and challenges I will learn here, but my job is to make sugar dissolve in hot water so that we can all drink tea come breakfast.
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I am now living in my new community and have stayed here for approximately three weeks. I had a warm welcome by my host family and the chief and have already held a few meetings with key people and groups in the community; like Traditional Authority Kmoto, police officers, the head teacher, and members of the Area Development Committee.
 
During my time here I have also started to work with The Hunger Project Malawi Epicenter. Working with them has helped me to integrate well because I have taken part in training locals in leadership, self-reliance, project management and monitoring and evaluation. Frankly speaking, this institution has made it easier for me to get rid of my fears and negative expectations. There is already mindset change taking place here when it comes to participation in local development activities.

Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer, Caroline Luka
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It’s been almost two months since I got deployed to my site, and if you asked me a year ago where I was going to be at this time I would probably have mentioned something completely different. I never saw myself as someone who would be living in a rural community facilitating development work and acting as a catalyst of change. Being here with these amazing people has really taught me a lot and its helping me grow as a person. I have finally broken out of my shell and I am ready to fly.
 
As 2018 is starting so many things are running through my mind. What kind of projects are we going to implement? What already existing projects do we need to improve on to ensure sustainability? What does the community want instead of what I want for them? So many questions that require answers, but first things first.
 
The youth of my community and I came together and devised a plan that will help in solving the task at hand. We used the innovators compass to help us narrow down our project plans, but also broaden our thinking so as to come up with several ideas that will help to eliminate the problems within our community. There is a drastic number of school dropouts and a lot of child marriages in our community and the youth here are taking it as their responsibility to come up with a strategy to help create change around these issues.

​That was when we decided to come up with the first ever youth club. This club aims at reducing the number of early child marriages as well as school dropouts in our community. First we decided to separate the girls from the boys into two different sub-groups of the club to create safe spaces amongst gender, as well as because we all know the needs of the two parties differ. After the group meets separately we come back together and discuss what each group talked about. We obviously cannot just do all work and no play so our club also really focuses on the maintenance of the group. In doing this we take the opportunity to interact, socialize, play sports, and do various other extra-curricular activities so as to boost morale and also learn different skills from one another that will help us live positive lives. 

​I am super excited about starting the New Year off right with this amazing youth group. I personally want to learn a few things from them. Like maybe I’ll learn to knit and then be able to knit myself a gorgeous scarf!
                       
It’s going to be a great year. I can feel it.

Written by Mouhiddine Hamma, a CorpsAfrica Volunteer n Malawi

As a part of my integration, I met Mike and Phelly from Democratic Republic of the Congo in DZALEKA refugee camp. I introduced myself and what CorpsAfrica is all about. We discussed how the DZALEKA communities can take part in developing themselves through acquisition of knowledge. Mike and Phelly introduced me to their organization that also works in DZALEKA camp called Apoyando El Futuro (APO-FU), meaning “Support the Future.” APO-FU also has two volunteers, one from Brazil named Clarista and the other from Costa Rica named Javier.

APO-FU is non-profit organization that does development projects in rural communities. Their areas of focus include education, nutrition and entrepreneurship. These projects are carried out in schools around the community where they try to create a friendly environment so children can develop different skills. APO-FU focuses on the importance of education by encouraging children to go to school, improving infrastructure, transferring knowledge on the importance of nutrition and healthy lifestyles, and overall building capacity of communities.
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Currently I am helping APO-FU with an infrastructure project to build a school. Javier and Clarista showed me the land that was bought to be used for building the school and volunteers from the refugee camp have started to clear the land. When the land is cleared the building will be built, as well as the construction of a vegetable garden that will feed the students.

Javier, Clarista, and I had another meeting with the chief of the area last week. At this meeting we discussed the importance of the school project for this village. We also talked about how we can improve education and nutrition for students in surrounding nearby villages.

I am enjoying working with this organization because they have a noble cause!

Written by Mostafa Essalai, a CorpsAfrica Volunteer in Malawi

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." -Gandhi
 
I like this quote because sometimes it is better to keep your problems inside and focus on outside challenges and solutions. This is one of the lessons of service as Gandhi said. It gives you renewed positive energy and strength to overcome obstacles in your life and community. Each time problems become easier to solve because you grow stronger and more experienced.
 
My name is Mostafa Essalai. I'm 26 years old, and I'm one of Second Cohort Exchange Volunteers in CorpsAfrica Malawi. CorpsAfrica is a NGO with the same working vision as Peace Corps. It gives opportunities to African leaders to serve in their own countries in order to combat poverty. In different areas across Malawi and Africa, CorpsAfrica trains its volunteers to apply the newest approaches to international development including empowering local communities, promoting collaboration among NGOs, and monitoring and evaluation skills.
 
I think two months of meditating on the beauty of this country is more than enough time for me to fall in love. Malawi, or "The Warm Heart of Africa", is located in the South Eastern region of Africa. It's a country with great nature, stunning lakes, forests, and diverse wildlife. The landscapes of the country gives Malawi an added value in comparison to other countries.
 
On October 7th, 2017, I left the Kingdom of Morocco with a heavy package of expectations which included bad and good thoughts. I carried my mixed feelings all the way to Malawi, but after a few days in country, my expectations transformed to love, happiness, and enthusiasm. I quickly became eager and fearless to swim deeply in this experience as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer which should be one of the greatest years in my life, full of personal and professional growth.

​I spent the first month in Malawi living in a small village in the Dedza district. This is where we had Pre-Service Training (PST) as the Second Cohort of CorpsAfrica Volunteers. Our Cohort includes 18 Malawians, 2 Moroccans and 1 Senegalese. During PST we gained the basic tools of how to successfully integrate in our communities. This included topics on group dynamics and facilitation skills, as well as Asset-Based Community Development which identifies "an approach that catalyzes change and development by leveraging the existing gifts and capacities of people and their community." According to these tools, the Volunteer should work as a catalyst and mobilizer of community change. S/he should be a facilitator and the liaison that acts as a bridge between the community and potential outside resources.
 
November 12th, 2017 was one of the great days in my life. It was the day when I was sworn-in as an official CorpsAfrica Volunteer. At Cross Roads Hotel, I met many types of people who were eager to support us as Volunteers. They didn't hesitate to give us words of advice, motivation, and encouragement. When I was sworn-in, I looked to the audience which included the U.S. Ambassador to Malawi, USAID Mission Director, Peace Corps Country Director, Dedza Head Chief, Dedza Parliament Member, some Peace Corps Volunteers, and Volunteer’s families and friends. All of them were happy for us to start our new journey with positive energy.
 
One day later, I opened my eyes and heard the sound of the car that drove me to my new community where I will stay for the next 11 months and start the next chapter of my life. On that day, I left Lilongwe with a small backpack of clothes and materials, but a heavy mind full of dreams, passion, enthusiasm and some worries. After a long trip that took almost three hours of driving, my sitemate Naomi and I arrived. During the first half hour of being in my new community, I met kind people who communicated with their eyes "Don't worry Mostafa, you are in safe hands." In the short meeting, they gave me all the keys to well integrate in the community and my inner peace began to increase.

​After finishing the introductory meeting, the staff took me to my host family where I stayed for the first two weeks in the village. Living with the host family gave me the chance to better integrate. When reaching the house of my host family, I found them ready to have me be a part of their family. My family has a father, a mother, three sisters, and one silly brother. After leaving my stuff in my room, I asked my host brother to have a short walk around the village to know the potential places that might be good for programs in the future. My host brother doesn't have the word "No" in his life dictionary, so in one hour, he took me to all the areas that I wanted to know, including the market, primary school, secondary school, church and mosque. "Sadiki," the name of my host brother, doesn't speak English, so we communicated by sign language and using the basics of Chichewa that I learned in PST. After coming back from our trip, I had nsima for dinner, which is the staple food in Malawi, as well as beans and a bunch of mangos. I quickly learned how to cook nsima because people here think that if you don’t eat it every day you are going to be weak.

​Since arriving in my permanent site over one month ago, I have continued to integrate, meet people, and learn about the community. I have also started to initiate programs with other volunteers in my site. But more on that next month.
 
To be continued….