Monday, September 15, 2008
Highlights
About a year and a half ago I was asked if I would like to take part in a trip to Likhubula. Since then a group of 12 had been planning and organising everything. Then Friday the 13th of June came and we were all set to go. This is when my journey began. I not that great at writing things like this so bear with me. This trip was so amazing and very hard to describe. I just going to tell you about some of my favourite highlights of the trip. Well obviously the first thing is arriving in Likhubula. What a welcome we received. Stepping out of the bus to a choir singing a special welcome song, Greeting various people and heading up to the church I had a smile spread across my face. I was so excited and just couldn wait to see what would happen in the next few days. We went inside the church for a short but so very welcoming service. It was just introducing ourselves and what we hoped to achieve in this visit. As we came out the church there was still singing going on but we spoke to various people. Myself and Jenni were speaking to two girls unaware they were our Malawian peers until they said so. We then had to make our way back to the mini bus and were driven to what would be our home for the next three weeks. As I dragged my suitcase up a few small steps I was so eager to settle in to this gorgeous place. We unlocked the door and just took in what was before us. A simple room with three beds a sink and a table. I instantly felt at home. That night we met five amazing young people. Kingsley, Chim-wae-we, Autson, Gertrude and Dixon. These five young people were our Malawian peers and were such a laugh. We were very different but still very much the same. I so grateful we were able to meet them. I sure we will meet again one day. Thanks for reading this. Il be back to tell you some more very soon. Sarah x
Friday, September 12, 2008
Ann Hale on Chambe
This is Ann Hale writing with notes of our visit to Chambe Secondary School.
Chambe Secondary School has a roll of 405 pupils. (233 boys and 172 girls)
Pupils who qualify for secondary school have to pay. One year will cost a pupil 4650 Kwacha (approx. £20)
The teacher pupil ratio is 1:115.
School starts at 7.30 am and finishes at 3.00pm. and the day is made up of nine 40minute periods.
All classes are taught in English (except for Chichewa).
Day 1
Our first visit to Chambe was on a public holiday but some of the teachers had come in specially to meet us. When we arrived they were sitting chatting under a large mango tree in front of the school buildings. They welcomed us and introduced themselves. Ignatius Kameni, the Depute Headteacher, showed us round the school which is beautifully situated at the foot of the great granite slab of Chambe Peak.
The school consists of several single-storey brick buildings, each with two classrooms. The floors are concrete and the furnishings basic – desks and benches and a blackboard.
There is a very limited library of textbooks and an even more limited supply of science equipment – just a few glass flasks and beakers. Staff would like to have at least one microscope but they have none. There is almost no Government funding for teaching resources. We were told that Government funding is tied up and used solely for building maintenance. Teachers seemed reserved regarding the partnership. They have had many visitors and volunteers who promise them the earth and deliver nothing so they are rightly sceptical.”
Following our first visit, Moira and I felt saddened by the scale of difficulties faced by pupils and teachers. They need so much in the way of resources that it was hard to know where to begin to help.
Day 2
Moira and I had a very productive meeting with the teachers during which we exchanged information about our respective schools. The letter from Doctor White was passed over to Mr Likharuwe, the Headteacher.
We discussed the position of teachers in Malawi society – poorly paid and feel that they have low status because they live their lives within the community in the same poor conditions as everyone else. We also discussed problems faced by teachers in Malawi and Scotland and found much in common. This discussion broke the ice and the teachers became more forthcoming. We talked about priorities – what we can do to help and what they feel they most need, what they can do for us and what we and our pupils can learn from them.
The problem of communication was highlighted. Chambe does not have internet/e-mail. At present they don’t even have a landline let alone broadband connection. Mobile phones are the main form of communication. There are internet cafés which they use but internet connections are very slow and costly.
Chambe Secondary School is an hour’s walk from Likhubula. Moira and I were shown the way by Dickson, a pupil partner at Chambe. It is a very pleasant one hour walk through the villages and small farms and we were followed by many children who wanted to speak to us and have their photographs taken. In Malawi you are never alone!
Week 2
Our pupils accompanied their partners to classes in Chambe Secondary School.
Over 3 days Moira and I observed and taught some lessons. Moira had the opportunity to compare notes with the Geography teacher and taught several Geography classes.
I taught English and History lessons to Form 2 (Mr Kameni’s class) and Form 4 (Mr Kondowe’s class). Our lessons were very well received and appreciated which was very encouraging. I also assessed a speaking assignment in English and helped Mr Kondowe prepare an English exam paper for Form 4.
There are about 100 pupils in each class and the only resources available for learning are the teacher, a blackboard and a piece of chalk so it’s really back to basics. It is possible to teach and learn because the pupils are polite and well-behaved and seem anxious to learn.
On Monday morning there is a School Assembly in the courtyard outside the school. A hymn is sung and the head teacher addresses the pupils. On this occasion a reprimand was given about poor behaviour and the fact the some pupils were not wearing proper uniforms. They were told that if they didn’t conform to the rules they would be suspended for 6 weeks! To our eyes most of the pupils look very smartly turned out and would set a good example to our pupils.
Moira and I were allowed to address the Assembly to thank them for welcoming us to their school and to talk about the partnership with Dunblane High School. We talked about our impressions of Chambe Secondary School, what we have in common and what is different, our awareness of the problems they face, what we can do for them and what we can learn from them. Our little speech was well received and we were presented with a carved box of Bau carved with “Dunblane – Chambe”.
We invited the teachers to have lunch with us – a packed lunch and drinks provided by Likhulula House. Normally the teachers do not eat during the school day and neither do most of the pupils.
We gave out small gifts to the staff and took formal photos of staff and pupils. We also collected a letter for Dr White from the Headteacher. On our last day we gave out pens, one for each pupil, inscribed with “Chambe-Dunblane”.
Jonathan Smith, our technical/IT expert, did a great job, fixing the school’s computers so that all of them were functioning again. This was greatly appreciated.
By the last day we felt that the teachers were much more positive about the partnership and it is very important that we do not lose the momentum gained by our visit. The fact that Moira and I participated in the work of the school, teaching lessons and working side by side with the teachers, and the involvement of our pupils, had a very positive effect on the way the partnership is now seen by staff at the school.
Moira and I are now leaving with a clearer idea of how the Dunblane Chambe Partnership can benefit both our schools, what Chambe needs and what we may be able to help them with. The important thing now is for us to transmit our impressions, experiences to the staff and pupils of Dunblane High School so that they can share in our commitment to helping Chambe build on its development as “The most improved secondary school” in the area.
Chambe Secondary School has a roll of 405 pupils. (233 boys and 172 girls)
Pupils who qualify for secondary school have to pay. One year will cost a pupil 4650 Kwacha (approx. £20)
The teacher pupil ratio is 1:115.
School starts at 7.30 am and finishes at 3.00pm. and the day is made up of nine 40minute periods.
All classes are taught in English (except for Chichewa).
Day 1
Our first visit to Chambe was on a public holiday but some of the teachers had come in specially to meet us. When we arrived they were sitting chatting under a large mango tree in front of the school buildings. They welcomed us and introduced themselves. Ignatius Kameni, the Depute Headteacher, showed us round the school which is beautifully situated at the foot of the great granite slab of Chambe Peak.
The school consists of several single-storey brick buildings, each with two classrooms. The floors are concrete and the furnishings basic – desks and benches and a blackboard.
There is a very limited library of textbooks and an even more limited supply of science equipment – just a few glass flasks and beakers. Staff would like to have at least one microscope but they have none. There is almost no Government funding for teaching resources. We were told that Government funding is tied up and used solely for building maintenance. Teachers seemed reserved regarding the partnership. They have had many visitors and volunteers who promise them the earth and deliver nothing so they are rightly sceptical.”
Following our first visit, Moira and I felt saddened by the scale of difficulties faced by pupils and teachers. They need so much in the way of resources that it was hard to know where to begin to help.
Day 2
Moira and I had a very productive meeting with the teachers during which we exchanged information about our respective schools. The letter from Doctor White was passed over to Mr Likharuwe, the Headteacher.
We discussed the position of teachers in Malawi society – poorly paid and feel that they have low status because they live their lives within the community in the same poor conditions as everyone else. We also discussed problems faced by teachers in Malawi and Scotland and found much in common. This discussion broke the ice and the teachers became more forthcoming. We talked about priorities – what we can do to help and what they feel they most need, what they can do for us and what we and our pupils can learn from them.
The problem of communication was highlighted. Chambe does not have internet/e-mail. At present they don’t even have a landline let alone broadband connection. Mobile phones are the main form of communication. There are internet cafés which they use but internet connections are very slow and costly.
Chambe Secondary School is an hour’s walk from Likhubula. Moira and I were shown the way by Dickson, a pupil partner at Chambe. It is a very pleasant one hour walk through the villages and small farms and we were followed by many children who wanted to speak to us and have their photographs taken. In Malawi you are never alone!
Week 2
Our pupils accompanied their partners to classes in Chambe Secondary School.
Over 3 days Moira and I observed and taught some lessons. Moira had the opportunity to compare notes with the Geography teacher and taught several Geography classes.
I taught English and History lessons to Form 2 (Mr Kameni’s class) and Form 4 (Mr Kondowe’s class). Our lessons were very well received and appreciated which was very encouraging. I also assessed a speaking assignment in English and helped Mr Kondowe prepare an English exam paper for Form 4.
There are about 100 pupils in each class and the only resources available for learning are the teacher, a blackboard and a piece of chalk so it’s really back to basics. It is possible to teach and learn because the pupils are polite and well-behaved and seem anxious to learn.
On Monday morning there is a School Assembly in the courtyard outside the school. A hymn is sung and the head teacher addresses the pupils. On this occasion a reprimand was given about poor behaviour and the fact the some pupils were not wearing proper uniforms. They were told that if they didn’t conform to the rules they would be suspended for 6 weeks! To our eyes most of the pupils look very smartly turned out and would set a good example to our pupils.
Moira and I were allowed to address the Assembly to thank them for welcoming us to their school and to talk about the partnership with Dunblane High School. We talked about our impressions of Chambe Secondary School, what we have in common and what is different, our awareness of the problems they face, what we can do for them and what we can learn from them. Our little speech was well received and we were presented with a carved box of Bau carved with “Dunblane – Chambe”.
We invited the teachers to have lunch with us – a packed lunch and drinks provided by Likhulula House. Normally the teachers do not eat during the school day and neither do most of the pupils.
We gave out small gifts to the staff and took formal photos of staff and pupils. We also collected a letter for Dr White from the Headteacher. On our last day we gave out pens, one for each pupil, inscribed with “Chambe-Dunblane”.
Jonathan Smith, our technical/IT expert, did a great job, fixing the school’s computers so that all of them were functioning again. This was greatly appreciated.
By the last day we felt that the teachers were much more positive about the partnership and it is very important that we do not lose the momentum gained by our visit. The fact that Moira and I participated in the work of the school, teaching lessons and working side by side with the teachers, and the involvement of our pupils, had a very positive effect on the way the partnership is now seen by staff at the school.
Moira and I are now leaving with a clearer idea of how the Dunblane Chambe Partnership can benefit both our schools, what Chambe needs and what we may be able to help them with. The important thing now is for us to transmit our impressions, experiences to the staff and pupils of Dunblane High School so that they can share in our commitment to helping Chambe build on its development as “The most improved secondary school” in the area.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Arriving in Likhubula
Ian writes:
What an experience- when can I do it again!?
We've been asked to put up something from the trip on the blog- I also had to write a personal reflective essay for higher English so I thought I could use this for a first post. It's been cheesed up a bit in order to be suitable for English but, I hope, it gives a good impression of our journey to Likhubula. There should be more detailed posts to come but this should do for now:
In June and July 2008 I got the amazing opportunity to visit Malawi for 3 weeks. This was through the Dunblane Likhubula Link- a partnership with the community of Dunblane, Scotland and Likhubula, Malawi which I have been involved with for the past 5 years.
During the course of the trip there were so many memorable moments… arriving in Likhubula, visiting Nansato School and Chambe Secondary, getting to know our Malawian peers… just to name a few. Each experience I had there was such a special time for me that I am only going to focus on one of these in order to try and do it justice.
Arriving in Likhubula was something else. We had been travelling since Friday afternoon and had arrived in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, on Saturday lunch time, only to find our luggage was missing. We had then taken the decision to spend a night near the airport in order to pick up our bags the next day… not the start we had hoped for. A day late, we drove from Lilongwe in the north to Blantyre in the south where we spent Sunday night. Finally, we were getting close.
Driving into Likhubula for the first time is indescribable to anyone who hasn’t experienced it. Even for those who have it has changed a lot recently. As soon as you turn off from Chitikale you leave the tarmac road and enter the land of red dust! The road has been widened in preparation for becoming a tarmac road but at the moment is still just a motorway sized dirt track. New bridges have been built in preparation for the new road too… huge concrete structures to cross, at this time of year, the tiniest of streams.
The new roads will increase passing traffic, and therefore passing trade, dramatically. This is a great opportunity for the area. However, as selfish as it may sound, I don’t like the new road. Likhubula is a rural community- a nice secluded place where I felt safe (not a feeling I had when in the bigger cities). Everyone seems to know each other in Likhubula- they look out for each other. The road has cut straight through the middle of that. What the area will gain in trade and income, I feel it loses in atmosphere and character… only time will tell.
Our minibus continued to slalom its way under Vincent’s expert guidance… over the next 3 weeks he learned the exact pinpoint position of every pot hole on that road and did his utmost to avoid every single one!
We passed tea plantations- one of the things the Mulanje region is famous for. People walked along the road waving and running after us. Everyone was full to bursting with excitement- after all the planning and fundraising we were nearly there!
A few more bridges later we begin to see signs of houses. Along the right hand side of the road you can clearly see some of the first few houses of Mbewa village. The first one of these belongs to our guide, Francis.
Francis has named his house Stewart Melville House in recognition of the fact he has earned the money to build it through being guide to a group from Stewart Melville School in Scotland on
their yearly visits. Jake, a student from Stirling University who is part of the group, has visited Likhubula through Stewart Melville before and he and Francis became great friends… Francis took Jake from the bus and showed him his house- he is immensely proud of it.
This is a very poignant moment in my memory- one of the slogans the partnership has used widely in the past is “turning strangers into friends” and that’s exactly what this is a prime example of! Such an insignificant gesture meant a lot to us… for 9 of the 12 in our group this would be the first visit to Likhubula and the idea that we could end up with friendships like this was an exciting and heart-warming one. Little did we know just how many great friends we would make over the next 3 weeks.
We continued on along the road, now being followed by a fairly large crowd! We waved to everyone and they waved and smiled back- not smiling seems to be a punishable offence! This struck me several times during the trip. We mump and moan at every opportunity in Scotland. In Malawi the attitude is different- everyone is so happy and friendly- always keen to welcome you and make you more comfortable, shake your hand or listen to your feeble attempts at Chichewa!
On several occasions throughout the trip I caught myself moaning or being grumpy about certain things and, on reflection, felt a pang of guilt- what did I have to complain about? I was on the trip of a lifetime in Malawi! I have never been an incredibly negative person but being more positive is one lesson I have definitely learned from this trip- you only live once… enjoy it!
We pulled up outside a blue and white shop which we later discovered belongs to Mrs C
hamwala- Kondwani, our communication officer in Likhubula’s mum! We stepped off the bus to be greeted by singing and dancing and the shaking of many hands! Immediately we all felt welcome… it was like a home away from home- a feeling none of us could explain.
We picked out the words “unity” and “Umodzi” meaning better together in the songs they were singing… it was such a happy moment and one which I will never forget. For years now I have dreamed of visiting Likhubula and here I was surrounded by the people we have heard so much about, all singing and dancing and welcoming us to their home…
We had arrived in Likhubula.
During the course of the trip there were so many memorable moments… arriving in Likhubula, visiting Nansato School and Chambe Secondary, getting to know our Malawian peers… just to name a few. Each experience I had there was such a special time for me that I am only going to focus on one of these in order to try and do it justice.
Arriving in Likhubula was something else. We had been travelling since Friday afternoon and had arrived in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, on Saturday lunch time, only to find our luggage was missing. We had then taken the decision to spend a night near the airport in order to pick up our bags the next day… not the start we had hoped for. A day late, we drove from Lilongwe in the north to Blantyre in the south where we spent Sunday night. Finally, we were getting close.
Driving into Likhubula for the first time is indescribable to anyone who hasn’t experienced it. Even for those who have it has changed a lot recently. As soon as you turn off from Chitikale you leave the tarmac road and enter the land of red dust! The road has been widened in preparation for becoming a tarmac road but at the moment is still just a motorway sized dirt track. New bridges have been built in preparation for the new road too… huge concrete structures to cross, at this time of year, the tiniest of streams.
The new roads will increase passing traffic, and therefore passing trade, dramatically. This is a great opportunity for the area. However, as selfish as it may sound, I don’t like the new road. Likhubula is a rural community- a nice secluded place where I felt safe (not a feeling I had when in the bigger cities). Everyone seems to know each other in Likhubula- they look out for each other. The road has cut straight through the middle of that. What the area will gain in trade and income, I feel it loses in atmosphere and character… only time will tell.
Our minibus continued to slalom its way under Vincent’s expert guidance… over the next 3 weeks he learned the exact pinpoint position of every pot hole on that road and did his utmost to avoid every single one!
We passed tea plantations- one of the things the Mulanje region is famous for. People walked along the road waving and running after us. Everyone was full to bursting with excitement- after all the planning and fundraising we were nearly there!
A few more bridges later we begin to see signs of houses. Along the right hand side of the road you can clearly see some of the first few houses of Mbewa village. The first one of these belongs to our guide, Francis.
Francis has named his house Stewart Melville House in recognition of the fact he has earned the money to build it through being guide to a group from Stewart Melville School in Scotland on
their yearly visits. Jake, a student from Stirling University who is part of the group, has visited Likhubula through Stewart Melville before and he and Francis became great friends… Francis took Jake from the bus and showed him his house- he is immensely proud of it.This is a very poignant moment in my memory- one of the slogans the partnership has used widely in the past is “turning strangers into friends” and that’s exactly what this is a prime example of! Such an insignificant gesture meant a lot to us… for 9 of the 12 in our group this would be the first visit to Likhubula and the idea that we could end up with friendships like this was an exciting and heart-warming one. Little did we know just how many great friends we would make over the next 3 weeks.
We continued on along the road, now being followed by a fairly large crowd! We waved to everyone and they waved and smiled back- not smiling seems to be a punishable offence! This struck me several times during the trip. We mump and moan at every opportunity in Scotland. In Malawi the attitude is different- everyone is so happy and friendly- always keen to welcome you and make you more comfortable, shake your hand or listen to your feeble attempts at Chichewa!
On several occasions throughout the trip I caught myself moaning or being grumpy about certain things and, on reflection, felt a pang of guilt- what did I have to complain about? I was on the trip of a lifetime in Malawi! I have never been an incredibly negative person but being more positive is one lesson I have definitely learned from this trip- you only live once… enjoy it!
We pulled up outside a blue and white shop which we later discovered belongs to Mrs C
hamwala- Kondwani, our communication officer in Likhubula’s mum! We stepped off the bus to be greeted by singing and dancing and the shaking of many hands! Immediately we all felt welcome… it was like a home away from home- a feeling none of us could explain.We picked out the words “unity” and “Umodzi” meaning better together in the songs they were singing… it was such a happy moment and one which I will never forget. For years now I have dreamed of visiting Likhubula and here I was surrounded by the people we have heard so much about, all singing and dancing and welcoming us to their home…
We had arrived in Likhubula.
What an experience- when can I do it again!?
By Ian Brown
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
A Morning's Cooking
Ruth and I (Veryan) spent a lovely morning with some of the Mvano ladies, kindly arranged by Gloria and Ruth our interpreters (and Mvano members). The main role of Mvano is to help those in the community in need of assistance and this can include helping with tasks around the home, donating food and other essential items or simply being a friend to those left on their own.
Then it's time to grind the groundnuts in one of those huge wooden pestle and mortars. Both Ruth and I had a go but I noticed that the process needed a bit more attention after we'd finished. Clearly our muscles need more work.
Our first stop was at Mary's Meals to watch the women stirring the huge pots of phala that feed all the children attending Nansato Primary School.
Then it was on to visit an elderly lady who lives close by with her orphan grandaughter and grandson. We learned that this lady used to be the community midwife and she was delighted to learn that Ruth is also a midwife. We sat outside her house and talked for a while (it's amazing just how much one can communicate without a common language) and the women enjoyed looking at family photos and postcards of Dunblane that I had in my bag.
And as ever, they took great delight in seeing their own photo appear on the back of my camera! This family has very little but members of the community are clearly looking out for them and it was yet another reminder to me of the strong sense of community that we are sadly losing.
And as ever, they took great delight in seeing their own photo appear on the back of my camera! This family has very little but members of the community are clearly looking out for them and it was yet another reminder to me of the strong sense of community that we are sadly losing.Next stop was at the house of Charles Kamanga's sister who had kindly offered to show us how they go about preparing lunch. 
There's no just opening the fridge or nipping down to Tesco for a sandwich here. You start from scratch. First pick your greens at the community farming project (and I'm sure there'll be more about this excellent project elsewhere) and then settle down on a mat in the sunshine to carefully peel the stringy bits from the stalks of pumpkin leaves - I reckon I became quite adept at this in the end although I need to be faster!
There's no just opening the fridge or nipping down to Tesco for a sandwich here. You start from scratch. First pick your greens at the community farming project (and I'm sure there'll be more about this excellent project elsewhere) and then settle down on a mat in the sunshine to carefully peel the stringy bits from the stalks of pumpkin leaves - I reckon I became quite adept at this in the end although I need to be faster! 
Then it's time to grind the groundnuts in one of those huge wooden pestle and mortars. Both Ruth and I had a go but I noticed that the process needed a bit more attention after we'd finished. Clearly our muscles need more work. Round the back of houses is the kitchen area and this usually consists of a small shed with an open fire in the middle - no chimney so your eyes are soon smarting and eye infections are quite a problem here. 
There's no just turning on the cooker. First chop your wood, carefully avoiding the goats leaping out of a small window of their hut, and light your fire before putting on a pot (no handle) of water to boil, ignoring the fact that you need asbestos fingers because there's no such thing as an oven cloth. Greens, tomatoes and salt were cooked then the groundnuts added to provide much needed protein. Then it's time for a second pot of boiling water to which is added the maize flour to make nsima (the basic food of Malawi), stirring all the time. And remember the pot needs to be held on the fire and there's no oven cloth. Fortunately Ruth and I weren't expected to hold the pot but we were allowed to have a go at stirring until it was clear that again our muscles weren't up to the task of finishing off the fast thickening nsima towards the end.
There's no just turning on the cooker. First chop your wood, carefully avoiding the goats leaping out of a small window of their hut, and light your fire before putting on a pot (no handle) of water to boil, ignoring the fact that you need asbestos fingers because there's no such thing as an oven cloth. Greens, tomatoes and salt were cooked then the groundnuts added to provide much needed protein. Then it's time for a second pot of boiling water to which is added the maize flour to make nsima (the basic food of Malawi), stirring all the time. And remember the pot needs to be held on the fire and there's no oven cloth. Fortunately Ruth and I weren't expected to hold the pot but we were allowed to have a go at stirring until it was clear that again our muscles weren't up to the task of finishing off the fast thickening nsima towards the end.We were invited into the house to share our prepared meal with the female members of the 
family. We sat on a mat in the main living room eating the very tasty food with our fingers and as a treat afterwards we were offered cooked casava (tasted a little like cooked chestnut) with the most delicious honey that Charles's sister collects from her bees. I have a particular passion for good quality honey and this was one of the best ever.
family. We sat on a mat in the main living room eating the very tasty food with our fingers and as a treat afterwards we were offered cooked casava (tasted a little like cooked chestnut) with the most delicious honey that Charles's sister collects from her bees. I have a particular passion for good quality honey and this was one of the best ever.I feel very privileged to have been given a glimpse into the home life of Likhubula's women as this is something I would never have experienced as a tourist. Life may be tough but the strong sense of family and community is something I'll never forget.
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