The Unforgettable Month that Changed My Life!

By Bedium Chirwa

Member of Team Umoza 

I could only imagine what life would be like working as a volunteer. I was not puzzled with the word volunteer but before ICS I didn’t know much about volunteering because I was only a businessperson with a shop and with knowledge of my community. Although I was inexperienced, I was enthusiastic about getting the job done while at the same time focusing on my personal development.

FIRST WEEK: adaptation week

New things are always difficult to adapt to. It was the same with me; it was not easy to acquire knowledge of YONECO’s work into my cerebrum. It was an amazing week of my journey as an ICS volunteer because we were introduced to the code of YONECO and some healthy tips of this lovely organization.  Since a businessperson is always a busy one, I had to show my fellow volunteers my shop so that they could buy some soft drinks as the axiom goes; ‘charity starts at home’. It was a busy week as everyone was preoccupied with the task of adapting to the environment.

Our group leaders had twice the amount of work we all had as they were expected to produce the team’s work plan. It was an interesting week that was full of words like ‘pardon’, ‘sorry’, ‘say it again’…among the team members. This was the case because of the communication barrier that existed between native English speakers and seond or third language speakers of English. Since this was ‘adaptation’ week, we eventually managed to overcome the barrier. We gave our team a vernacular name; ‘UMOZA’ which means “UNITY” in English. I enjoyed this week as the everyone in the team did his or her best to ensure successful implementation of activities throughout our placement.

SECOND WEEK: Let’s do it week

After last week’s introduction to YONECO Values and culture, the second week was much busier. I realized that buses were outside to take us to the field for our first session. Oh! I was so excited ‘TEAM UMOZA! Let’s do it!’ one of the team leaders shouted. It was a word of encouragement which meant myself-esteem was extremely boosted. The team worked well on this particular day and it became a trend for the rest of the week. I felt at home with team UMOZA as everyone was so friendly and caring. Everyone was ready to help me even when I only ask for a definition of a certain word; the team members willingly tell me and go further to explain the importance of the idea. It really is an Umoza (united) Team.

I enjoyed the session because it was the first day to show my talent and skills. Having reached Friday of the week, I started to understand who is an ICS and progressio volunteer as well as comprehending what is expected of me as a volunteer. ‘Mmmmmmh simple’ Learn, teach, respect other people’s views and ideas then join power as a group and impart the learnt knowledge to the target group. That’s how we moved this week.

                      

THIRD WEEK: togetherness week

Indeed life is full of ups and downs, as the week started we thought life would be simple and easy the way the first week was but ‘mmh’ we were all wrong. We never anticipated that our trip to Mfyavya village one of our buses will get stuck in the sand. We spent a lot of time to push it out of the sand and consequently; parenting and peer education sessions had to be rescheduled.

FOURTH WEEK: one goal

I enjoyed this week because everyone was alert and ready to work to personally develop and helping one another to achieve our targets. This is important since we are approaching the days for the mid-phase review.

I had to move up and down in search of the best and clear information to teach some students and community members.

In our first month, I have gathered all the needed information of an ICS volunteer. An ICS volunteer can be defined as:

>someone who works for the good of others

>someone who firmly believes in team work and respects the group dynamics

>someone who is always willing to learn from others

Progressio has shown me the true way to develop and change my life and the environment. I have already seen the true development which is in my learning. My life has really been transformed from a simple businessperson to someone who gives out important information to people who need it in order to  change the world for our own good.

A Life Skills Session with Secondatry School Students to Remember

By Olivia Sumrie

All the planning and preparation in the world could not have prepared us for our experience at Mpamba School in Nkhata Bay district.

We decked ourselves out in our official Progressio T-shirts and our bright green YONECO chitenjes. We looked and felt the part. Ready to go with our notes, posters and leaflets; we all felt very excited and raring to deliver what we had on our seemingly simple topic "Life Goals".

           

Squeezed into our mini bus, we drove for about 20 minutes out of town along a rickety dirt road with rural scenes and little villages stretched out on either side. As we crept to a halt at the gates of an enormous school, our reservations began to grow. Our minibus entered through open large metal gates into a huge dusty drive way. The school was vastly spread out but there were no children in sight.

We all stumbled out of the bus, adjusting our chitenjes, squinting in the sun to try and spot the children that were watching us from a distance in the shade. 

A teacher emerged out of nowhere and directed us to a huge building that was larger than any school gymnasium I have ever seen. As soon as we walked through the door, hundreds of faces between the ages of 13 to 20 were all staring up at us and smirking. We scrambled up onto the stage smiling awkwardly. The Headmaster greeted us formally in front of the children; sternly stating that we were expected an hour ago and we had to be quick as it was lunchtime. We had no idea we were late.

My role for the session was Monitoring and Evaluation, which meant I had to interview 3 students before and after the session in order to record the level of knowledge gain and progress of their learning. In a rush before we began the session, I randomly selected a young boy called Nepier to interview. Unfortunately he had no clue what I was saying when I asked him "what is a life goal?". Not off to a good start. Trying to take my job seriously was proving difficult with children surrounding us, laughing and shouting inches from my face. Eventually, after getting a few coherent answers,  the presentation started!

As an introductory lesson, we set out a range of issues such as STIs, peer pressure, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy. To keep it interesting, we performed a play that left Lewis with an STI and Kate pregnant. The kids were in hysterics. By standing up and using drama and humour we finally managed to catch their attention and respect. Thus, when we commenced our learning section, the youth really did try to listen and understand.

Due to the size of the school, my other job of counting the students proved impossible. I managed up to 200 and then, when they started to push and shove to the front it became impossible... I decided to let it be and take this session as a learning curve and be more prepared next time! (Later we found out there were over 450 in the room.)

After the session finished, I found Nepier to ask the same three questions. Without his boisterous friends present he squeezed his eyes shut in concentration, clearly wanting to answer correctly. Luckily I managed to get other volunteers to help take the other interviews and the ICVs (In Counrty Volunteers) were incredible in translating and making the students understand.

 

Although the school session shocked us at first, it has prepared us for all the school sessions to come. We now feel ready for anything.

Throughout the rest of the week, each school showed a range of knowledge, but they all shared an enthusiasm and excitement at being taught something new.

In sessions with students, when asking "how can you achieve your life goal?", they usually all stated work hard at school. The students in Malawi seem to respect education tremendously. Whilst in the UK, education is free up to 18 years, in Malawi only primary school is free. As a result, perhaps it gives the older youth in Malawi a sense of pride and gratefulness for being in school. Currently, there are nearly more girls in school than boys in Malawi. 

There is a feeling of hope and optimism that the next generation will really try and change life in Malawi with gender equality, life goals, health and human rights. Although we have only been here for three months and might have only skimmed the surface, with YONECO I hope we can help facilitate that change.

Ritual Cleansing: Cultural Practices that Steal Young People's Innocence

“I think there is so much we can do for the women and children who are victims of hyenas, gender-based violence, and all the other social evils that are out there”. This is what Malawi’s 2013 Big Brother Africa representative, Natasha Annie Tonthola, said during an interview with BBC’s Michael Wendling. Natasha explained the ordeal she went through as she was being traditionally ‘initiated’ into adulthood. 

 

Just as various national and international media channels were awash with a story about a man who was arrested for sleeping with young girls to cleanse and initiate them into adulthood; the celebrated entrepreneur cum girls’ rights activist, Natasha, came to the open and exposed the evils and dangers of such cultural practices.

 

Honestly speaking; our society is full of different harmful cultural practices that lead to various sexual reproductive health challenges. Many young people like, contraction of Sexually Transmitted Infections including HIV, fueling child marriages as well as teen pregnancies and other associated consequences. These aforementioned challenges have been faced and still affecting new victims year in year out.

 

Young people can avoid this kind of abuse by knowing their sexual reproductive health rights. No one is supposed to force you into having sex no matter what kind of influence that person has. When you get pregnant or an STI; it is the very same people who start discriminating and stigmatizing you. They are quick to force you into sex cleansing but they are always late to support when the ritual lands you in trouble.

 

Young people; do not trust others to make sexual reproductive health decisions on your behalf. It is your life and when you are troubled by your community to undergo a harmful cultural practice you can report this by calling toll free child helpline on 116, Community Victim Support Unit or any nearest Youth Friendly Health Service Delivery Point that is close to your area.

 

Remember; you have your sexual reproductive health rights and make wise and informed decisions. Do not let cultural beliefs and ritual steal your innocence …be assertive and report any form of abuse to remain cool and happy! 

My Commitment towards Enhancement of Young People's Lives in Nkhata Bay: An Account of an ICS-Progressio Volunteer

Written by Anthony Kannanda Phiri

One of the sessions which ICS-Progressio Volunteers had
with Secondary School students in Nkhata Bay district 

“Hello guys, listen, we are ICS volunteers who work with YONECO to among other things, promote the Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and welfare of young people here in Nkhata Bay district” – said one of my fellow ICS Progressio volunteers.

The ambiance was filled with noise that was being made by students during our first secondary school session in the Nkhata Bay district. As I was waiting for a time to commence activities as an ICV (In Country Volunteer), my head was so filled up with thoughts, uncertainties and expectations on how I will perform. It is really true that what was hard to bear is sweet to remember.

Young people in Malawi face a number of challenges and these challenges are also very prevalent in the communities where we are working in. Young people are constantly challenged by various SRHR issues like unwanted teen pregnancies, high prevalence rate of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among others. Further to this, young people easily succumb to negative pressure and indulge in binge drinking as well as abusing drugs and substances. This is a pitiful situation as the youth are leaders of today and tomorrow hence the need to provide them with necessary life skills to enable them to avoid such things.

The first day of work justified the need to intensify various SRHR sessions with young people.  Furthermore, the situation warrants the need to concentrate our efforts and the need to cooperate with students in primary and secondary schools as well as establishing strong linkages with other community members.

There is indeed a lot of work to do and all the team members need to maintain the momentum and approach the tasks enthusiastically in order to successfully complete the mission at hand.

An SRHR Session with Young people in progress 

I realized that life becomes so satisfactory when one contributes positively to various aspects of life and I am glad that as a volunteer, I am learning a lot as well as supporting the development of young people. Of course, I faced a lot of challenges at the beginning but now I feel confident and happy to be an ICS volunteer. Many people, more especially those who live in urban areas, think that life is simple but the case is not as such to those who live rural areas. In order to discover new lands, one must be willing to lose sight of the shore for a very long time. Life necessitates the need to learn and have and hunger for more knowledge.

As volunteers, we are trying our best to support the process of addressing various challenges and inequalities among people at different levels. We are associating very well with local communities and this is an important aspect of our work.

People who delay action until all factors are favorable do nothing. I am ready to reach out to hard to reach areas and work with as many youths as possible. I have also realized that in the efforts of trying to change others am also in the process of changing my life as well and sometimes this even happens at subconscious level.

Frankly speaking, I am enjoying the team work and a good working relationship we have established with our friends from UK  (UK based Progressio-ICS Volunteers). Man alone has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; Man alone can dream and make his dreams come true. It`s my dream to change the world, and it`s my dream that by the end of my placement, young people’s situation should not be the same.                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                

The Beauty of Language

Written By: Lewis Scholfield  ICS- Progression Volunteer) 

After an English learning session with young people in Nkhata
 Bay district

Living in England has given me an opportunity  to hear a variety of languages. To some people this causes frustration; as they find it disrespectful or feel like people are hiding things from them. As for me, I find language fascinating due to the use of slang and accents which stand out in crowds regardless of how densely populated an area is. As I arrived in Malawi, it became very confusing and difficult to communicate when trying to engage with ICV’s (in country volunteers) and people from the local town. However, after spending a few nights with our host family, Jamie and I found ourselves on the other side of this language barrier.

ICS-Progressio Volunteers from England having a wonderful
time with children outside YONECO Office in Nkhata Bay

We spent our evenings in the host home; it had become almost a ritual that Jamie and I catch up on our daily events and thoughts after a meal. We’d be sat looking out over the tropical bay and within minutes of the conversation starting, two brothers from the family would come and sit close by us. Both boys are aged 13 and have a very basic knowledge of the English language, so by the third night we began to question their reasoning as it seemed they did not have any. 

We started by asking the boys if they understood what we were saying. The only response was a look of confusion. We tried again using hand gestures and slowly and clearly asked “Do you understand us?” The boys shook their heads. We continued with this method and asked “Would you like us to teach you English?” Both boys sprung up with excitement and responded “Yes, yes, yes!” I was shocked by the passion and enthusiasm these boys had, usually the adolescents back home would be reclusive and theirs motivation withdrawn. Whereas the optimism and positive attitudes made me feel like these boys may be fluent by the evenings end.

Two hours flew by, we used a notebook to write out the alphabet and a dim torch was the only source of light after a familiar blackout. Although the resources where basic, the boys positive outlooks remained. We spent the first hour learning the alphabet and each letter’s pronunciation. We continued the lesson finding words starting with corresponding letters. An example of this would be, A for apple. I remembered this teaching style from school, when I would have been in a similar situation to the children I found myself teaching. It seemed effective as the boys quickly started taking over the examples. To ensure both myself and the child understood the references; we would draw a picture underneath each example.

After spending a few days without any understanding of each other, the four of us found ourselves laughing and talking together. We would reinforce the boys with clapping or by saying “Good”, we’d correct mistakes and then demonstrate why it was a mistake. Overall this made our relationships stronger and the boy’s grandparents thanked us with such gratitude.

 This felt unnecessary as we were living in a room they had provided, we ate meals that they’d cook and provided us with the means and explanations to carry out simple tasks like washing our clothes. It felt great to be doing something that benefited somebody else. 

We have come to Malawi to make a difference, and after some weeks of planning and learning, this was our first real interaction.

Reflections on Childhood versus Technology

Children having fun with ICS Progressio volunteers in
Nkhata Bay district 

It is now been over a month since I first arrived in Malawi. Amongst all of our cultural differences, the thing that has stood out to me the most is the sense of community and how happy everyone here is. Families in Malawi do not have much as compared to us back home in the UK and yet they seem to be so happy with their lives. It's such a breath of fresh air to see children being children. Playing outside and getting covered in dirt, instead of sitting inside playing with various electronic devices. 

Personally, I feel that as the UK has developed and our technology has advanced, we have lost some of the simple ways of having fun. We have grown as a country and yet we have not grown to our full potential as individuals. Here in Malawi, the children spend time from dusk till dawn outside: playing, falling over, making new friends, and discovering what is around them. As individuals, these children seem so aware of their surroundings and they find new ways of recreation by themselves playing with what's around. For me, technology is what I use to survive and communicate. From small things such as checking the time to getting directions, I am always relying on technology.

When we first landed at Lilongwe International Airport, my first point of call was to charge my phone, get a simcard and get internet access. This just shows how much we, from the UK, cannot go without technology for very long.

However living out here I have learnt that you do not need the latest gadgets to have fun and communicate. The simplest things that are locally available make people happy. Just sitting playing games with my host family or having a conversation over dinner - no technology needed.

Let the game begin! ICS Progressio volunteers captured during one
of their sessions with children in Nkhata Bay district- Malawi 

 In Malawi, children do not have phones; if you want to speak to your friend you talk to them in person. I have

 made such strong bonds with people here by just being with them. When we have had electricity blackouts we have had to find new ways to pass time other than watching TV or being on Facebook.

The sense of oneness in the villages of Malawi is something to admire. People leave their homes open all day, everyone and anyone is welcome to come round and will always be greeted and looked after. The relationship everyone has with their neighbours is one of trust.

Being in this beautiful country has taught me so much and given me much to reflect on as well. Here are some questions I feel we should all think about: 

       Do we really need as much technology as we use every day in our lives? 

       How have we become very reliant on materialistic things, just by growing up in a different the part of the                world?

by Maria Tariq

Trials and Tribulations of the Girl Child in Nkhata Bay District

ICS Progressio volunteers conducting a life skills session
 with young girls in Nkhata Bay

Malawi is a country with a fast growing population. The country possesses attractive topographical features that beckon people from across the globe to pay us a visit. The country is well known for its peaceful co-existence and great scenic beauty. This story is about the life of girls who live in this beautiful country called Malawi and the focus of this entry leads us to the northern region of Malawi, particularly in Nkhata Bay district.

The situation of young girls in and around Nkhata Bay district attracts the attention

of both local and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) like YONECO (Youth Net and Counselling).

Visit various work places and you will notice that there are more male employees than females. Furthermore, the top positions in such workplaces are also held by men. There exists a disparity between males and females when it comes to their participation in socioeconomic activities. Most vibrant business ventures are owned by men and this is so heartrending as one wonders where women are in all this.  

What does this tell us about girls in Malawi?

 If we again take our story to the typical rural villages of Nkhata Bay, you will find that there are many girls who dropped out of school and have now become mothers while their male counterparts are still in school.

Why is the situation like this?

Posing this question to a number of girls, one of the most common answers which one gets is poverty. To a certain extent, poverty triggers a number of undesirable circumstances that force girls to drop out of school, marry at a tender age and start bearing children even before they reach their 18^th birthday. I know some girls who used to travel over 10 kilometres a day to and from school.  Some girls in this kind of a situation try their best to walk but they eventually get tired of the long distance which they cover 5 days a week.

Some lustful men take advantage of this and entice the girls with money forcing the girls to sleep with them in exchange for transport money to hire a Kabanza (Taxi Bicycle) to school.

Furthermore, there are also other dangers that accompany the issue of girls covering long distances to school. We talk of Gender Based Violence cases which the girls are exposed to as they are going or coming from school. There have also been incidents of rape cases which force a majority of girls to withdraw from school because they are afraid of being raped.

After dropping out of school various challenges come up in the lives of these innocent Malawian girls who do not have anything better to do at home. Basically, their lives are then characterised by teen motherhood, child marriages and their associated problems.

Is this the only course a girl’s life can take?

Sometimes, traditional backgrounds and a lack of exposure to role models also play a part in forcing a girl to marry or fall pregnant at tender age. In most village settings, you cannot find a girl who successfully finished primary let alone secondary school education. Having role models or being aware of the importance of education can make girls understand and work hard despite challenges like distance. On the issues of fear of being raped; girls can avoid such a scenario by just walking in groups and no one can dare come near them. It is very clear that dropping out of school because of poverty does not help matters rather it just increases the poverty levels.

However, there is still a need to make sure that there are enough schools with enough learning and teaching materials. Some girls whom I had a chat with also told me that they do not feel comfortable to sit on the floor. Isn’t this the responsibility of the government, well-wishers or the corporate world to support with materials like books, desks etc

Things are not supposed to be this way. There is a need for CHANGE. The situation is not only bad for Malawian girls  who live in Nkhata Bay district, many girls in various parts of the world especially those in Africa face a number of changes. We can do something to improve the social economic welfare of all including girls, boys, women and men.  Equity, equality and fairness should rule us and be the cornerstones of our society. The weapon of change is in our hands! What steps are you taking to bring change in the lives of girls?    

By: Brian Chiumia