How the other half live

How the other half live!

In every society all around the world there's disparity in the distribution of wealth., Malawi is no different. However, the disparity of wealth in Malawi is significantly obvious between the haves and the have not.
 I am very privileged to see it from both sides, the invitation to eat with the poor in society to the rich.
I found myself yet again invited to a function. This time a baby shower, at first wasn't keen to go, through the persuasion of my neighbour and good friend I decided to go. Glad I did! It was a beautiful day in the company of people I already know, enjoying good food, cakes that I so longed for, too expensive to buy on a volunteer allowance,  drinking wine etc., a nice day out. However, can't but feel sad and guilty seeing some of the local children sitting outside the gate wishing they could have a slice of the cake, food and drink we were having!

Someone forgot to inform me it was a theme event - 'Yellow & White'! I missed out - shame.

Photos of 'baby shower'

Set up

The gifts

The ladies

The beautiful garden - big enough to build three more houses on 

The swimming pool

My favourite - the water feature

The ladies in their fineries 

Photos with the ladies

Photo with the expectant mum

St. Valentine!

St. Valentine. A day for sharing and showing love!

I taught the children of the After School Club how to make Valentine cards for their parents. They not only enjoyed making the cards also had fun.

Photos of Valentine activity.

Creativity  making their first Valentine cards

End product - showing off their skills 

Bringing joy and happiness into their lives

Day trip with youth group in Sanga Bay, Salima

Saturday, 27th December, I was invited as guest of honour to join the youth on their day trip to Sanga Bay in Salima.  A very interesting day lots of fun and games. The youth and young people were all very excited, many of them have never seen or been to the lake in their life. The joy and excitement was written all over their faces.

Here are photos of  the wonderful day at the lake with the youth.

Sanga Bay, Salima - Lake Malawi

The youth

Local children 

The sound system 

Fun time

Youth Leader

Group photo

Group photo with me

Local woman doing her washing - her baby lying nearby 

 A fun time, however disappointment the state of the lake, dirty and littered with rubbish.  Where ever you go in Africa or Asia the scene is the same. The locals at the same time bathing in the river/lake others doing their washing, clothes, pots and pans and collecting water for drinking & cooking. Diseases such as eye disease worms are very common among the locals.  Lack of clean water, the element of poverty which kills!

APPEAL FOR BLACKBOARDS FOR THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OF MALAWI!

The Ministry of Education can't afford to buy a blackboard! The sad state of education in Malawi

Honourable Shaibu Jones Kaliati mukanagula Black Board Ina apa! Nanga zomwezi mpaka Gift Of Givers? Anthu muli muboma but failing to buy a Board? Malawi@51

Any company/ies in the business of supplying education materials/equipment  out there would like to donate blackboards for schools in Malawi please contact me. sekwalor.catherine@gmail.com (Catherine Sekwalor), or on my  mobile 00 265 (0) 998792425. This is an appeal for 'Blackboards' for the school children of Malawi! 

Malawi fifty plus years on, this is the sad state of education in Malawi. A pathetic blackboard how can these children be inspired to learn.

PLEASE HELP ME HELP THE FUTURE GENERATION OF MALAWIAN CHILDREN.

Please help!

 Thank you

 

The Sad State of Education in Malawi!

Honourable Shaibu Jones Kaliati mukanagula Black Board Ina apa! Nanga zomwezi mpaka Gift Of Givers? Anthu muli muboma but failing to buy a Board? Malawi@51.

Fifty plus years on, education in Malawi has come to this! What is even more pathetic is the state of the blackboard. The government worries more about what type of cars they should purchase & drive, rather than invest in the education system of its country.  For this reason I wrote my article on education.  Malawi faces a huge challenge and must face up to the reality of their problems rather than expect handouts from the international committee/ to come in and solve their problems.

Area 11 Afterschool club Christmas party

Curry goat, rice roast potatoes, roast chicken etc..,

Children all dressed up for the occasion.

Parents were also invited

Ex-VSO volunteer Nyack organised the food & drinks

Happy New Year!

Happy New year!

I can't believe we have entered into 2015, where has the year gone I ask myself as I evaluate the year that has just gone.
I am in my finale phase of volunteering in Malawi, filled with mixed emotions of homecoming and sadness to be leaving Malawi.  It has been an amazing journey which I have enjoyed every moment of, despite the challenges, the poverty there are elements of happiness and self-discovery.  I will do this all over again in a different capacity. Already planner my next venture.

As the year came to a close I found myself very busy with a number of activities and loose ends to tie before my departure back to UK.  This is a short blog, a pictorial blog with photos bringing 2014 to a beautiful close.

Highlights of 2014

My letter to the Minister of Education, final received a response. Met with the Principal for the Minister, following our meeting with her was introduced to the Director of Primary Education. A fruitful meeting with plans for joint working to improve the education in Malawi.  The Director, visited our after school club, he was pleasantly surprised and impressed. (see photos).  I hope that with whatever project we come up with will support the children of Malawi in their education.

I tried something new - volunteering my service to radio broadcasting. Recording scripts for broadcasting on Trans World Radio (TWR). A new talent which has boosted my confidence. All this has been made possible here in Malawi.

Radio broadcasting, a new venture of skills

A visit from the Ministry of Education - Director of Primary Education

Interviewing with the parents

The Children with the Director of Education 

The children performing for me. My wake up call.

Visit to Karonga & Chitipa  - monitoring & evaluation exercise of the hospitals in the two districts. An eye opener of the health system in Malawi.  Very discouraging to see how poverty can determine ones future, happiness and outcome. (see photos). Ambulance donated only worked for a few weeks  just sitting collecting dust simply because no money to repair it. Broken beds, mattresses that are not fit for humans, yet patients have no choice but to sleep on them. Maternity waiting ward filled with teenage mothers in cramp conditions waiting to give birth. The maternity waiting homes is definitely a good innovation particularly in the rural areas where the nearest hospital/facility is anything from  nine to 100 miles away. Mosquito nets given to patients/community for the prevention of malaria  used for drying fish.

After school club enjoyed their Christmas lunch - taught them popular Christmas carols,
All in all 2014 was a good year.

Despite the challenges Malawi has taught me so much about myself, who I am and who I shall become in the future. Malawi is indeed a beautiful country.

Enjoy the photos

Happy New Year to you all

Catherine