Hitting the Dedza ground running!

‘Azungu! Azungu!’ that’s how we were greeted by the children at Chimkombera Primary School, our first point to conduct our first field activity. ‘Azungu’ refers to a local term meaning ‘white man’. The children were very excited to see us, especially the UK volunteers. This greeting has set the vibe in our subsequent activities, so much so that we were surprised it wasn't said at Molima Family Home, an orphanage we visited in our first week on International Citizen Service (ICS) placement.
 

The International Service / ICS team in Dedza, Malawi.
Photo: Jason Lunn

The first two weeks of our placement have been more than awesome. We have travelled across Dedza, meeting various people in different locations and finding out how they are striving to make a better life for themselves and for those they look after.

Visiting a VSL group to identify the challenges they face.
Photo: Meka Beresford

In Dedza, we work with the Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (CYECE) which targets young girls in education. We are trying to push the girls that have dropped out to go back to school, as well as empowering girls to make positive life choices that allow them to complete their education and achieve the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE). This also involves changing attitudes and focussing on harmful cultural practices that prevent young people from succeeding.

Children carrying bricks as we discuss income generating opportunities with a VSL group.
Photo: Meka Beresford

We had a very productive first week, visiting seven Village Savings and Loans (VSL) groups in different locations around the Dedza district, from Bembeke to Golomoti. VSL groups pool their money together, allowing each member to borrow at low interest. The loans can then be invested in businesses, farming or other income generating activities. The big day for the VSL groups comes at the end of the year, where the total amount of money is shared out amongst the members who can use it to pay for their child’s education, up-scale their business or build/extend a house. The groups have brought about huge change in their communities, allowing members such as Flola Kachepatsonga from Tigwirizane to provide for her children and pay their school fees. Chifundo, another successful female member of Tisungane VSL, bought land, built a house and is running a ‘chitenje’ business in which she buys the traditional wrap worn by women from Tanzania and sells them in Dedza. These two ventures mean that their children can stay in education and the family are no longer struggling financially.

We were taken to a small holding operated by a VSL group growing Irish potatoes, maize, pumpkins and fruits.
Photo: Jason Lunn

It was a wonderful experience interacting with those in the communities and seeing how they are trying to improve their livelihoods by engaging in different income generating activities. We also visited a paper recycling business in Dedza and some of the team were able to get involved! This is another example of an economic opportunity that uses locally sourced materials to generate income. We had two and a half days of training with half of the team learning about peer education programmes in schools whilst the other half learned about business skills and nutrition. We had Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights (SRHR) training with Josef from Dedza Hospital and helped with painting at the Banda Hill Primary School with Inspire Malawi (look out for more on that in future blogs!). We have also started to learn more about international development through 'Guided Learning' sessions.

Emanuella takes part in paper recycling at Dedza Handmade Art Gallery.
Photo: Jason Lunn

Working with Inspire Malawi, Keri draws and paints pictures to make learning more engaging at Banda Hill Primary School, Mzengeleza village. Photo: Jason Lunn

As everyone knows, you must work hard to play hard. The first week was not just about visiting the people in the villages. We also started our Jenga, finger bowling and 'chicken hat' tournaments in the office! Oh, and we climbed Dedza mountain to its peak! We could see the whole view of Dedza town from the mountain. It was simply amazing. However, it was worrying to see how people are slowly destroying the amazing landscape by setting fires, creating smoked patches on the beautiful mountain surface as well as the impact of the huge amount of logging that takes place.

After reaching the peak of Dedza mountain, I looked out at the vast landscape of the Dedza district and Mozambique!
Photo: Jason Lunn

Our journey so far ended at Molima Family Home, the fruit of two visionary men that met by chance on a bus after one of them was robbed! They spoke of building a life changing paradise for the orphaned children in Dedza. From that encounter, the late Isaac Phiri and Geoff Phillips built an orphanage to help children. As it stands today, it supports 27 children and their extended families. We visited this wonderful place, spending the afternoon playing games with the children. We will host several sessions at Molima to help the kids in different aspects of their life through social, health and education sessions.

Breaking the ice with a few energisers at Molima Family Home - this one was led by the children!
Photo: Jason Lunn

I can’t wait for what the next eight weeks have in store for us!

Written by Daniel Kapitaapa