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Africa is where our organisation originated. Placements in Malawi were introduced in 1993 by our Founders, Nigel Warren and Peter Bell, and we have strong links with the communities and schools around Dedza and Zomba. We employ a local representative to support our projects, who is on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We place volunteers in school accommodation within the community providing the schools with a source of income to cover accommodation for the volunteers.
In the long term we hope to continue and develop our projects to help with English and extra curricular activities in more of the poor schools in these regions. Volunteers bring a new dimension to teaching in Malawi - its more interactive and fun for the children. Volunteers are also able to offer extra-mural subjects like sport, music, art etc, which are not normally included in the school timetable.
In 1994, the Government of Malawi abolished school fees for primary education, resulting in an increase in school enrolment from 1.9 million to 3.2 million and an average pupil-teacher ratio of 72, so schools are understaffed. They are also very poor and lack furniture, textbooks, sports equipment, and usually stationary. Therefore, you as a volunteer teacher will be very useful in bringing not only the interest of the outside world but an extra pair of hands for the hard-pressed staff.
We normally use the same houses for volunteers each year so families in the community and teachers who host them are familiar with our volunteers and welcome them into their village. Volunteers are briefed on customs and cultures advising them to be responsible and respectful of their host community. We also try to assist the same schools each term so the teachers are familiar with our volunteers and what they should be involved in. Post project reviews are always completed with schools and volunteers to make sure your help is always needed.
Our charitable arm supports Lizulu Primary School to fund new classrooms. With 1,665 students and only 14 classrooms, there are on average 118 pupils in each class, so with funds available through the foundation they are converting a local building into 4 new classrooms.
At St Johns Primary School the foundation has donated £750 to install a water tank and associated system for the school. They previously had to go without water in high temperatures. The foundation has granted a total of over £20,000 in bursaries to 164 children in schools in Kenya , Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi. These bursaries are administered by the head teachers of schools so that a child, once sponsored, can complete his or her education. They are awarded to children who could otherwise not afford the costs (e.g. food and boarding charges if they live far from school) and therefore have to leave school early.
There are many volunteers who choose to go on to fundraise for the their Malawian schools and villages – donating school equipment, helping with funds for new or improved classrooms/facilities, and sponsoring children through education. Volunteer Sophie donated over £1400 to fund a basketball court, books and furniture at Mlanda Primary School. Vicky Bayliss has started a fund called Build Up St Anthony’s to help refurbish classrooms as well as building a library. Gina Rose built and funds the running of St Anthony’s Nursery School in Chilumpha. Tim Hughes has established the Chikupira Foundation to raise funds to build two new classroom blocks at Chikupira Model Primary School and has plans to help rebuild and refurbish other schools in the district. Inspire Malawi is a charity set up by Michelle Rowe to support teachers and schools in the most isolated villages in Dedza and Ntcheu district.
Living with the Malawians is a simple way of life - with no running water or electricity, you will learn to appreciate these luxuries we take for granted in the Western World.
We interview all volunteers and discuss the project in great detail, you will be given documents about what to expect from your project, from communities, school life, living within the village to how the Malawians respect their environment. On arrival there is an induction course in Lilongwe, to introduce you to Malawi. Heather Wallace, our local representative will talk about the Malawians and their history. You will also be introduced to basic Chichewa phrases so you can integrate into the community. We will encourage all volunteers to use local products and services.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
