LAST THOUGHTS / GOING HOME

Wow.

As I sit in the airport in D.C, back in the United States, surrounded by people with huge suitcases, running frantically to catch their flights, I feel as if everything is in slow motion. I feel confused at my normal way of life, at the "American way" of doing things; so rushed and unimportant. I am exhausted and jet lagged from being awake for over 40 hours. Our flight from D.C. to MA was delayed, and won't be leaving until noon. It's 6am. Steven and I are making the most of our time here, hanging out in the empty chairs, sleeping when possible, getting food and sharing pictures from the trip. I am so excited to see my family, and to catch up on some sleep. 

Our flight in Senegal was delayed and we were stuck on the plane there for an hour or two, we had a 6 hour layover in Johannesburg as well, so all in all the whole trip was about 40 hours with all the weird time changes. However, I can't even complain. We did some shopping at Joburg and in D.C. I was able to call my mom, send some pictures to friends, and get some coffee to keep myself awake!!! 

I've decided the only word I can really use to describe the way I'm feeling is overwhelmed. I am so happy, and have never felt more inspired or determined to take action and make an impact. Looking through my pictures, I only see smiles. Smiles on every single face of every single child in each school we visited. Smiles on their faces as they learned, asked questions, sang, danced, and played.

The "warm heart of Africa" truly is an understatement. 

Malawi DAY FIVE: Mangochi

A.M.

Today was an early start and off to the Concern office in Mangochi. There, we met the head of the Emergency Livelihoods program, Donald Manda. In a village called Kwitumji, Concern is working to implement the Emergency Livelihoods program. In Kwitumji, there have been numerous droughts and floods for the past two years (since 2015). Emergency Livelihoods is giving money to these households during a time of disaster, in order to help them to get back on their feet. Work in Mangochi began in September of 2016, targeting 11,055 households. Through the program, farmers are encouraged to choose their own seeds, so that they can pick and choose what kinds of crops they wish to grow. By giving cash instead of direct food/items, families become empowered to choose variety, become active members of markets, etc.  A few more program details are listed below.

conditional cash transfers: some conditions include, 

• Enough capacity/land to grow
• Must apply conservation acts (follow guidelines set by staff and program officers to regulate growing/harvesting, etc.
• Kitchen garden implementation (begin a small garden located near the kitchen area of the house, in order to make it easier while cooking meals with variety)
• Cash is transferred through a G4 Security service, and there are around 10 dissension locations for pick-up.
• Locations are always reasonable distances from the villages (no more than 10km).
• Organization gives aid/fallback if needed during the implementation and process of Emergency Livelihoods. 
• $2,211 goes to trust funds and activities
• Families are encouraged to join Village Savings and Loans groups as well

unconditional cash transfer: 

• Money is sent and issued the same way as conditional cash transfers
• No fallback is guaranteed during implementation and process of emergency Livelihoods 
• Mostly used for extreme poverty areas

While in Mangochi, we also learned about Climate Smart Agriculture. Under the umbrella of climate smart agriculture, falls Conservational Agriculture. Some aspects of Conservational Agriculture include rain harvesting, agroforestry (combining crops/trees in the same soil to provide fertility), and the combination of crops (e.g. growing pigeon peas with maize). 

the three principles of Conservational Agriculture:

1. Minimal soil disturbance
2. Maximum soil coverage
3. Crop rotation and location

* Climate smart agriculture enables farmers to make more money off of the little land they have/can grow on.

PROJECT GRADUATION: 

While in the field, we learned about a program called Project Graduation. Donald Manda, the project officer, explained to our group what exactly Project Graduation is, and why it is so essential in Malawi. When the program first started in the fall of 2016, 100 households were targeted. Now, and in the next few months, over 980 will be reached. Project Graduation targets households, helping them to "graduate" from poverty. With cash transfers and activities, the Project is directly lifting families out of their current circumstances. Within three years of the program, households should be able to stand on their own. In addition to cash, families are provided with access to micro finance, banks, village savings and loans, etc. Assets are given last, and depend solely on the specific household. 

Examples include: expansion of farm/land and starting a business. 

Other countries Project Graduation is being implemented in: Haiti, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Malawi. Studies show that after full implementation of the program, the health of children in the household increases, and savings success increases. 

P.m.

Today, Steven, Isaac, Karen, and I said goodbye to our driver for the week, Jane. We gave her and Lazarus our school t-shirts, and Cape Cod, Red Sox and Patriots hats too. 

Steven, Me, Jane, Lazarus and Isaac after giving them our gifts from the United States :)

Debriefing tonight was emotional, and I don't seem to have words to describe the week quite yet. I am inspired, upset, overwhelmed, determined, and hopeful. I think everyone in the room was feeling about every single emotion tonight. Tomorrow, we are going shopping at the City Mall in Lilongwe, and then will head to the airport to travel home.

Again, today was something new and different from the one before. Tonight, I am thinking about how even the smallest action can have the most tremendous impact. I am feeling blessed for the life I live, and for the opportunities I'm given.

Most importantly, I am feeling thankful to be here in Malawi, surrounded by so much joy and positivity every day.

Malawi DAY FOUR: Phalombe/Mangochi

A.M.

Today started off the same as any other, but for some reason it still had a new and unreal feeling to it. I think every day I woke up, I had to remind myself that I was half way around the world, living and learning in a completely new and different country. I had never even done a sleep-away camp, and here was my first adventure living away from home; I decided to go big by spending a week on another continent, with people I barely even knew at the beginning of the week. Fast forward 7 days, and we were all so close we were probably getting sick of each other :) 

Our wakeup call was 6am and we left the lodge with Jane, Lazarus and the rest of the group before 7. Breakfast was delicious per usual, and the coffee here is the absolute best. After another long, fun car ride, and another 12 times of listening to Tiny Dancer, we arrived at our second school visit of the week. The warm welcome we received here was once again so overwhelming, and to date, there is nothing that compares to that feeling.  We started off with the usual introductions and overview of the program, before making our way into the schoolroom.

The Mbembembe Primary School, Phalombe District

Theatre for a Change (TfaC), is a new program working alongside Concern to help and support the people of impoverished communities in Malawi. TfaC's main focus is around adolescent girls. Some of the targets of the organization include sexual/reproductive education and menstruation. One of the most heartbreaking things to hear was that in this village, as well as surrounding ones, girls tend to skip school when they are menstruating. This is simply because there is no bathrooms or changing stations for them to use during the day, causing them to walk an average distance of 12 kilometers back home, to use the bathroom. By then, it is easier for them to just stay at home and skip the rest of the school day. If these girls are missing full weeks of school every month or so, they are falling behind and missing out on classwork. These statistics were extremely upsetting to me, and listening to the young girls talk about the issues they are facing so openly, was devastating. 

The workshop/lesson we were able to sit in on, included girls and boys ages 11-17. The lessons focus mainly on topics already being discussed in the classroom, such as School Related Gender Based Violence (SRGBV), and Gender Based Violence (GBV). 

The Student Council group we interacted with, had many different purposes and roles within the school community, all extremely important to the success of the program. While talking with some of the kids, we learned that abuses are often reported to the Student Council, in which case the students would approach the Head of the school and explain the situation. The Head would then decide (depending on the specific case), whether to contact the police or the Village Head. I thought it was absolutely incredible how involved the students were with the activities. Using theatre and movement, TfaC is teaching young girls and boys to interact with one another, gain self confidence and learn in depth about Gender Based Violence, as well as other school-related issues facing them. We were able to be a part of the activities for the day, interact with the girls, and experience firsthand how much Concern and organizations like TfaC are helping children in underdeveloped nations. 

The Agents of Change are responsible for managing the program and helping to implement it within the community, eventually seeing the outcome. Agents of Change go through special training in order to be a part of the community's schools. Yami was the AOC we met with when we visited. She was extremely inspiring and so passionate about what she was doing. 

Another group we were able to sit in on, was the Mother Group, in charge of school-related issues, as well as the radio station network. The radio station discusses important issues in the area, and ways in which to combat these issues. 

A few facts:

• Azunga in Chichewa means "white person"or "native"
• Most students walk an average of 12 kilometers to school each day
• Fathers are taking a stand alongside their daughters, hoping to provide them with a bright and successful future through education 

P.M.

After leaving the field, we made our way to Cassa Rossa, an Italian restaurant, for lunch. The restaurant was on the top of a mountain, and the views were beautiful. The food was fantastic, and I even tried crocodile:) The best part was definitely the coffee! We all loved it so much, a few cups didn't seem like a lot at the time, but poor Jane had to put up with our obnoxious caffeine high on the way to Mangochi.

Cassa Rossa Menu

We arrived at the Mangochi hotel, and after checking in, showering and debriefing, we ate a beautiful dinner outside, overlooking the beautiful lake. Today was by far my favorite day. Each day we've seen and experienced a different program, and each day has been eye-opening. But today, the program we saw had such an impact on me. Theatre for a Change was so incredible in the way they taught young girls about such important issues through theatrical and artistic methods. Getting to interact with the girls and ask them questions about themselves, their lives, and some of the problems we share, was amazing. The potential in each one of them was so easily recognizable, making it so difficult to see firsthand, the problems they are facing: problems that for us in America, seem so avoidable. 

After returning home, I was able to get in touch with members of Theatre for a Change (TfaC). I learned more about volunteer opportunities in the United States and am hoping to become involved in some way in the next few years. 

For more information on Theatre for a Change, follow the link below.

tfacafrica.com

Malawi DAY THREE: Phalombe

a.m.

After a very early breakfast Wednesday morning, we loaded up the bus once again, and headed off with Jane, our driver, to Phalombe. Our car rides are always a blast, and we listen to the same 4 songs Steven has dowloaded on his phone :) When we arrived in Phalombe, we were once again, greeted by the whole school and village, with singing and dancing, welcoming us into their community. We were surrounded by beautiful children, and thanked over and over again for our being there. The feeling was unreal. After high-fives and lots of hand shakes, we sat around in a circle with the rest of the school. There, we watched a performance of a play, written and rehearsed by the people of the community. The program implemented in this village was called Star Circle. Star Circle focuses on creating art and performance using current issues surrounding the village. The skit we watched (which was translated to us through a program officer), was about the continuation of education for adolescent girls. Star Circle is a group of volunteer individuals who care deeply about these problems facing their communities, and who hope to combat them through theatre. 

After the performance, we were given the opportunity to sit with a group of individuals from Star Circle, and ask them questions about the program, and themselves. The people we chatted with were absolutely incredible. They shared stories about themselves and their lives, as well as why they chose to join the program. One of the boys was 18 years old and an aspiring doctor, hoping to finish secondary school and move on to University. This day was incredible. Seeing the way theatre can sculpt a community and shed light on pressing issues surrounding them, was unreal. I thought it was amazing how each and every member of the community watched and supported Star Circle, and I was so grateful to have been able to see, and interact with this beautiful community.

p.m.

After spending the day at the school, we traveled back through the mountains and into a valley, where we spent the night at a Lodge. Our cabins were in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by beautiful trees, the moon and stars. After a very cold outdoor shower, and a call back home, we walked down to dinner. We ate and debriefed, and then fell asleep pretty quickly afterwards. I shared a cabin with the Irish girls, which was so much fun. We talked and chatted, comparing accents until we fell asleep. The next morning, we packed up bright and early again, and made our way to our next stop, a different school in Phalombe. 

Our drive leaving the Lodge Thursday morning, 7/27/17

Malawi DAY TWO: SKILLZ/Mua Mission

a.m.

Tuesday morning was beautiful. After loading our luggage back onto the bus, and another amazing breakfast, we made our way to a school to learn about and take part in SKILLZ; an organization helping to educate girls about sexual health, HIV/AIDS, as well as leadership skills and overall confidence. There, we were able to play soccer with some of the kids in the Grassroots Soccer Program, and listen in on their everyday lessons involved with the program. The joy and overwhelming happiness was astounding to me. Their gratitude was so fulfilling and really put everything into perspective. 

Grassroots Soccer Program, Mchinji District

After our time at the school, we traveled to the Concern office and ate a beautiful lunch before our long drive to Mua Mission. We drove about five hours up and around beautiful mountains, to Mua. When we arrived, we toured the museum, which was all about spiritual beliefs melded with the Christian faith. The museums were beautiful; some of them were so sacred we weren't allowed to take any pictures. While at Mua, we were able to shop at their art store, where I bought some bowls and spoons to bring back home. Everything was so beautiful. 

p.m

The Mua Mission Museum, "The Kingdom is Like a Seed," Mua District

We stayed overnight at Mua Mission, where my hotel room was home to a salamander:) Sylvia and I attempted to get it out, but in the end we gave up and asked the kind man who worked there to put the little creature outside for the night. Dinner was beautiful and looked out over a river and flowering trees. Today was extremely inspiring and full of new and completely different things than the day before.

Breakfast at Mua Mission, Wednesday 7/26/17

In only a few hours out in the field, I learned more than I ever had before. The sense of community these villages have was so moving to me, and made me realize that we're often missing that sense of community here at home. Day two was certainly different than day one, full of new and intriguing projects and programs that I was able to learn about and be a part of. Though the villages were not the same, the people still greeted us with song, dance, and smiling faces. Their joy was the most beautiful thing in the world, and the feeling of being there with them was simply irreplaceable.  

Malawi DAY ONE: Mchinji

a.m.

After our 18 hour flight Saturday into Sunday, we started our first day Monday morning. We woke up at the Bridgeview Hotel in the capital, Lilongwe, to a beautiful breakfast of omelettes, papaya (a new favorite) and coffee, among many other things. After loading up our luggage, we piled into the mini bus and truck. That morning, we met our drivers, Jane and Lazarus, who would be getting our group in and out of the field for the week. They were awesome. We also got to talk a little with Jenn, who works for Concern and has lived in Malawi for two and a half years. It took us about an hour and a half to get to the Concern Field Office in Mchinji. There, we met Angela, who works for Concern on the ground in Malawi. Angela is the program coordinator for the Health and Nutrition branch that Concern works with. We learned briefly about the program and then headed off into the field. Two hours later over dirt, dust and red rocks, we arrived at the village, where we were immediately greeted with song and dance. After unloading from the bus, we met Naomi, the Lead Mother of her village in Mchinji. We got to see firsthand how Concern is helping Naomi with a kitchen garden, located right behind her house, to make growing a nutritious diet, easier and more accessible. Naomi was so welcoming and greeted our group with open arms. The work she is doing in order to teach other mothers about nutritious and healthy lifestyles was incredible.

three Lead Mothers stand proudly in their Kitchen Garden, Mchinji District 

The program officers told us a lot about how in Malawi, growing and harvesting an abundance of fresh crops is difficult, because most areas of Malawi experience little rainfall. Maize, the most common crop in Malawi, can be grown and harvested at any time of the year. Maize is often grounded and cooked into Nshima, one of the most popular dishes in Malawi. Though Nshima is very filling, providing satiety for a long amount of time, it provides no nutritional benefits. The issue of malnourishment in Malawi revolves primarily around what specifically, the people of these villages are consuming. A balanced diet is extremely important, and in Malawi, not consuming enough of the right nutrients is a severe problem. Concern Worldwide is helping with the implementation of kitchen gardens and agricultural programs throughout these villages, and through the training of Lead Mothers like Naomi, the people of Mchinji will learn how to grow their own nutritious crops, and make use of them creating healthy meals for themselves and their families. 

p.m.

The second half of the day, we spent in a different village in Mchinji. There, we experienced formal introductions from the Village Heads, sat in on a Village Savings and Loans session, and saw a mock meeting of the Mother Leadership group.

a group of children in the second village we visited, Mchinji District

VS&L Mchinji (Village Savings and Loans):

The Village Savings and Loans session our group was able to sit in on was extremely informative and eye-opening. The group dynamic in the village was so inspiring, and the teamwork and community involvement was amazing. VS&L became very useful to the people of this village, as it was a way of creating backup in case of an emergency, and it also offered loans if ever needed. Our group was able to watch the heads of the VS&L imitate a meeting of the group, showing how every time they met, they would each put in a certain amount of money, making their shares equal and fair. Whenever a member of the community needed to take out a loan, they were able to without fuss or difficulty. The VS&L group meets twice a month to discuss deposits, withdrawals and loans, and has become a great asset to the people of the village. 

Mother Leadership Group:

The Mother Leadership group involves training mothers of the community on reproductive health and safety, as well as educational lessons on breastfeeding, raising children and overall nutrition. Again, our group was able to watch a mock meeting of the Mother Leadership Group, and had the opportunity to ask questions afterwards. This group also meets twice a month to learn and discuss, and is always started off with a song. This helps to create a safe setting, and to welcome each and every member. 

I thought the villages of Mchinji were amazing, and I was in awe at the progress and hunger the people there had to learn and grow together. Their determination was incredible, and it was so inspiring to watch and be a part of for the day. 

That night, we traveled to our hotel in Mchinji, and spent the evening eating Malawian food, chatting and debriefing. It had only been one day, my luggage had been lost on the long flight over and we were all feeling exhausted. But, that day we had experienced firsthand how much Concern is doing to help in these communities, we saw the joy, hope and determination of the people in these villages, and I had never been happier or more inspired in my life. 
 

Xx, Anna

Our hotel for our second night stay, Mchinji District