Playing with the kids - Putting training into action

Teaching children to play may seem like an odd concept to us in the western world, but often the most vulnerable children in Malawi have never had anything to play with and as a result can tragically lose that instinct.

Play is an essential part of a child’s development and on Friday the Caregivers at Tiamike Community Based Childcare Centre got to put what they had learned about "Play" into action by running a day of play with over 50 the children at the centre.

This two part training saw them supported by the Joshua team and Early Childhood Development specialists trying out the techniques of play they themselves had enjoyed earlier in the week.

It was another huge success as you can see from the videos and photos. As in the UK cardboard boxes, loo rolls and plastic bottles came into their own - as did hopscotch and catch - classic games all over the world.

A huge thank you to the Jessica Mathers Trust for making this training day possible.

Caregiver Play Day

On Wednesday we took Early Childhood Development Specialist Kim Ferguson and her team of students to Tiamike Community Based Childcare Centre for a fantastic training session on Play.  

The session focussed on taking caregivers back to when they were younger to relive their best play moments. We then set them free amongst materials such as plastic bottles, string, bottle caps and other things found locally or recycled. It was awesome to see this group of adults who are often a bit reserved let loose and get stuck in, remembering their favourite games from childhood...   

We had skipping and jumping games, football, Subbuteo and a fierce game of throw and catch/piggy in the middle, with a Malawian twist. A big favourite with the team in Malawi was the role play in which the women went all out making a fire (from rocks and twigs), mixing Nsima (sand and water), relish (grass and water) - they even served it up for us all to enjoy - it was a joy to behold.  

On Friday we are going back to do it again but this time it will be the caregivers working with the children.

Getting help to flood victims in Mwandika with Capital Radio Malawi

The 40 families with their emergency parcels

We visited Mwandika with Capital Radio Malawi last week to distribute parcels to 40 needy families identified by the local Village Development Committee and Joshua’s Field Officers as being in urgent need of support. 

All 40 families have lost their homes and most of their belongings as a result of the extreme weather. One family had lost everything except what you can see on the grass matt in the picture to the left (second one down) after their house collapsed.

This is all one family had left

As well as our own fundraising efforts here in the UK, Capital Radio Malawi has been helping to raise funds through a local appeal. 

The team from the radio station, along with Joshua staff and Project Trust volunteers helped to pack up the parcels and the radio crew came with us to help with distribution.

Homes are continuing to come down in the heavy rains

They were gobsmacked at the levels of poverty and isolation of the communities just a stone’s throw from Blantyre. And they experienced the full force of the rains when we got trapped in the Community Based Childcare Centre for 45 minutes when a viscous storm hit. It was a hot topic on the morning radio show the next day.  

Unfortunately the heavy rains haven't stopped and when it does rain it brings everything to a standstill, roads are impassable and it's impossible to get out to these rural communities. But thankfully today (Friday 6th Feb) the sun is shining and the team are out in Khola delivering supplies to the flood victims there. Including Mphatso and her family, whose story we shared with you last week.

Thank you again to everyone across the world who has donated to our Malawi Flood Appeal. Your support is making a difference and we'll share more photos and stories with you as and when we can.