Malawi 2007
Once again my 'FRIENDS' came though and with £6000+ Malawi was the destination again. This time it
was via the more direct route of Amsterdam and Nairobi to Lilongwe, followed by a 5 hour drive to Zomba.
This year I had emphasised collecting equipment and had launched an appeal for 50 starter packs for
the girls that were being sponsored by Ubwino. NIAS had come through with bags and others with money
for calculators and pens etc. I had packed all of these and taken them with me. Having travelled 7000
miles and facing a long drive we decided to stop for a rest and coffee on the way to Zomba. As we walked
through the gates of the coffee shop imagine my surprise when I heard a pleasant Tyrone voice saying
imagine meeting you here. Mary O Neil and Dianne Calisse (the ladies behind Ubwino) had chanced to
pick the same spot for their lunch. Needless to say the bags were quickly off loaded and a pleasant lunch
was had by all.
The group this year was considerably smaller with 35 traveling but the aims were still as high. Once
again the group divided into different focus groups and headed for their tasks. All the projects were
delivered with courses in IT, Accounts, Sport, and Primary education. The builders got to building and the
health professionals to work in the hospital at Saint Luke's.
It has to be acknowledged that the back up for the projects this time round was a little less organised and
the scale for the numbers involved was somewhat daunting but the projects were delivered in the main.
Unfortunately the building project suffered the most due to the smaller numbers as there was not the
sheer number of bodies to push the work forward.
With the experience of 2006 behind me, my aim was to try and develop a project to deliver ambulance
services to the region. In order to do this I conducted a number of meetings and prepared a report. (View
Report) This will form the base of my programme for 2008.
Whilst much of my time was taken up preparing this report I also had the opportunity to spend 2 nights as
a guest of Mary O Neil and her family in Blantyre. Blantyre is the commercial centre of Malawi and this is
reflected in a busy city. There is a significant ex-patriot community which services a developing financial
sector. Malawi is going through a period of great political change and whilst I have no intention of getting
involved in the politics of the country, there does appear to be a subdued confidence. Reality however is
not too far away and the sprawling suburbs hold as much poverty as the rural countryside.
It would be easy to dismiss the ex-patriot community as selfish and privileged but that would be grossly
unfair. Some of them are this way I'm sure but those I met cared passionately about the country and her
people and many devote time and money to helping the less fortunate. I don't see too many of us giving
up our pampered western lives to help.
Whilst in Zomba we received a visit from Fr. Ignatius Gazani. Fr Ignatius is based in Blantyre and services
both city and country dwellers. Your support provided seed for up to 30 families this year who will now
have a chance at life. In addition money was left with him to help develop three projects. He is trying to
supply cattle, chickens and pigs to families. These animals will needless to say give both food and
security. It is important to remember that security of food supply dominates so much of peoples lives and
it is impossible to develop or educate yourself if you don't know where your next meal is coming from.
Whilst in Blantyre I also experienced my first earthquake. Thankfully no major damage was done and life
returned to normal quickly. On my return to Zomba I did some work with the rest of the medical team in
and around the hospital. I also took the opportunity to develop some links with local people.
Outside our accommodation a group of local traders dealt in Malawian arts and crafts. These people
work hard and want nothing more than the chance to make a living. The crafts are beautiful and the men
hard working. I spent many pleasant hours playing bao ( Malawian board game) with some of the fellas.
They have formed a traders association with the aim of helping themselves. Most come from small
outlying villages and walk for several hours to their pitch. The Malawian Government has invested heavily
in the mobile phone network and most places now have a good signal. However phones remain far
beyond the reach of most people. The guys explained that a phone can open up even the remotest
villages now giving access to services that we take for granted such as Ambulances.
All in all it was a rewarding experience once again and sets sights for more work in 2008
was via the more direct route of Amsterdam and Nairobi to Lilongwe, followed by a 5 hour drive to Zomba.
This year I had emphasised collecting equipment and had launched an appeal for 50 starter packs for
the girls that were being sponsored by Ubwino. NIAS had come through with bags and others with money
for calculators and pens etc. I had packed all of these and taken them with me. Having travelled 7000
miles and facing a long drive we decided to stop for a rest and coffee on the way to Zomba. As we walked
through the gates of the coffee shop imagine my surprise when I heard a pleasant Tyrone voice saying
imagine meeting you here. Mary O Neil and Dianne Calisse (the ladies behind Ubwino) had chanced to
pick the same spot for their lunch. Needless to say the bags were quickly off loaded and a pleasant lunch
was had by all.
The group this year was considerably smaller with 35 traveling but the aims were still as high. Once
again the group divided into different focus groups and headed for their tasks. All the projects were
delivered with courses in IT, Accounts, Sport, and Primary education. The builders got to building and the
health professionals to work in the hospital at Saint Luke's.
It has to be acknowledged that the back up for the projects this time round was a little less organised and
the scale for the numbers involved was somewhat daunting but the projects were delivered in the main.
Unfortunately the building project suffered the most due to the smaller numbers as there was not the
sheer number of bodies to push the work forward.
With the experience of 2006 behind me, my aim was to try and develop a project to deliver ambulance
services to the region. In order to do this I conducted a number of meetings and prepared a report. (View
Report) This will form the base of my programme for 2008.
Whilst much of my time was taken up preparing this report I also had the opportunity to spend 2 nights as
a guest of Mary O Neil and her family in Blantyre. Blantyre is the commercial centre of Malawi and this is
reflected in a busy city. There is a significant ex-patriot community which services a developing financial
sector. Malawi is going through a period of great political change and whilst I have no intention of getting
involved in the politics of the country, there does appear to be a subdued confidence. Reality however is
not too far away and the sprawling suburbs hold as much poverty as the rural countryside.
It would be easy to dismiss the ex-patriot community as selfish and privileged but that would be grossly
unfair. Some of them are this way I'm sure but those I met cared passionately about the country and her
people and many devote time and money to helping the less fortunate. I don't see too many of us giving
up our pampered western lives to help.
Whilst in Zomba we received a visit from Fr. Ignatius Gazani. Fr Ignatius is based in Blantyre and services
both city and country dwellers. Your support provided seed for up to 30 families this year who will now
have a chance at life. In addition money was left with him to help develop three projects. He is trying to
supply cattle, chickens and pigs to families. These animals will needless to say give both food and
security. It is important to remember that security of food supply dominates so much of peoples lives and
it is impossible to develop or educate yourself if you don't know where your next meal is coming from.
Whilst in Blantyre I also experienced my first earthquake. Thankfully no major damage was done and life
returned to normal quickly. On my return to Zomba I did some work with the rest of the medical team in
and around the hospital. I also took the opportunity to develop some links with local people.
Outside our accommodation a group of local traders dealt in Malawian arts and crafts. These people
work hard and want nothing more than the chance to make a living. The crafts are beautiful and the men
hard working. I spent many pleasant hours playing bao ( Malawian board game) with some of the fellas.
They have formed a traders association with the aim of helping themselves. Most come from small
outlying villages and walk for several hours to their pitch. The Malawian Government has invested heavily
in the mobile phone network and most places now have a good signal. However phones remain far
beyond the reach of most people. The guys explained that a phone can open up even the remotest
villages now giving access to services that we take for granted such as Ambulances.
All in all it was a rewarding experience once again and sets sights for more work in 2008
| Some of the local crafts. I brought as much home as I could and will be arranging a sale in the near future to raise funds |
| The Building site |
| Paula Murray (Playing for Life) opens the community centre built by the volunteers 2006 |
| Left the sports group Right on way to presidential rally |
| At the Hospital |
| Fresh Lunch |
| John Lynch Thinking? |
| Under African Skies. The beauty of the place is breath taking |
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