Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer Mr. Limbani Kumanga
My immersion in Likoswe village continues to unfold in a relatively positive manner. With time, I have begun to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance, which – I have been told – are crucial ingredients for a successful service. In recent weeks, for instance, I have noted that the number of residents who have embraced the courage to greet me affectionately has increased tremendously compared to the past two months! This is adorable and encouraging. Interestingly, people here call me “Mr. Limbani,” so keep that in mind in case you come looking for me.
Development work: About my community and my identity as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, a few remarkable developments have occurred since my last post. Allow me to give you a detailed account of things that have transpired in the past few weeks that relate to what this blog stands for.
First, from 12 – 15 April, all 12 current CorpsAfrica Malawi Volunteers and the entire incredible CorpsAfrica staff assembled in Blantyre for CorpsAfrica Malawi’s In-Service training (IST). Apart from being the first time all Volunteers met and shared individual experiences from our respective sites, IST was crucial in the sense that additional tools and knowledge, which, henceforth, have enhanced our capacity to serve in the best way possible, were imparted. Thus, looking back, I consider that IST was very necessary and fruitful. For an in depth account of what happened at IST, you can read my fellow Volunteer’s blogpost here
Second, back to the tranquil Likoswe village, a game-changing project commenced while I was attending IST and has been in progress since then. Matter of fact, the project is approaching its completion now. With funds from Village X, my partner organization, residents of Likoswe village are on the verge of concluding the construction of a nursery school, which will be the first community-owned nursery school in the entire TA Likoswe area! Without a doubt, pre-primary school education is vital when it comes to early childhood development and the eventual molding of future responsible citizens. Constructed under direct supervision of a female-led Village X committee, the project stands as a testimony of successes that are achieved when women are allowed to participate equally in community development endeavors.
Other noteworthy happenings in Likoswe villlage since my last post are as follows: the arrival and subsequent establishment of One Acre Fund village committee (hopefully, community farmers will reap benefits from this new intervention); the distribution of mosquito nets as part of an ongoing nationwide initiative to curb Malaria – a special impediment to development in Sub Sahara Africa; and the setting up of an enquiry to trackdown medication that went missing several weeks ago at Malavi Health Center (I hope the enquiry will have the interest of a common man at heart).
Kwalero, ndechere kaje papapa “For today, let me pause here” (See, I am learning Yao language, which is widely spoken in my community. Especially, among the elderly). I believe my current entry helps to contextualize what has been going on in my community lately. I should point out that I cannot wait to give you a sequential update on the nursery school project and other issues that I have illuminated on in this post. Selah!