Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer Mr. Peter Mndalasini

It has been over two weeks since I have stayed in my new community. I arrived in Kasungu District, which is located in the central region of Malawi on 15 December, 2018. Though I have faced quite a number of challenges for the past two weeks, but I will not put down my tools and leave my site. Almost everyone is busy in their farms hence it is difficult to meet and integrate with them. Village life is completely different from how I live back home in the city. There is no running water, poor roads and slow internet connection. 

Walking around the village has made me realize that there is a lot to be done in the community and just like above going back to city life looks regretful. I have also realized that life is about making sacrifices for the sake of making an impact on other people’s lives. The road to success is not easy and life is not a bed full of roses. I am willing to experiment and try different ideas together with my community in order to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals. 
 
I will help my community to uncover connections, tensions, and the principles underlying their issues; generate different ideas on how my community might move forward. Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it is done.” I will work with all my strength until what seems impossible in my community will be possible in the next six months to come.
 
I will try my best in order to make sure that everyone will participate and contribute their innovative ideas and solutions, which might bring change and long impacts in their lives and to the society. I am here in this village as a catalyst of sustainable development and my purpose is not to help but to build a different kind of environment together with my community. Together with my community we are going to bring change by involving every person in decision including the youths and women. I am a Facilitator and I am here to support the work of my community and also to share some of my unique gifts and capacities.  
 
Forward I go with the six months service, No more turning until I will finish my service and bring a difference in my new community.

Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer Promise Trust Chiwalo

"It is good to have a destination; but it is the journey that matters in the end." - Ursula K. Le Guin

I embarked on a four week journey (pre-service training) with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Quite juxtapositional but this is the best description of how I felt. I was excited because it was a journey towards something that I am passionate about, namely sustainable community development. I was also anxious because it entailed that I would live a different life after this journey; far from everyone and everything I have ever known. 

Upon arriving at my journey's destination (my site) I discovered something of great importance, there was more to this journey than the destination; the journey itself was worthwhile. Reflecting on the past four weeks led me to the realization of three things about the journey. Firstly, the journey had enhanced my passion for sustainable community development. More than that it had helped me to understand my ultimate role in community development as a catalyst and my approach to development was redefined. Secondly, the journey gave me an opportunity to meet and learn from new people (my trainers and fellow trainees). The four weeks were weeks of sharing valuable experiences, building friendships and connections. Lastly, through the Human-Centered Design and Assest-Based Community Development training, the journey equipped me with the essential knowledge and tools that will not only help me serve better as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer but will also enhance my career path. 

I am glad that I have arrived at my journey's destination but I am very convinced that the journey would still be worth taking even if it was void of its destination. This journey was both significant and memorable.

Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer Ms. Rhoda Sheena Gangire
 
The Yao in Zomba district have some intreating attributes which makes their culture unique. Some of these attributes are attached to their culture beliefs while some have been adopted depending on different situations encountered.

Among the Yao tribe, land is mostly owned by the women than men, this is because they believe that it is women who suffer the most when their husband dies but when they have their own piece of land for farming they can provide for the families even when they are widowed. And women are not encouraged to marry men from far places as this would make them abandon their land for farming. Men on the other hand, work hard in school and businesses to provide for themselves and they have the freedom to marry from any village of their choice and the land which belongs to the woman is used for farming by the whole family. 

Farming for Business 
When it comes to farming there is diversification of crops grown and some of the crops grown are maize, rice, groundnuts, millet, sorghum and cassava. 80% of these crops grown are sold at the nearby trading center which is along the main road.  And some even travel to big cities like Lilongwe to sell rice. Groundnuts and cassava are mostly sold at the trading center and sometimes selling is done in their homes when approached by vendors.

Children's Piece works
It is a common tradition among the Yao that during farming, children are given an opportunity to make money. Children mostly gather themselves to do piece works in fields in order to make money. The money is used to buy clothes, school materials and during the festive season to buy food and enjoy themselves. The piece works are only done when schools are closed and during the festive seasons.  Both girls and boys from ages of 12 below take part in doing piece works. Most families and individuals in the community love hiring these children as they make farm work done in a short amount of time due to their hard working and collaborative spirit. If only parents could properly manage thier finances after selling they can have enough money to provide for thier children’s needs and children will no longer have to do piece works.
 
Mango Trees
Every household has at least 5 mango trees around their homes. When mangoes ripen they are used sold at the nearby trading center during market days. A day before the market day the mangoes are plucked, washed and packed properly in bags or basins and they leave at 2 am on an oxcart the following day which is the market day.