ICS Malawi

Girls’ education is among the things that the Malawi Government is encouraging in the country, as part of the “50:50 Campaign” to achieve equal opportunities for both men and women. The government is working towards Millennium Development Goal 3; to promote gender equality and empower women.

To support this, Team Sapitwa visited Providence Girls' Secondary School with a career-guidance training session.  The main aim of the session was to inspire the girls by bringing in talks on different careers from volunteers who have “been there and done it” or are still underway. 

Poor waste management is one of the biggest problems affecting Malawi’s Environmental sector. Imagine the consequences: people throw litter regardless of where they are, even if there is a waste bin nearby, people still choose to throw litter anyhow. On public transport you see people throwing litter through the window, walking down the streets you see people throwing litter anywhere. Have you ever wondered what will happen to that litter if it piles up? Who is responsible for keeping Malawi clean?

International Rural Women’s Day is an International celebration led by the United Nations; celebrating and honoring the role rural women play in the world. The day falls on 15th October each year, where it recognizes the importance of women in enhancing agricultural and rural development worldwide. 

In Malawi, Team Sapitwa chose to celebrate the day with an awareness campaign at Njedza Secondary School in Mulanje, with the theme “A Chance to Choose”.

Mulanje Mountain is a monadnock (an isolated rock) in Southern Malawi, rising sharply from the surrounding plains of Chiradzulu, and the tea growing Mulanje district. It measures approximately 572km 2 22x26 Kilometers (13x16 208 sq miles) and has a maximum elevation of 3,002 m at its highest point Sapitwa Peak. 

The elevation of the mountain is great enough for it to disturb upper level air flow and form its own microclimate making it an important source of water for almost every river that runs through this part of Malawi.

My name is Ethel Msusa, I am 23 years old and single, I have a Malawi School Leaving Certificate which I obtained in 2012. I also have a certificate of attendance in Electronics.

On 21st October my team and I went to Mfera Health Centre where we conducted a meeting with the Chisomo and Tigwilizane support groups.

If Malawi is the Warm Heart of Africa, then Mulanje is its Aorta- the largest and greatest blood vessel, where the lifeblood of the country is at its richest. We may be biased, but a week at the foot of the Mulanje Massif has convinced us that our travel-weary bodies have reached the right destination.

Team Saptiwo is based in the south-eastern corner of Malawi, flanked by Mozambique and enjoying the unique microclimate of the Mulanje

Team Malawi is made up of three placement groups: Ungweru (translated as ‘Light – Jesus’ Light Shining on the Community’), WESM (Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi) and COWLHA (Coalition of Women [and girls] Living with HIV and AIDS). However, for the sake of this blog – we are, collaboratively, Team Malawi!

Over the past week, as part of our in-country orientation, we have received a thought provoking cultural workshop covering topics ranging from etiquette for men and women within the home to gender roles at a funeral, birth, marriage and other cultural rituals. 

Located in perhaps the most dramatic settings of Malawi, our Progressio ICS team have been diligently working our way through the inner and surrounding areas of Mulanje. The past eight weeks have, for many of us, been an extremely steep learning curve, each of us gaining and contributing in different ways. Mulanje Massif is at the heart of all our training and campaigning and being such a crucial source of natural resources, this majestic geological formation sustains the communities that surround it.

HIV is prevalent in every country throughout the world. Here in Malawi HIV and AIDS affects over 11% of the population, with 95% of those infected living in rural communities. Although they do have access to medication they do not always have access to the support. Those who are HIV positive can sometimes face stigmatisation, low self – esteem and isolation of themselves from others, and often they have no one to turn to for support. In Mzuzu Ungweru have organised and help set up Aids Support Groups (ASG) in the rural communities.