Living with HIV has always been tricky. There’s always a lot to deal with. Raphael Nkosi a village Headman at Ekaiweni village, T/A Mtwalo in Mzimba District, however, finds it easier now that he has disclosed his status in the open. Here is Raphael’s story.
In order to raise awareness of our partner organisation - the Centre for Girls and Interaction (CEGI) - and our involvement as Progressio ICS volunteers we decided to organise a Community Football and Netball Tournament at our local community ground. As one of our main targets on our programme is to promote HIV testing and counselling (HTC) to as many young people as possible, we also planned to offer free HIV testing.
Working well in a cross cultural team is one of the most important aspects of being on an ICS placement. Everyone has different experiences on their project so we thought for this blog, as we are coming up to the mid-term review with Progressio, it would be good to hear from a few of our team members reflecting on their time here so far. Here they share their thoughts and personal experiences of life and work in Malawi…
“The placement has so far been successful, since we started we have been engaged in many different activities due to the awesome team participation.
Team CEGI arrived in Mzuzu on 9 July after a week of in-country orientation in Lilongwe. We have met our Malawian volunteers, been introduced to nsima, and learnt a few basic Chitumbuka phrases. We were ready for Malawian life!
Three weeks living and working alongside national volunteers in beautiful Malawi has given us some of the most rewarding, hilarious and often bizarre experiences you could imagine, as well as providing a few challenges and cultural differences to deal with along the way! Here are some of the things we’ve learned so far….
1. How delighted people will be if you speak even half a sentence of the local language
2. That admitting to not liking football is possibly worse than murder!
Our team of 10 UK volunteers arrived in Rumphi, Northern Malawi, on the 10 July, ready and excited to start work with the local environmental and agricultural organisation, SPRODETA (Small Producers, Development and Transporters Association). After the first few days of settling into our host homes, we began work with our lovely national volunteers. Together, we decided to name our team ‘Mapiri’, which translates into Chitumbuka as ‘mountain’, inspired by the fact that Rumphi is situated in a small, green valley surrounded by the most majestic mountains.
After a week of much travelling from England to Lilongwe then on to Mzuzu, our project work with our partner organisation, Tovwirane, is starting to take shape. The team is growing in confidence and getting to know each other. We are taking each day one step at a time and hoping to play a major part in making a difference by educating target groups and changing perceptions about HIV & AIDS in Mzuzu.
In Malawi, young volunteers have been given a green light to make the most of their innovation and passion on the ICS programme. It has already had significant impact on the community, and here is just one of many stories of how one village is benefitting from working with a fantastic group of devoted young people.
WELCOME TO MALAWI
Utter amazement - the best way to describe our journey so far. From the moment we stepped off the plane in Lilongwe (Malawi’s capital) we could feel the buzz and enthusiasm from our national volunteers as they cheered and shouted at us from the terminal balcony.
Welcome to Africa. That’s what went through my head when I stepped into the assembly hall. Three hundred plus kids in a tiny hall and more piling in. Hordes of kids standing on tables trying to get a decent view.
Petrified. Complete and utter fear. So many expectant eyes and faces staring at us. Who was going to make the first move?
When we could put it off no longer, ‘Monile mose!’ (hello everyone) was met with a roar of approval and laughter - we haven’t quite grasped the accent yet.
