Tell them we are over the moon!

Joshua Trustee David Pearson has been working hard to complete a footbridge over the Mudi River and we are delighted to announce that it has now been completed. The Manyenje footbridge has been funded by Sherborne Castles Rotary Club. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the club and all its members for their incredible support. 

The Manyenje footbridge will transform lives during the rainy season by providing easy access to Manyenje Village year round. This will enabling villagers to safely use local schools, health facilities, financial services, churches and maize mills.

Speaking when the construction site was visited, the Village Headman of Manyenje was all smiles that a second bridge had been completed on the south-western side of his village after the first one (a road bridge) was constructed a year ago by Sherborne Rotary Club in collaboration with a Malawian Rotary Club. “As you can see, my village is an island and once the Mudi River swelled up during rainy season, this village was inaccessible. No one could neither go out of it nor come into it. Now everyone would have free mobility”, said Village Head.

How will this footbridge change lives? Manyenje Village is surrounded by three primary schools and two secondary schools. In order to get to school children from Manyenje have to cross Mudi River. Attending school became erratic and dangerous during the rainy season as it was dependent on the water levels in the river. As a result children often missed days or weeks of school and fell behind their classmates.

The bridge will also benefit people living in the surrounding villages, as children from villages in the western part of this region can now get to the newly built Manyenje Junior Primary School and Under-Six Feeding Centre much easier.

“The bridge will improve the livelihoods of people in Manyenje Village and all surrounding villages. It has been completed timely when the problems of crossing Mudi River were about to start at the onset of the rainy season. Everyone in the village is very happy with the development,” said an overjoyed Mai Kambila, a Caregiver at Manyenje Under-Six Feeding Centre.

The Village Head Manyenje concluded praising Joshua as quoted, “my village has become a town overnight. I now have a primary school, an under-six feeding centre, a teacher’s house and now, a bridge. Thank you Joshua! Please, send our gratitude to the donors. Tell them we are over the moon!”

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.