‘Pssst Pssst, Azungu Azungu!’ is shouted over at us as we step out the door to board the minibus to work. This morning call is heard often from the bicycle taxi operators who work outside...
Malawi is a very beautiful and vibrant country and the first thing you notice is the Malawian peoples’ friendliness. Although overwhelming at first to us Brits, you soon become accustomed and find yourself saying ‘Monile!’ (‘Hello!’) to complete strangers.
One of the most unique aspects of the ICS programme is the opportunity to exchange culture with a group of national volunteers. For Team Zeneko in Mzuzu, Malawi, both the UK and national volunteers have learnt a lot from each other already. For the UK volunteers, living and working alongside local people has provided a wholesome and authentic view of Malawian life.
ICS has three main objectives: project impact, personal development and active citizenship. Really, though, all three come hand in hand. While of course I embarked on this adventure, in part, to make a positive difference to the lives of the poor and marginalised people Progressio work with, in truth I largely wanted to develop my own personal skills (forgive me).
HIV is not a death sentence. As our first week of presentations roll to a close, the classrooms and village halls we conduct them in erupt into a chorus of chanting as our audience echoes back this statement, again and again, growing louder and more affirmed in their belief in this reality.
In a country devastated by the effects of HIV, we aim to shine a light on the people living with the disease and encourage them that life does not end with their diagnoses.
Two weeks in and Team Chinombo have finally got to work in Rumphi with the local communities. After weeks of planning, it was great to get started with work in a very challenging and rewarding week for the team. Even after the first week we had already encountered various scenarios, which have challenged the team but everybody has pulled together and managed to overcome them. Before we got to work the team was split into three groups to maximise the amount of different projects we could visit each day.
Malawi is such a beautiful country and every day I find myself being slightly more in love with it! On Thursday 15 of October it was Mother’s Day and it’s celebrated here with a national holiday. For Malawians, family is not only who you live with, it’s a support system, a way of life and a personal responsibility. Families are huge in comparison, with everyone being a cousin, aunt, uncle, brother or sister, so you can therefore imagine the hype and celebrations that take place on a holiday like Mother’s Day!
Volunteering is one of the most empowering things that I have done. This placement has allowed me live out my dream and I can now see myself achieving one of my goals in life because of this opportunity.
Our placement has been successful so far. This is because of how well organised people are on our placement. Both UK and national volunteers work to the best of their ability according to our target. Team work has been encouraged since we started and this has made everyone enjoy their work and roles.
Having now been in Malawi for just over three weeks, the constant pointing and the shouts of ‘Azungu’ (white people) has become part of my every day routine. Over the last ten days we’ve had training on sexual reproductive health, cultural and traditional differences and issues affecting the Malawian youths of today, including early child marriages, school dropouts and HIV & AIDS.
This time last week I was sat in an East London start-up office, a Britney Spears head set on, trying to squeeze every last penny out of a spoiled American tourist. Fast forward seven days and I find myself in the Department for International Development (DFID), in Lilongwe. I’m surrounded by 25 other young volunteers, all aged 18-25 and all wearing the same t-shirt as me.
