“From day one, Malawi’s nickname as ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’ has rung true”.
Hi Everyone!
My name is Tom, I’m 20 and a student at the University of Leeds. I’m currently in my fourth week in Malawi, volunteering alongside my friend Bree. The problem with going second is that she has now set the standard incredibly high but hopefully I can still give you an insight into what a week working with Mbedza looks like.
This is my first time in Africa and my first time outside the Western world. At first everything felt unfamiliar and a little overwhelming on the senses: the red dust tracks for roads, the 20 or so people crammed into the back of passing pickup trucks and the markets piled high with tomatoes and crates of live chickens seemed a million miles from my comfort zone. The poverty is striking. Even something as simple as playing football with some of the younger children on a makeshift pitch amongst built-up residential areas or at Mbedza’s Songani centre offers a window into this reality. Their bare feet send up clouds of dust as they kick footballs made from balled up rags and plastic bags, but this does little to dent their infectious energy and joy. From day one, Malawi’s nickname as “The Warm Heart of Africa” has rung true. Everywhere we go, we’re greeted with shouts of “Azungu [foreigner], hi!” and a seemingly endless stream of fist bumps and friendly conversations. It’s this warmth, combined with the support of our friends at Mbedza (including Jessie, Prisca, Richard and many more), that helped us settle into the rhythm of life here. With them, we’ve been to church, local bars, eaten traditional meals at their houses, hosted our own games night and overall got a true taste of Malawian life. We’ll talk more about what we get up to in our free time in our next blog I’m sure!
Learning about Mbedza’s projects during orientation week (HIV testing and counselling at the Songani Centre)
Our fieldwork with Mbedza has taken us to remote villages – a world away from the bustling markets and lively bars in town. Yet, that same spirit of generosity and resilience shines through. When we arrive, villagers greet us with singing, welcome us into their homes and share their traditional food during our breaks. My attempts at digging seem to be a source of entertainment for the experienced female villagers whose strength and skill puts me to shame! Tuesdays and Wednesdays have quickly become my favourite days, as they’re spent in the field with Mbedza’s tree monitoring and sustainable agriculture projects. These align closely with my university studies on climate change, and it’s been eye-opening to see how environmental issues interact so closely with people’s lives here. The effects of climate change aren’t distant or abstract in Malawi – they’re immediate and visible. Cyclones in particular have left deep scars, especially in rural communities. What’s struck me most is how local organisations like Mbedza are stepping up to lead the charge – adapting, rebuilding, and educating where global efforts so often fall short. It’s the grassroots expertise and hands-on local leadership offered by Mbedza and implemented by tireless villagers that offer a glimpse of hope in what can otherwise be a disheartening, uphill battle.
Tom at the Tree Project with Richard
Since our orientation week, our Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays have been spent tutoring English at two nearby secondary schools. I was pretty nervous before our first lessons, but we’ve worked hard to make them as fun and interactive as possible – and judging by the energy and participation in the classroom, the students seem to be enjoying them too. What’s really struck me is how strong their English is at such a young age. We’ve had to do a fair bit of homework ourselves just to stay one step ahead and ensure we’re confident with the curriculum. Whilst English might seem like a colonial hangover, it’s still a vital subject here – not just for communication, but because, rightly or wrongly, passing English exams remains key to progressing through the school system and opening doors for future opportunities.
An engaging English tutoring session at Malindi school in action. MOEP students (and even other students from the school) have wanted to take part in their sessions!
So that’s how our last few weeks with Mbedza have been shaping up in terms of our responsibilities, with lots of time to have fun, explore or relax in the sun in between!
Speak soon,
Tom