Visiting school and library

The way I see it, education is of crucial importance not just for better future of Malawi but for any possibility of improving the living standards of its citizens. Unfortunately only a percentage of children (maybe half) have a chance of getting education.  Attending school is not legally mandatory and it is costly. For many rural families it is unrealistic to send even one child to school and those families usually have several children. The public school system is struggling with huge class sizes lack of resources and consequently low standards of learning. Private schools are in a little better shape and classes are thought in English. James of buildingmalawi.com, took me to visit a private school where he couches ball games, I ended up giving art lessons to primary students for three days. They seemed to be very amused and loved the balloons I give them at the end of the class.  

Private elementary school, Lilongwe

Yellow Room class enjoys the balloons

Red Room class enjoys the balloons

Green Room class enjoys the balloons

During lunch break children play outside.

Everybody plays on a large field behind the school

The children crowd around me as soon as they see the camera.

They love posing for pictures.

The crowd of children is getting bigger and closer.

James to the rescue.

 Our next stop was Falls Satellite Library, which was built by buildingmalawi.com and passed over to the government, who runs it to benefit the local community.  The library is small and always full of students to capacity, with others waiting outside for room to get in.

Falls Satellite Library, Lilongwe.

Director of the library showing me around

A room for young children is filled with older students during school hours

The director points to empty book shelves 

Lots of room for books on the shelves, but not enough room for eager students

A beginning of a new library, in community of Lengadzi.

This is a current project of buildingmalawi.com  which still requires fundraising and volunteering effort to be completed. A large lot of land was purchased and the plans are to build also a secondary school and a medical clinic much needed in this very poor community.

Two months after

And I am absolutely amazed how fast the time is moving. I was stressing and fussing and getting ready to go, then I went, I've traveled to Africa. I came back and even though I've seemingly picked up my life where I've left it, it's not the same.  I am still processing what I saw and witnessed, what I've  experienced, what I've figured out and  what I still haven't, and what I may never figure out anyway. My emotions are heightened and "all over the map" and I am far from feeling any kind of balance. One may say I am still on the journey, but now I am ready to share some of my pictures with you, that may be a part of it.

My first stop in Malawi - Lilingwe, the capital city. Camp Mabuya is a very popular tourist stop on the outskirts of town with lots of young whites coming through any time of year: travelers, missionaries, volunteers etc.     

My accommodations at Camp Mabuya  

My room inside.

The regular evening companions

    

Surroundings

My first walk to the city center -about two km.

Suburban street, pretty typical

Closer to the city, traffic on the bridge.

Local market

Street vendors

Mosque

City street scene

Shopping centre

Bank and the green tower -my orientation point

Way back home before dark

The next day, James from Building Malawi took me around and showed me this little nursery where babies, who had other ways no chance of survival, stayed and were looked after until about the age of two.

Ministry of Hope Crisis Nursery

 

Going through the city I took this picture of a beautiful woman going to the market. Through James, I asked permission to take her picture, she was not too agreeable thinking that I will make a lot of money on her photo and she won't get any of it, but by the time James translated to me her long speech, I have already snapped, not wanting her to move away.
   

Woman on her way to the market

Two months to go

December was a busy month and I didn't have much time to write. Now, with two months left till my departure, I am in a high state of getting ready, there is a list of things still to be done, like getting vaccinated, getting tickets and reservations, and renewing my passport. On the other hand I have done a lot of research and planning and gathering of things to take with me for the children.

Toys, books, games, puzzles, art and crafts supplies, etc.

I am preparing to do art projects with the children.

Some supplies I will take with me but some I am planning to buy there. I have been raising funds for this by painting, and I wanted to say thank you so very much to everyone  who commissioned a painting from me. It means a lot and helps a great deal. To see that work you may check my website: www.elizabethkozlowski.com


One exciting project, that I am planning to do with the older children from each house in the village, is making necklaces for gifts to their "mothers". I have been collecting glass beads for some time, and presently I am practicing myself, so that I know how to instruct the children. I figured out two things:1. it's not easy!! and 2. I have enough beads to decorate not just the mothers but the whole village. I guess, the girls will be happy to make also jewelry for themselves.

A whole lot of beads

Lunzu

The SOS Children's Villages organization protects and supports the most vulnerable children by building and running orphanages in many areas of the glob. In Malawi, Africa they have three, so far, Lilongwe since 1994, Mzuzu, and Blantyre, which opened the door just 5 years ago. There were hopes that a fourth orphanage will be constructed  this year, but I haven't heard about it, yet.
The Blantyre Village is where I will be going. It is actually located in Lunzu on the outskirts of the biggest Malawian city  Blantyre.

Children in SOS Village

 What I like about the way it works is that the children are living in small homes of about ten children and a care giver, which they call mother. So, the Village is is a cluster of homes and in Lunzu there are ten, which  means approx. 150 children.
The SOS Children's Villages also supports the surrounding communities in many ways, they build schools, nurseries and medical clinics, and they run a far reaching Family Strengthening Program, which benefits children in the community.
I am going there to see all that.

Children in SOS Village

Tujire lives in Lunzu and it seems that she is one of the oldest children there, the  majority of children are very young, it seems that most are in primary school. I hear that Tujire is good with helping the younger ones and guiding them through their chores.
I am not sure if they all have things like mosquito nets, electric light, not to mention food, clean water, seeds for the garden, and maybe books and toys because they are children.
The global economy is effecting the orphanages and they are struggling.

http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/sponsor-a-child/africa/malawi/blantyre-village-report

Banana bread anybody?

Since my decision to go to Africa I am getting a lot of encouragement and support from friends, and friends of friends. All of the sudden I am talking to people I've never met before who have advice, who want to help, who know someone who went to Africa and is willing to share ideas and experience.
The most impressive woman I've talked to is Barb Giraud, who bakes banana bread to raise money for children in Africa. Her story started with a visit to Uganda and developed into an unbelievable and awesome project. I admire her tremendously and wonder where does her energy come from? The power of human will is amazing.
There is Barb's remarkable story - her blog below.




http://jaajabarbshomeofangels.blogspot.com/

A little girl named Tujire

 A little girl named Tujire

Just painted this portrait of Tujire from a picture that  was sent to me when I first started sponsoring her. In the picture she was 10 years old. Oh, I know it's hard to believe. She was new to the orphanage then and she probably lived through too much already.  Well, I trust that she got her childhood back, or at least a part of it. She now lives in a safe home, goes to school, she learned to do her chores, help others, she is a kind and a  responsible young girl.  Her 14th birthday is coming up very soon, she grew and so did her hair, and she smiles now.
I am very much looking forward to seeing her in person and the other 150 children in the orphanage. I want to see their every day life, hear their stories, hope their hope. I want to see the country village and the lives of people there, I want to see the whole picture and make sense of it. I think, I know what to expect, but then, I think it's a bit arrogant to think so. I can only wish that something good comes from my visit and that my help matters. I am grateful for SOS Children's Villages organization  soschildrensvillages.ca and the wonderful work they are doing to help children in desperate need all around the world.

A little about Malawi



Malawi's national flag.



Known as "The Warm Heart of Africa" Malawi is a small country in the south of the continent. Surrounded with Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania, and a huge and awesome Lake Malawi, which it shares with its neighbours. Malawi has population of just 15milion people and majority of them are young. The capital city is Lilongwe. The national flag shows three colors: 
red - for blood of it's freedom fighters,
black - for the skin color of it's people and
green - for it's beautiful land.



 Malawi, from what I gather, is a very beautiful country and it's people are famously friendly, however economically it is among the poorest countries of the world. There is a lot to be done to improve the life of Malawians and, let me tell you, the good news is: this year Malawi got a new awesome President Joyce Banda.  She has a history of acting in interest of women's rights, protection of children from poverty and abuse and fighting hunger and poverty in the country. She is a founder and a creator of People's Party. She doesn't tolerate corruption, promotes democratic reforms and works hard for economic renewal. She is amazing and truly serves her people. Personally, I am very excited and believe in her with all my heart.



image source: google/ images



Seeing the Queen as Malawi is a Commonwealth Country