That is a common greeting that can mean "hello" in Chichewa. With only five days until our departure, final destination being Malawi, it is time to wrap up our many preparations. This trip all became a reality when Mrs. Jean Kalinga offered us a gracious invitation to come and experience a authentic and meaningful stay with her in Malawi. Jean Kalinga is the wife of Godfrey Kalinga, who had a distinguished career at the International Monetary Fund. David Dunn, Renee's father, worked for Mr. Kalinga on the Uganda team. We had been looking for an opportunity to volunteer in Malawi or any of the surrounding countries, and when we were provided with this once in a lifetime opportunity we excitedly accepted the invitation.
Jean Kalinga, being the gracious and hospitable woman that she is, invited us over to her home in Alexandria, VA for a traditional "light" Malawian meal... which was really a feast fit for a family of ten. Consisting of a variety of maize dishes, as well as some traditional chicken and fish, the meal was very enjoyable and a wonderful opportunity to become more familiar with the Malawian culture. After the meal, Mrs. Kalinga presented photographs and explained the mission of the Mtogolo Village Development Project.
The Mtogolo Village Development Project is mainly an initiative to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS. It is a community created project whose goal is to empower citizens with knowledge and resources to fight HIV/AIDS while working towards bettering the quality of life. They believe that the fight against HIV/AIDS is in vain if the community continues to suffer from effects of poverty. Therefore, they advocate a holistic approach, which includes activities that will uplift the social and economic status of the community. The Mtogolo Village Development Project's main objectives are to spread awareness of HIV/AIDS by sharing information regarding the dangers of AIDS, prevention, and how infections are contracted. Additionally, they support the village using counseling programs, in which they care for orphans and other vulnerable children, as well as teach how to care for those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
The project is split into many sub-committees, which is where we come in. We will be working mainly, but not limited to, the Nursery/Preschool committee and the Youth Outreach committee. Volunteering as mentors, caregivers, teachers, and companions, we will be helping out with early childhood development programs and mentoring programs. The goal is to provide the younger children with educational and creative activities, such as different art projects and recreational games, and to teach some of the basic English language. The Youth Outreach program is more focused on mentoring, and the educational and motivational aspect; we are hoping to encourage a spirit of volunteerism and eagerness for learning and bettering the community. Through forms of art, such as drama, music, and dance, information about HIV/AIDS is taught to the youth, and we hope to bring the same enthusiasm to educational and vocational skills. We want to provide the villagers with basic skills, mainly in the English language, as well as ways for them to express their more creative and thoughtful ideas.
We hope you all have gathered some insight as to what exactly we will be doing in Malawi for the two short weeks that we will be there, as well as understanding the wonderful Mtogolo Village Development Project. We now get ready to go off to Malawi with our bags full of purchased crafts and games, such as jump ropes, stickers, paints, bubbles, and, of course, candy. We sit here waiting impatiently for Sunday to arrive!
Pitani bwino, or good bye.... for now!
Fondly,
Renee and Sarina
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