Final Farewell for Malawi 2012

Our Malawian adventure is nearing its close, and we have had such a productive and meaningful time in this beautiful country, the Warm Heart of Africa. Much as been accomplished. Examples: Cistern Project is now in progress (funded by Rotary Club of Roanoke Valley); Morning Meetings are continued at the school with the LEA component added; students enjoyed letters written by children in Roanoke City and Roanoke County Public Schools; dictionaries were donated to the school (thank you Virginia State Reading Association); pencils and school supplies were provided for teachers and learners at Malemia Primary (thank you Maggie and students at Salem High School); handwashing stations have been repaired and reinstituted at the school; teacher desks have been made; a new group of girls have been selected for the Malawi Chibale Project; girls continue sewing handbags and learned to sew Destinie Pads this year; classrooms were painted by RU students; and the list goes on. A multitude of effort has been devoted to our beloved Malemia Primary School, and it has been such an honor to travel with the fine group of students from RU. I have learned so much from them and I have enjoyed their enthusiasm for service and learning. They are true colleagues and I know their families are proud of them. The groups traveling with us from North Carolina A&T State University and Virginia Tech have been outstanding as well. Teamwork is abundant in this group! As we prepare to leave Malawi, and as I reflect upon all these accomplishments, I know each traveler in our group is leaving a richer, more blessed person than they were before. We have learned many lessons. We have grown as teachers. We leave better human beings as a result of our being here. The love, friendship and spirit shared by our Malawian friends will live on in our hearts for a lifetime. I close with the words of Malawian William Kamkwamba, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, "I went to sleep dreaming of Malawi, and all the things made possible when your dreams are powered by your heart." ....And dream we will!

VIEWS FROM THE CLASSROOM (Caitlyn Ford, RU Elementary Education)

(Written on Tuesday....) Today was sadly our last day at Malemia Primary School. My roommate and I dreaded getting out of bed to begin our day because we never wanted this day to unfold. It feels like we just arrived in this beautiful country, yet we are already preparing to say our farewells. Arriving at the school today was a bittersweet moment. The striking reality that this was our last day with the children and teachers lingered on my heart all day, and I was fervently trying to create plans of staying in Malawi for a longer period of time. I was an emotional wreck upon waking up, and it was only going to get worse. By getting worse, I mean, the Farewell Meeting amongst the Malemia teachers and the Radford Study Abroaders. The farewell meeting is a time for reflection on the past few weeks, and it is a time for thankfulness and mutual respect. The meeting was the perfect representation of what it takes to successfully work collaboratively together: respect, gratitude, kindness, and appreciation. The goodbye speeches given by both parties, the wonderful gifts exchanged, and the delicious cake devouring, together, embodied the true meaning and outcomes of teamwork. Every person in that room had Malemia Pride, and we were all connected with one another. We all know that being loved is a vital aspect of human life, and the amount of love that was present during the Farewell Meeting was phenomenal. The effective collaboration from both sides will make all of us possess Malemia pride forever.             This trip, and especially the collaboration with the teachers from Malemia, has greatly influenced my life already. I quickly learned the importance of teamwork in achieving mutual goals. I wonder if the teachers gain the same inspiration from our visits as I gain from working together with them. I also wonder if teamwork is as influential when we are gone, as it is when we are visiting and teaching together. Finally, I wonder what the children learn from watching the collaboration between their teachers and the visitors from America.             The Farewell Meeting has shown me the importance of establishing heartfelt connections with fellow colleagues. It has also shown me that having pride, such as our mutual Malemia Pride, is an essential element in education. This entire trip has taught me that you have to be passionate and on fire for a common goal, and everyone in the group must feel equally important and involved. I hope that I have inspired the teachers and learners at Malemia in some way, because they have inspired me unimaginably in a multitude of ways.  

VIEWS FROM THE CLASSROOM (Sarah Lewis: RU Elementary Education)

Monday, being one of the last days we would be at the school, we handed out the large quantity of pencils and pens that we had brought here from home. I don’t think any of us will ever take an electric sharpener, or even a hand cranked one, for granted again after sharpening over 800 pencils by hand. We started in standard 7, and to see their faces when we walked into their class was priceless, as were all the other faces in all the other classes. Who ever knew that handing out something as simple as a pencil would get such a warm and thankful welcome. We had some extra time so Ryan, Katie and I went into the kitchen and gave out porridge while we waited for the VT girls to get there so they could see the feeding program and serve some too. After feeding, it was time for the Malawi Chibale Project's stakeholder meeting.   The stakeholder meeting is for the universities and the teachers of the schools that are part of the Chibale Project. During the meeting, we discussed the needs and dreams of the school, accomplishments that have happened at the schools, ways to help student achievement in the classrooms throughout the year and what things we could do in our yearly visits to promote student achievement. All the teachers and students had a lot of good things to put on all the lists. The most important thing I think that was said on the list of how to improve the student achievement was that there should be more structure in the classroom and more time spent in the classroom. I did LOVE playing outside with the kids every chance I get, but the reason they are at school is to learn, and I think that is something that the teachers need to really focus on. Also after reading the list, I saw that many of the things that they need/want aren’t really all that hard to do, like pencil sharpeners and maps.   After today, I came away with an appreciation of what we have in America and the resources that we take for granted so much. In the schools at home, the kids are unhappy if the computers aren’t working right, while kids here simply would like to have electricity. Also, after the stakeholder’s meeting, I saw how important it is that the Chibale Project and the teachers at the school work together to make a lot of the goals happen. Collaborating with each other, which at times I would think would be difficult, being half way around the world from each other, is key. The relationship that has been built at the school really does require work from both sides, and I see it as a good example to us as future teachers who will have to work with other people for success in all areas of our jobs. 

Life Lessons from the Children

Today, I visited a friend at Domasi College, which required a moderate walk through the village and beyond.  As I strolled along on this bright, sunny morning, I observed people humming about completing their daily chores and errands, some running businesses, others walking or biking to various locations.   Chickens strutted about, music played as I passed the barber shop and the sweet aroma of cooked food filled the air.  Children everywhere joined in, walking beside me, observing me from head to toe.  They smiled and giggled, curiously wanting to know my name.  Seeing their precious and beautiful smiles is priceless.  Several little ones wanted to touch my skin.  They gently touched my arm and then touched their own, sweeping their hands from my arm to theirs, from my hands to theirs, finally reaching to hold my hands for the remainder of the walk.  The smiles on their faces were so bright.  I couldn't stop smiling either.      Children notice differences in people, but they welcome these differences, embrace them and find joy in them.  Children seek connections and oneness, not divisions.  What wonderful life lessons can be found through the eyes of our children!

Precious Little Ones

On Saturday, we visited a nearby village community which provides homes and care for orphans, the disabled, and elderly people.  It isn't a "home" but rather a community that has dedicated itself to taking care of those who need it most.  Our group made donations of maize, sugar and other staples that will be needed during the "starving time" here -- December, January, February. The community had prepared a wide array of music, dancing and drama for our group in an effort to say 'zikomo' [thanks] for our contribution.  The skits that were performed were most entertaining.  The music encompassed drumming accompanied by traditional dancing, as well as a rhythm band, which played instruments that were made out of bottles, wood and strings, the tops of soda bottles, etc.  The creativity and thought that had gone into making those instruments was incredible!  Speeches were made, and it was a day of celebration. During the program, various children, all orphans, befriended members of our group.  One by one, they walked to one of our girls and climbed up into their laps.  It was precious.  Our RU girls had their arms full of babies, one of which fell sound asleep in Caitlyn's arms.  (I thought we might be bringing a baby back on the bus with us!).  The little one cried and cried when Caitlyn had to leave.  It made me think how children are the same everywhere -- They just want to be loved....and don't we all.     One little girl named Virginia made her way over to me during the ceremonies.  She looked to be about 7 years old and her little dress was dirty and torn.  She had a beautiful smile.  Virginia smiled, looking up at me and put her little hand in mine.  I know little Virginia and all of her precious friends are orphans and they likely have a difficult life ahead.  They need to be cared for, provided for and loved.  I am thankful that there are communities in Malawi such as this one.

VIEWS FROM THE CLASSROOM: Ryan Costello (RU Elementary Education)

                Friday we had drumming lessons with the standard 7 teacher, Innocent. He is a wonderful teacher in his classroom, and was no different during our drumming lesson. He presented the lesson and the objective before we began the lesson. We had to first learn the song we are going to sing to the teachers on Tuesday. At first we had trouble pronouncing the words in Chichewa, but with the help of Innocent by the end we were able to do it. He broke up the song into sections and had us practice singing that part over and over until we got it right. Then we did the second part of song until we got it right, and then combined them together and sang the whole thing. It was a lot of repetition, but it got us to memorize the song. He then taught us on the drums. He explained the process of the drums before we even started. The different songs consist of “Do” and “ke.” There are also father and mother sounds. After he was done describing all the logistics we began to play. The step by step process that Innocent laid out for us really made it easy for us to catch on. It was set up as a listen, play, repeat method. This made me wonder if this is a method he brought from his classroom teaching, or if this was how he was taught to play the drums. It is a great method and worked really well. This experience will help me to be a better teacher because I saw and experienced how well this method works when teaching. I will facilitate it in my classroom when teaching to ensure that my students are learning the material.  

VIEWS FROM THE CLASSROOM: Ryan Costello (RU Elementary Education)

                Today at Malemia Primary school we used the LEA approach in my standard 3 classroom as a part of our morning meeting lesson. To start the LEA portion of it we read two different letters from students in third grade in America. First we read one in English and then had our cooperating teacher, John, translate it for the students in Chichewa; we then did the same process for the second letter. After words, with the help of John, we asked them how they would like to respond to the letter. They decided since one of the letters from America talked about the game tag they wanted to respond telling American children about the African game of Fly. The game of Fly is very similar to the game of dodge ball that we have in the States. As the students told John what they wanted to say we wrote it on the board for them; one side in English and the other side in Chichewa. After writing each sentence of the letter on the board we had the students read it out loud, first in English and then in Chichewa. When the letter was completed as a class we all read it together. Then the students were asked to write the letter down in their notebooks in both English and Chichewa. We took two of the handwritten letters to send back to the American students.                 During this process I found myself wondering how American children and African children would get along if one day they were both placed to learn in the same classrooms. Two different cultures, who are almost polar opposites, put into the same learning environment. It is weird to think about because a big part of teaching is teaching students new material from the environment around them. The environment in Africa is much different from the environment in America. I am sure the children would play really well together, but the real question is would they learn well together. This thought process then lead me into another thought: What would happen if American students had to go to an African school and African students had to go to an American school. What would their reactions be? Thinking about it now, when I was in elementary school I didn’t even know very much about life outside of my own life. I knew there were poor people in the world but I didn’t know to what extent, and I definitely didn’t appreciate everything that I had. Now that I am older and have seen developing countries I realize exactly how important it is to teach our students about the world in which they live in. The experience today will help me not only become a better person, but a better teacher as well. As a teacher I will teach my students about diversity and different cultures. My goal is that my students won’t grow up to think that their culture is the “right” culture. Instead I want them to embrace the diversity of cultures around them, and learn the true meaning of acceptance. 

VIEWS FROM THE CLASSROOM: Sarah Lewis (RU Elementary Education)

Today at school and after school was a day of celebration. Celebrating why we are even here in the first place, to help the students at our schools to succeed and hopefully go onto secondary school, was the occasion.  Before celebrating, it was a normal teaching day, Ryan and I sat in our room and attempting all we could do of morning meeting without having anyone in the classroom to translate for us. After completing what we could, it was porridge time, after which we had someone to translate so we finished morning meeting. It didn’t go as well as it did Monday, but we were just happy to have someone in the classroom to translate so the students could understand us. By the time morning meeting was finished, it was time to go and meet the new ten girls. Our school was sponsoring ten girls in primary school to try to help them stay in school and hopefully make it to secondary school. Out of the first ten, four are still in the program with one actually in secondary school, Annie. Jennifer spoke to the girls and their mothers about the program and how we are there to help and support them. Annie, and two other of the girls were there, the fourth girl was in Lilongwe, but her mom was there on her behalf. After giving these girls backpacks, we went on to give the ten new girls a t-shirt and some pencils. The new girls ranged from standards 5-7, so some of them have a few years until they have to take the Standard 8 exam, and others only a year. I hope that all the girls can pass the Standard 8 exam and get into secondary school. After the Head teacher, Esther, spoke about the responsibilities of the parents in this partnership were, some of the mothers spoke. They were all so thankful for the opportunity that their daughters are now going to receive. That’s one thing I really like about the people here, they are so thankful for anything and everything that someone does for them, no matter how big or small. In this group of moms, there was one man. I didn’t learn why until later in the afternoon, but nonetheless, it was very moving to hear why he was the only man there. One of our new girls, Ellen, is an orphan. This man was her grandfather. He told Jennifer that he was thankful for her being selected to be in the program, because he was concerned about her education. He was an older man and unsure about how long he may be around, but now he didn’t have to worry. That was just so amazing to me; I know how hard it is to deal with life, missing two major parts of your life, and here is a little girl in standard five who is dealing with it, and obviously showing promise to be chosen to be one of the girls in our program. And with the support from a grandfather who cares for her, hopefully she will go far and be very successful in all she does. It’s a girl like this who can really make a difference one day, and I hope and pray that she is given that chance. After our celebration of the new girls in our program at our school, we walked over to the Demonstration School to meet the students in secondary school who receive scholarships from the Malawi Chibale project. Annie is one of the students that receives a scholarship, and she is the only one in this group that is from our primary school. There were quite a few students who do, and it was wonderful to see that our little society actually makes a difference in these kids’ lives. This day really taught me that there are kids in the world that really cherish education and really want the chance to go to school. I really think that if a child wants to go to school, he/she should be given that chance; no matter how much money their family has or does not have. Hopefully when I am back at school, I will no longer dread going to school, knowing that there are kids here that would do so much to be in my place. 

Monkey in the Sugar Bowl

One funny little story about Mvuu Camp....While waiting to go on the jeep ride yesterday, we enjoyed tea and coffee in the open-air lobby at Mvuu.  A brave and very naughty monkey decided that she, too, would enjoy an afternoon snack.  She jumped upon the main table and put her whole face in the sugar bowl.  She emerged with a mouth full of sugar, and off she went!  Moments later, she came back for more.  When people tried to shoo her away, she wasn't having any of it.  She picked up sugar that had been spilled on the table, hissed at those shooing her and jumped into a tree.  She sat there contently, watching us drink our tea, licking her sugary face.  The workers at Mvuu were totally annoyed, but we thoroughly enjoyed our monkey friend's antics.  It was entertainment at its wildest and best! This morning, our naughty monkey friend joined us for breakfast, promptly snatching a pancake from someone's breakfast plate!  ....Ahhh, a monkey's life is a sweet one, indeed!

All Things Bright and Beautiful

For the last two days, our group visited Mvuu Camp for an African safari experience.  Mvuu means "hippo" and there was certainly an abundance of hippos to see!   We first boarded a jeep and went into the black rhino sanctuary with our guide Angel.  Angel is the best it gets as far as guides go.  He is a knowledgeable, witty and engaging guide.  On our land safari, we spotted kudu, sable antelope, impala, and heart beasts.  We even saw one zebra, oh what a sight it was, as well as an elephant!  It was an amazing feeling to be out in the wild in an open air jeep, quietly searching for wildlife.  I could have spent all day long in that environment, soaking up every sound, movement, smell and sight. At sunset, we met the rest of the group to watch the sunset together.   It was the most beautiful scene in the world.  As the sun went down, what seemed like millions of stars twinkled in the African sky.  It is a sight and feeling I am unable to describe.  A guide pointed out particular stars, such as Sirius, as well as constellations including the Southern Cross and Scorpio.   We drove on, now with a second guide in the front of the jeep holding a light to spot animals.  At one point, Angel stopped the vehicle and suggested we "stop and listen to the tranquility of the wilderness."  Crickets chirped, frogs croaked and insects buzzed in the cool night air.  In the distance, we heard hippos and the grass moving in the slight breeze.  Stars abounded in the night sky.   It was so peaceful, and I was overwhelmed with awe.  Never in my life did I ever think I would have the most wonderful experience of experiencing the tranquility of the wilderness in Africa -- and more than once in this lifetime is beyond my wildest dreams!  I am blessed. On the nighttime safari, we spotted three whitetail mongeese, hippos resting along the river bank, and another elephant.  This morning, we went on a sunrise walk with Angel as our guide and Frank as a gunman.  Angel reminds me so much of my father.  He knows every animal track, studies the droppings of animals, and examines the trees and the surroundings to determine where they have been, where they are and where they are headed.  Angel is in his element out there, just as my dad is in the mountains.  We followed elephant tracks, but only saw some wart hogs sleeping (which I think are adorable -- they're so ugly they're cute).  Angel taught us about indigenous remedies for various illnesses, and pointed out an array of birds.  It was a beautiful start to the day. We also went on a river safari this morning.  Words cannot adequately describe the majesty and grandeur of elephants as they gather at the watering hole in the morning. Crocodiles bask in the sun, and hippos gather in their family groups to cool themselves in the shallow water.  Birds dive for fish and send glorious melodies across the land.  Impalas, wart hogs and water bucks congregate at the river for drinks.  It is nature at its best.   When I think about all of the wonders we experienced on the Mvuu adventure, I think about what God said about his Creation in Genesis:  "He saw all that He had made, and it was very good."

VIEWS FROM THE CLASSROOM: Caitlyn Ford (RU - Elementary Education)

Last year, the students from Radford introduced morning meetings to the teachers and students of Malemia Primary, and today we reintroduced morning meetings. Morning meetings have four important parts that make it a success: Greeting, Sharing, a Group activity, and News, Announcements, and Calendar time. In all honesty, I was extremely nervous that my planned morning meeting for standard two was going to be a complete disaster, especially with introducing the Language Experience Approach (LEA). LEA is crucial for second-language learners, because it allows students to express their ideas in one language and see the translation simultaneously. The sharing part of my morning meeting revolved around LEA, and it was beyond successful. The students were interested in teaching me about the kinds of foods that they eat in Malawi, raising their hands eagerly and yelling, “Teach” aloud to get my attention. I was so excited, and my cooperating teacher was more than willing to translate the students’ English into Chichewa. It was like a light bulb went off in some of the students’ brains when they were able to see the English sentence with its Chichewa translation. I will never forget the feeling of pure joy that I felt today; I was thrilled to not only see my class’ enthusiasm, but to also see my class grasp the content quickly. My favorite moment from today actually happened after school. As we were walking down the dirt road towards the Demonstration School, some of my standard 2 students yelled out, “Cait, what kinds of fruit do you eat?” The students remembered that they taught me about the kinds of food they eat, and they were now ready for me to tell them about the types of food I eat. I think my heart melted. Again, this feeling of joy rushed over me because my students really did enjoy my morning meeting, because it was meaningful to them.             After witnessing the effects of LEA today, it makes me wonder if teachers in Malawi would implement LEA in their classrooms if they were taught its components properly. I really do believe that the children would learn English much easier if they were presented with English and Chichewa simultaneously. I just wonder how much effort it would take to encourage and show teachers how to incorporate LEA into their classes. Would LEA make a profound impact on the students in Malawi?             My experience today will definitely make me a stronger teacher. My professors always stress the importance of gearing the curriculum towards the students’ interests. My “sharing” aspect of morning meeting showed me how much interaction and eagerness you can evoke from students if the material captures their attention instantly; my experience today put my professors’ advice into reality. The students loved the idea of teaching me about the foods they eat, and this simple aspect of the morning meeting definitely opened my eyes as a future teacher. 

My Students

I have six wonderful and dedicated students from Radford University on this study abroad adventure this year. They have each been teaching in two classrooms each day at Malemia Primary School. In the mornings, they teach a primary grade, and in the afternoon after the young ones "knock off", they teach an upper grade for the remainder of the day. They work hard, planning and preparing lessons each day. I will be featuring "Views from the Classroom" in future posts related to our school activities, which will be authored by my students. I hope you enjoy!

Music, Music Everywhere!

We have had two days filled with music galore!  Yesterday, we walked into the bush to Malika Catholic Church for a choir performance.  The walk there is a part of the treat.  There are no cars, just walkers and people on bicycles, with village houses sprinkled along throughout the walk.  Little children came out, smiled and waved, greeting us along the way.   Many tagged along with us for the duration of the walk. When we arrived at the church, we were met with the beautiful sound of the choir exclaiming, "You are welcome."  We were seated and treated to a most blessed array of praise and worship songs.  Songs expressed how blessed we are to be God's children, how amazed we are with His Creation and how Love should be our daily weapon.  Children from the church sat with us, many sitting on our laps, which made everyone smile.  Of course, my Gerald and two of his friends accompanied us.  Gerald served as my "photographer" for the event, as he has learned to use my camera better than I know how to use it! The leader of the choir presented us with gifts.  They gave us a bag of bananas and a bag of rice.  This touched my heart, because I know it was the best they had to give.  The music was our treat and our blessing, but it was important to them to present us with gifts. When we returned to Annie's Lodge, we were treated to a long and delightful night of music.  Both Limbani and Lucias Banda performed.  These are two of the biggest music stars in Malawi and their music has a reggae style to it. They sing as voices of the people, sharing about the woes of poverty, social justice, and promoting love.  I danced and danced.  It is a night I will never forget.  The students had a wonderful time, too. Today, we participated in our first drumming lesson at the school.  Innocent and Ralph, two teachers at the school, taught us about how to make the "du" and "ke" sounds on a drum, and we practiced various patterns.  It was a great time! The music of Malawi, in all of its forms, is full of meaning, message, and passion.  My heart dances each time I hear it.

Teaching & Learning (and Dancing) in Malawi

Today was our first full day in the school.  We boarded our bus at 8:30am and arrived at Malemia Primary by 9:00am.  RU students observed in the classrooms and met with their teachers.  Each RU student was given a lesson to teach for tomorrow.  Some are teaching English/Vocabulary, others Math and some Expressive Arts and Social Science.  They are very excited, and perhaps a bit nervous, too, which is to be expected.  I have a great group this year, so I know they will be fabulous! The children at Malemia Primary School are most welcoming to us visitors.  They circled around us during feeding time today, eager to touch our hands and ask us our names.  A few toddlers wandering around in the school yard seemed to be sizing us up.  I'm sure we're quite a sight to little ones such as these who have never seen visitors like us before! In Standard 7 class today, the students were learning about dancing in Expressive Arts . They discussed the various dances that take place during holidays, festivals, etc. in their village community.  One of our RU students asked if she could see an example of some of the examples being discussed.  At that, drums were brought out and the students began to dance and dance and dance.  It was great!  Before we knew it, we became a part of the dance lesson, doing our best to keep up with the footwork, the rhythm and the arm movements, too.   We certainly got our workout for the day (who needs Zumba when you can dance in Malawi?!?)!  I'm sure we provided much material for laughter among the students and teachers, too!  It was a good day!

A Blessed Day

Today we went to Calvary Church in Zomba.  Our friend Kennedy met us at 8:30am to take us on a "short walk" to the church.  We arrived around 9:15am.  It was a beautiful walk. Everyone was out and about on their way to worship services. The sun was shining brightly. The church members were most welcoming, and the components of the service were much like ours in the USA. The music was spirit-filled and energetic.  I absolutely love the passion in which Malawians worship through song and praise.  They sang an active song that expressed, "Jehovah turned my life around;  Jehovah is the only way;  Jehovah has the final say."  There was a short message about giving, and then the church was invited to place their offerings at the altar.  Not only was money placed at the altar, but soap, food, toiletries, and even two chickens -- live ones!  (Those of you who know me well know that I am most terrified of chickens.  This took me aback a bit, but I remained calm!).  Malawians are joyful givers.  It touches me to know that they do not have the resources we do; yet, they give with all their hearts and with all they have.  If only we could do the same in our churches at home.  The preacher then called the leaders of our group (Pat, Sharon and me) to the altar, and he said a most beautiful prayer, asking God to bless our trip, anoint our work here, and to protect us throughout our journey.  It touched my heart, and made me cry a bit.  The sermon was about how to be imitators of Christ, and it focused on how we should love one another, make prayer a daily habit, rely on God's word for guidance and have faith in His Word.  It was a good message, and the speaker went into great detail.  The gospel message was shared with love abounding. It was a blessed way to begin the day.   On our way home from church, I experienced a wonderful surprise!  My little boy, Gerald, passed us along the road on his bike.  When I saw him, I screamed with joy.  He got off of his bike and hugged me.  I have known Gerald since he was 7 years old;  he is now 12 and only about 2 inches shorter than me.  He has grown so much, and still has his sense of humor and adorable smile.  He is so very special to me. We have a special bond and I am convinced that God has placed us in one another's paths for a special reason. Gerald is one of the people I most wanted to see here.  After our greeting, he turned direction and accompanied me to Annie's Lodge where we enjoyed an afternoon of Coca Cola, snacks, and good conversation.  ....A Blessed Day, Indeed!

Greetings from Malawi!

After a long journey, we have finally arrived! Our first two days in Lilongwe were lovely. We toured Freedom Gardens to learn about permaculture. We toured this beautiful garden spot, filled with a variety fruits and vegetables. We learned about how this entire farm grows all of its food pesticide- and fertilizer-free. It sustains itself. Instead of using harmful chemicals, they use natural ways to prevent pests and nourish the soil. Our students made natural pesticides on the tour, used a hoe in the garden and learned about irrigation. We then enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by one of the original owners, Mrs. Chichunta. I enjoyed beans, rice, sweet potatoes, corn muffins and tea. It was heavenly. The entire experience made me reflect about how in His creation, God has provided us with ALL we need to live, and live well, in this world. Nature is His artwork and His provision for us. In our American culture, we often don't use it wisely. During the talk, I also thought about two dear people who are no longer with us on this earth. Dr. Chichunta, who founded Freedom Gardens many years ago was in my mind. He passed away a few years ago, but his work lives on in the garden. He always talked to the students about starting small in order to learn how to manage problems, money and resources, then move on to gradually grow big in order to reduce debt and to achieve prosperity. It is a good lesson for all. I also thought about my dear friend Absalom Phiri, who introduced us to this garden (which I'm sure resembles the Garden of Eden somewhat), many years ago. Absalom was killed in a tragic car accident only a couple of months ago. He was captivated by this approach to agriculture and the use of natural science. His spirit lives on in the work being done there as well. As I listened to Daniel Chichunta sharing with us about all of these things, I imagined his father and his friend Absalom would have been so proud of him. We also visited the schools today. It is always a joy for my students to meet the learners at our school. We were greeted with hearty handshakes and hugs, songs and smiles. My RU girls were in their element and readily embraced the joy of it all. It was a good day. Tomorrow, we will go to town to purchase fabric to make Malawian dresses made. I am very excited! The students are wonderful -- excited, energetic and thoughtful. I am honored to travel with them.

Malawi Here We Come!

I am most excited to be returning to my beloved Malawi, Africa in the coming days.  I am thankful to have this opportunity.  I look forward to seeing all of my friends there.  Malawi makes me feel alive.  It is my second home.

This year, I will be accompanied by Radford University faculty member, Dr. Brooke Blanks and six bright and adventurous young women who are students in the College of Education & Human Development at RU.  Traveling with us will be faculty and students from Virginia Tech and North Carolina A&T.  I always enjoy our travel groups, getting to know each individual and collaborating to serve our school communities there. 

This Malawi study abroad program is a unique service learning opportunity for students, in which they work/teach in a village school (Malemia Primary School) in Malawi.  We hold class in the afternoons.  We participate in cultural explorations and events as well.  Students participate as active members of the Malawi Chibale Project. 

The Malawi Chibale Project was founded in 2007 when students from Radford University, Virginia Tech and North Carolina A&T learned that $100 could feed up to 1,000 school children twice a week for 7 months!  Since then, the project has established an ongoing feeding program at Malemia Primary School, a scholarship program for students to earn secondary education and a girls’ project aimed to encourage girls to stay in school. 

The Malawi Chibale Project continues to embrace new projects each year with the partnership of organizations and individuals in the community.  This year, students and the Malemia Village community will build a water harvesting cistern for Malemia Village, which will be a life-changing project for this community.  Thank you to the Rotary Club of the Roanoke Valley for sponsoring this meaningful project in-full, and thanks to the many individuals who contributed to the Rotary fundraising effort for this cause.  Blacksburg Presbyterian Church houses our project and is most wonderful part in every way. I appreciate all BPC does to support and pray for the project.   The Virginia State Reading Association has donated a collection of English Picture Dictionaries for the school, which will be most useful to the students as they strive to learn English.  The Community Bible Study (Blacksburg Evening Class) has donated Bibles for the school, a contribution that will be most appreciated and valued  by the teachers and students.  Maggie R with the Salem High School Interact Club organized a pencil and school supply drive that literally has equipped us with hundreds of pencils, pens etc. to give to the students and teachers at Malemia Primary School.  Alpha Delta Kappa has contributed to our project in gracious and generous ways this year, as well as the Business Men's Club in Roanoke.  And, countless individuals have lifted up prayers and/or donated funds to our efforts to make a very big difference in one small, but special, corner of the world this year. 

We'll soon be "off" to see the world!  I look forward to sharing our adventures with you along the way!