Key2Africa unlock the door to adventure

On Saturday evening Joshua Trustee's Marjorie, David and UK coordinator Jess attended Key2Africa’s Mike and James’ leaving celebrations. On Sunday morning the two guys left Bristol to embark on their incredible adventure; driving all the way from Bristol to Malawi in their land rover (tried and tested by David) to raise money for Joshua.

The evening was packed full of games, speeches, raffles and fond farewells as the two made their final preparations for departure.

We wish Mike and James the very best of luck for their journey, we will be following their blog the whole way and cannot wait to hear all about their adventures on return. We would also like to thank them for their exceptional support of Joshua. What an amazing and inspirational pair.

24th Oct - Early Walk

Before eating breakfast the team undertook a 5am trek to the lone tree visible at the peak of the mountain to catch a view of the sunrise. Not only did we time this perfectly, arriving minutes before the sun rose over the mountains we also managed to explore another Joshua feeding centre situated in thicker more lush vegetation. Despite our collective exhaustion following days of hard work, this not only energised us, but also set the tone for the entire day.

In comparison to other days the work load was less rigorous as the two manual jobs (brick laying and landscaping) wound to a close, as both progressed towards their completion.

With our work completed (foundation slab poured and 1000's of bricks moved and laid) on the teachers house we now pass on the baton to the local builders to complete the skilled elements of the build.

After 20 tonnes of earth moved by pure will power and strength the landscaping was completed ensuring guaranteeing the future of Masika junior primary school.

Within all of this work, many members of the team still managed to enjoy themselves playing with the local children. In particular Fay who spent an afternoon climbing classroom rules and Charlie who enjoyed an evening of collecting tennis balls from the river following a rowdy game of baseball.
As the team finishes its last day of work and looked towards our final day in Manyenje the feeling is overwhelming of gratitude for the villagers consummate kindness and willingness to join us, whether it be in work or play.

Blog entry by Mr. Dan wamphagu Rojas

'wamphagu' - strong man

23rd Oct - Muli Bwanje!

After a restless night featuring Alex Rae's snoring and a rooster we all awoke for another day of project work in Manyenje. We split into three groups, one going to Marys Meals the second going to continue the teachers house and the third in the dust bowl.

At the teachers house the main task was brick laying, with the outside walls growing with increasing speed. The most progress however was made by the landscaping team. The main terrace was completed and the lower terrace was levelled out.

The Marys Meals team enjoyed the time spent with the local children and have made strong bonds with the kids.

Away from our main projects Rob and co. completed the improvements to the tippy taps and some of the landscaping team helped plant up a new tree nursery with the local children. They seeded 153 blue gum trees.

Blog entry by Jack

All Three LP Groups in Action

The day started at various times today, 6.30am for most, 5.30am for cooks and 4.45am for anyone awoken by Faye.

The day quickly gathered momentum; group 3 working in the feeding centre, group 2 landscaping and group 1 on the building site. Being in group 3 I can honestly say I've never met a more likeable group of kids in my life (despite the great escape attempt I halted as I prised a dangling child off the wall).

The experience for group 2 was very different in that their day was spent sweating in a dust bowl, as they shovelled and transported soil behind the new primary school to create terraces. 

Similar was the experience for group 1 as they also spent the entire day in the sun, laying bricks on the new foundations of the teachers house.

In the evening we celebrated Malawian Jo's birthday with balloons and banoffee pie!

Blog entry by Rob

Jump to it!

Today we split into 3 groups. Group 1 worked in Mary's Meals feeding centre and Groups 2 and 3 helped with the building of the teachers house. The Group that worked in the feeding centre found it extremely enjoyable and are very grateful they were given the opportunity to experience such a new but incredibly important part of the community.

The other two groups began the first of the strenuous building  jobs. This involved mixing cement and laying the slab to create the foundation of the teachers house.

Later in the day the Inspector for public works visited the site to check it was up to strict malawian Government standards. The groups work passed with flying colours and received the official stamp of approval!

We taught the children 'jump on it' and it has since become the village dance in my opinion.

Blog entry by Alice

Manyenje here we come!

Currently out in Malawi are a group of volunteers from Leighton Park School. Below is their second blog about their experience so far, enjoy!

 
Today we travelled to the village Manyanje with the young children chasing after the mini-bus as it pulled into the village. This was just the start of probably the best welcome any of us have ever had. 

As soon as we arrived we set up our mosquito nets and went out to play with the children as soon as we could. We blew bubbles for them and played with balloons and the ukulele - the excitement on their faces and their eagerness to gather round you to join in was a really special experience.

Later in the afternoon we had the welcoming ceremony which all the village attended, where we exchanged speeches and watched a traditional Malawian dance. After this was probably the best part of the day when we played football and netball with loads of people from the village and taught the younger children 'swing low' with Adrian. 

The welcome and playing time with the children has summed up why Malawi is the heart of Africa and is something none of us will ever forget. I think it has also made us feel extremely grateful to be here.

Group diary entry by Milli

Find out more about volunteering with Joshua.

Leighton Park school volunteers - Day 1 - The arrival

After less than 24 hours the Malawi team have already formed a strong bond of love.  As a team we made it through the day of travelling and some of us even managed to grab a shared nap (see insert).

As we left the airport building we were swamped by the heat and welcomed by our Inspire leaders. They soon made us feel welcome in Malawi and did well to put up with the tired explorers.

Photo of the day provided by Jo Payne

Joshua’s Community Based Childcare Centres on film

It's the final video for this week, but this is where it all began for Joshua, with a Community Based Childcare Centre (feeding centre) in Pensulo.

We have now build 20 and still support ten of these with food, training for carers and equipment.

We feed around 1,000 vulnerable children Monday to Friday every week - now that is something to shout about.

The Joshua Health Clinic

The construction of the Joshua clinic began in 2008. With local people working side by side with volunteers from the UK. The fantastic bunch of people involved included 45 Royal Bank of Scotland employees who not worked hard to complete the project from foundations to roof, but also helped raise over £60,000 to do so.

Their work was then supported by a number of smaller groups of Quest and Inspire volunteers who helped with the rendering, plastering, painting, and construction of the auxiliary buildings such as doctors housing.


In 2010 Joshua Orphan and Community Care opened its new maternity, HIV and health centre in Pensulo, serving a wide area and a population of over 40,000. The clinic provides expectant mothers with maternity services as well as treating common diseases such as malaria, pneumonia and HIV/AIDS. Previously the closest clinic had been 8 miles away in Blantyre – too far for people to
get to easily.


It also promotes family planning and acts as an education centre. In 2012 electricity reached the clinic after years of hard work and women no longer have to give birth by candlelight.


Over the years the clinic has proved to be a valuable lifeline to people living in this impoverished rural area.

Last day in Manyenje

Muli Bwanji, Kitty and Edapp here,

Last day in Manyenje and by Jove the feels! A couple of the gang, (really just 3, Kitty, Edapp and Lizzie) were told sunrise was at 5.30, so therefore we promptly set our alarms for 4.45AM. The deceit was crushing. A lovely breakfast was prepared, by Rachel and Jess. At this point - 2 hours later might we add - the sun decided to rise, and we all got to bask in the sunrise, not just the three who took the effort to wake up before the crack of dawn - not bitter at all.

Even our new friend the goat, got to experience the sun's glorious rays before it was slaughtered. It was a very emotional event, but the few who witnessed it appreciated the significance of it and fully grasped the concept of this aspect of the Malawian culture. It was then taken away to be prepared for a grand feast, that we would have for lunch, fit for a chief (because the chief was actually there).

Before lunch we split into 2 groups. Half started packing, which was strange as it dawned on us that we are leaving Manyenje very soon. The other half ploughed onwards to complete the wall by the tyre playground and finished painting the number and letter boards for the classroom. We swapped between these jobs until lunch where we dressed to the nines in our suave sarongs and Inspire t-shirts.

We then marched into the feeding centre where were met by esteemed colleagues of the community. It was a truly special moment and we felt honoured. Then it was time to prepare ourselves, emotionally and physically, for the...closing ceremony. We were joined by chiefs of neighbouring villages, 300+ village folk and the National Malawian News crew. We were presented with a platter of delicious dances, songs and speeches galore along with our contribution of our song Mayenje Dreaming *copyright*. The crowd went wild when we pretended to pray. They lapped it up. We also performed a 5 star performance of "A Typical Working Day in Manyenje" (Catchy we know), which was a mixed group of TGS gals and the Manyenje Youth Group. There was also a debut performance by the new hit band KAMP. (Kitty, Alexander, Mairi and Pao two local boys...watch out parents). It was heartbreaking to then say our final "Topita". For the slackers who haven't done their research that means "Goodbye".

We then headed back to the compound with the children beating on the straw walls chanting with their hoarse voices, "Tionana". Young, our Rastartist (Rasta + Artist = Rastartist) presented us with our hand crafted, one of a kind t-shirts x 20, which we lovingly shared with our leaders, Gemma and George, Stevie and Dorcas. Our eyes welled up when Young had to leave, with his sack on his shoulder, a tear in his eye and a goatee on his face to meet with his fellow Rastas in the fields. Proper tears ploppin. We then had a nutritious meal of rice cake, bread slice (note the singular form), hot chocolate and butter. In that order.

We are now caught up in real time and now writing in future time as we attempt an all nighter seizing every opp. When in Africa. We've decided that we prefer Manyanje instead of England and we are disappointed that we have to return "home". Stevie tells us that we are now full Malawians speaking in our native Chichewa tongue. Get practicing guys.

Peace and glove, keep it real

xoxo Gossip Girl

Just kidding it's Kitty and Erin.

Last day on site!

Today's update comes from George and Gem...

Today was Team 3's last full day on the project site. The group made excellent progress today, finishing liming inside the standard 1 classroom, which looks beaut. The building has really come together, with half of the roof now on.

The team have also been working hard on their educational games boards, which are now nearly done.

A few last minute touches will be followed by tomorrow's handover ceremony with the community. 

Both the community and the team are buzzing with excitement for tomorrow's festivities!

More tomorrow!

 

Fancy volunteering with Joshua in Malawi? Click here to find out how.

All work and no play?

Hey there Caitlyn and Hannah here.

Started the day with a wonderful breakfast: porridge, scrambled eggs, tomatoes and bread cooked by Flora, Rachel and Hannah.

Half the team stayed in the compound working on home improvements in the morning, the other half went to the project site to landscape for the terraced garden.

Unfortunately our washing up sink stone filtration system was all clogged up and it took our team a long time to rebuild it!

Fortunately our tyres arrived today so we were able to finish the tyre playground much to everyone's excitement.

A super lunch was then followed by a second coat on the toilets and a lot of rock collection for the playground. Also some of us got creative with local artist Yeung.

Whilst the rest of the team retired for showers, some of the team worked with the Manyenje youth group to create a drama ready for the ceremony on Tuesday.

Lydia, Lizzie and jess prepared a tasty treat of veggie burgers for dinner which filled us all up.

Stars today are:
Jemima
Lizzie

Pink toilets make their mark in Malawi

Hi from Jess and Flora.

Had another sunny day no rain :).

Breakfast was porridge, made slightly more exciting by the addition of golden syrup! We split into two teams; Jess's team stayed on site to finish plastering the school and Erin unfortunately suffered an assault from flying mortar (now fully recovered as Jem managed to wash the plaster out of her hair).

After breaking for mandazis, at which point George introduced the revaluation of peanut butter and jelly as a topping, we proceeded to paint the boots toilet block bright pink (we were aiming for peach, but with only red and white paint, our options were limited).

Flora's team set off to Mwandika, a neighbouring village, to visit the feeding centre where we played with the children, taught them some English and maths and then helped dish out the porridge.

We arrived back in time for lunch, regrouped and then made our way to the brick farm where we worked with some kids in a brick line.

After showers back at base Rachel and Ellie got to work cooking a delicious dinner whilst some of us went out to play football and netball with some of Manyenje youth-we got thrashed but everyone had fun..

We finished the day with pasta bolognase, enjoyed by all.

Stars today:

Caitlin for smiling and helping all day long.

Jess for helping others and grafting hard

Jump Rope and the Wisdom Tree

Kitty and Ez here.

Woke everyone up this morning with some circle of life.

This morning we did some liming and bonded with chief Manyenjes son, the other team were plastering. We stopped for mandazis and tea, the women from the community joined us and we learned about jump rope. We were really bad at it!

Then we did some brick lining with some massive motivational tunes ;)

Delicious lunch- guess what not nsema as we were expecting. After that we headed to the famed wisdom tree, which was really peaceful looking out over Manyenje and appreciating it's natural beauty Malawi style.

Then we headed to kachumbe feeding centre to meet with the local youth group, it was very special meeting people our own age. And we played an entertaining game of netball - Manyenje and tgs mixed teams.

After a sorrowful but elated goodbye from our new friends, we skipped down a massive hill with Stevie leading the way, leaping like gazelles.

Then we had a lovely dinner of Indian curry African stylee.

Stars:
Lydia - endless enthusiasm
Ellie - making a massive effort to make new friends in the group and community.

Peace and glove xoxo

Rainy day doesn't dampen spirits (well maybe one . . .)

Hey everyone, its Mairi & Jem

Today we woke up to rain on the tin roof, which was very noisy.  Some people left washing on the line and it ended up in the dirt outside.  We then had porridge and split into teams...  

Jen's team visited the feeding centre, playing games such as duck duck goose, which the children loved and we also practiced maths on the chalkboard.

Meanwhile, Mari's team got stuck into the plastering, singing Justin Beiber songs much to the local builder's enjoyment...  

We worked hard on improving our chichewa which the community found hilarious wirth our mispronounciations...  

We enjoyed mendazis and hot choc, much needed as it had not stopped raining all morning...  More plastering and then we were reunited as our teammates returned.  Lunch was beans and cabbage and nsima, followed by chichewa roleplays with Stevie.  

Then back to work, plastering and finishing digging the holes for the tyre playground... It rained...  a lot...  

Then we had some play time with the kids, a dance battle which Kitty won,  then we did lots of colouring in which the kids loved...  There were about 30 kids, and they were very sweet...  Then it was shower time, while Flora and Jess made an amazing Jambala style meal, which was yummy...

Love to everyone, peace and gloves, Team 3 xoxo

P.s Can all parents with chidren who love made in chelsea please record new series which starts on the 4th, thanks

P.PS can everyone with dogs please bring them to the airport for pick up :)

Tonbridge Team Three arrive in Manyenje

The team's first proper day in Malawi and it started with a nice breakfast at Fisherman's Rest then the drive to Manyenje Village where lots of smiling faces greeted the girls on arrival.

After some on-site orientation and games in their new home, the team met Malawian Field Officer Stevie and had a huge welcome ceremony from the village community.

The chief even got his speakers out and the whole village enjoyed a boogie before watching Manyenje football team take on another village in front of a huge crowd.

It's an early night tonight as the whole team is so impressed by the amount achieved by tgs 1 and 2 - they are excited to get cracking in the morning.

Ps the classroom can be seen in the back right of the photo below. It's looking amazing! 

Final day at Manyenje for Tonbridge Team 2

Today's post by Anika and Anneka!!

 

This will be the final blog post written from our lovely temporary home in Manyenje.

Today we enjoyed our final trip to the brick farm and after a period of brick - throwing alongside community members of all ages, we were lucky enough to watch the kiln; built up by the 16000 bricks, being lit and fired after being part of the making process over the last few days.

Despite the fact that everyone is sad to leave our little village, we enjoyed a warm sendoff by the entire Manyenje community. Our whole group paid some sort of tribute, including gym by Caitlin, drama performance starring Mr T, Hebe, Preet, Izzi and Alice. There was also a song sung by the whole group with solo duets by us (Anika and Anneka) and finally a speech by Freya and Alice.

We were treated with some traditional African dancing which was a completely new experience and extremely impressive.

Overall, we feel extremely privileged to have worked alongside such a welcoming community where we built new friendships with the locals (of all ages) and each other. Although it is sad that we must now leave the village, we look forward to our safari and the beautiful sights Malawi has to offer.

We are sure that Team 3 who are coming at the end of the week will enjoy Manyenje as much as we have (Miss Johnson - Mr T has been hard at work with your treasure hunt). We just quickly want to share some customised predeparture notes for team 3 (before was forget!) From the rest of the team:

1) bring enough pants. You can never have enough pants! (Or socks!)
2) remember to bring a watch. We are at the point of relying on the sun!
3) although it wasn't reccomended, we all wish we had brought more snacks as you always want an energy boost outside meal times.
4) only ruin 1 outfit for working. You will regret it if you don't when you want clean loungewear later.
5) enjoy every day and record it. Time flies in Malawi and you will love looking back at each day on your diaries and cameras.

Stars today:
George and Gem!!! The Inspire Leaders!

Day 7: Papaya and playgrounds

Update from Tonbridge Grammar volunteers

Today has been very busy. We woke to the delightful scene of homemade porridge with papaya and banana. 

After our early rising we got ready for a day of hard toil. Lizzie, Caitlin, Freya, Izzi, Annie T, Preet and Megan went to Mwandika feeding centre where there was a monthly drop in clinic. They spent the morning weighing the children and recording their weights in their baby books; selling medicated soap; and listening in to nurse Jean dealing with maladies ranging from fire smoke induced congestion to open wounds... 

Meanwhile Niamh, Anastasia, Hebe, Lydia, Anneka and Alice were flattening the playground area with paint pots full of cement and positioning tyres. They also went to the feeding centre and fed the children porridge whilst teaching them some basic maths and English.

Having returned for lunch we had a quieter afternoon playing with the local children as due to the late return of the group at the clinic, lunch was not finished till 4. 

We played duck duck goose a variation of French cricket and football.

We have just had an amazing singing performance by the girls from the lion king, a surprise hot chocolate and a lovely reflection time.

Over and out from Africa.
By Alice and Izzi.

Porridge, passion fruit and penalties..

The day started with porridge and passion fruit, which was a real treat. For the rest of the morning, we worked on site, whilst shouting our newly learnt chichewa words (to the amusement of the locals!). Bulesani wheeliba! Bulesani madz! Sanga sanga! (Bring wheelbarrow, bring water, faster faster).

The partition wall between the two classrooms was put up today by Anneka, Freya, Caitlin and About whilst the rest of the team hoed the playground to make it flat. Alice and Elizabeth helped Stevie make another shelf out of bamboo for the tambala (drying rack), which is now complete and is being put to good use!

In the afternoon we had a group outing to the youth group of a nearby village, where we played with the kids and had a big game of football. Well done to preet for her amazing penalty goal! Many of us found the steep walk up hill hard and had forgotten how unfit we were, but it was made worth it by the beautiful view out over Manyenje, and sitting under the Wisdom Tree at the top of the hill. Everyone enjoyed a great dinner of veggie burgers (thanks to cooks Izzie and Alice!) and are now ready for bed. Night!

Green Poncho causes excitement in Manyenje

This update has been written by the whole team, huddled in their dorm room supping on hot chocs after a hard days graft, with a rainy evening penning them inside...!

"Today we got stuck into some full on work on the building site. Some of us were bricklaying, some were mixing cement and some were hoeing the new play-ground. We shared our favourite mandazis with all of the builders at break time, and dinner was delicious spaghetti bolognaise made by Anika, Preet and Hebe. There was still time to enjoy teaching the children the alphabet at the feeding centre, as well as playing a game of football with some local boys, who were much better than us! 

Although its been raining today, excitement has arrived in the form of Mr Tothill's green poncho, which has been a source of much laughter and amusement for students and villagers alike! 

Everyone has settled in to the daily routine here in Manyenje, and we're all having a great time."