Long time silent!

Over the last few months I have been on home leave.  I decided to take this time out as during the rainy season there is no chance of any construction taking place.  During my absence there hasn't been much progress that should probably be no progress on the site but no doubt the bush will have grown wild again!

Since I've been home I have been able to visit the Mary Erskine Junior School and take part in an assembly.  I also had lunch with the Chesney Club and spent some time with the pupils who had lots of questions to ask aboutl life for school children in Malawi.  I have attened a trustees meeting, a meeting of the Edinburgh Lions Club, The Leith Rotary Club a NIDOS workshop and managed to fit in some visits with friends and relatives.  It has been a busy time and I'm looking forward to returning to Malawi to get on with the work that is being so well supported.

The new desks installed in the class room

Last week I received some photos from Worried, my office assitant of the the first set of 20 desks for the class rooms.  These desks are being made by students at Mzuzu Technical College and a further 20 are still to be completed. 
The room is now taking on the appearance of a class room and all that is required now are the students.  We are hoping we will be in a position to open at the start of the the 2011 - 2012 academic year - September this year - quite a challenge but I think we are up for it.


While I have been home the class rooms have been used for meetings for the groups selected to take part in the small scale livestock project. 
I understand the steering committee has been formed and the groups and sub groups have been fully prepared for the hand over of the livestock which is due to take place on my return.  This will involve the handing over of 40 female goats and 10 bucks.  The idea is that the groups will begin breeding and as the stock increases further groups will be formed.  This is an income generating activtiy for the villagers from the three villages within the catchment area of the school.

The The Tailoring Hopefuls

Before I came home in December we took delivery of the first three hand operated sewing machines and a further two machines are currently on the way.  Once these arrive we will start the tailoring classes for 10 local women.  Once trained they will be encouraged to set up a co-operative and operate as a business, again an income generating project. 

Walking to the nearest maize mill

20kgs on her head and a baby and a child also carrying a 20kg bag

Plans are also in the pipeline to have the maize mill operating within the next few months.  This will make a real difference to the lives of local women who have to travel up to 10 kms  to the nearest mazie mill.with a 20kg bag of maize carried on their head and a baby slung over their back. Once our mill is operating this will drastically reduce this daily trek.  Women have all the chores to do and spend much of the day collecting firewood. preparing meals for their families and grinding maize.




Once back in Malawi my task will be to draw up the programme for this year's group of volunteers from Outlook Exepditions.  We have had had two very successful years working with this organisation and look forward to another successful visit again this year.  apart from that we have a group coming for a few days from St Maurice's High School in Cumbernauld and we have a group of 5 independent volunteers coming for a month in August one of whom is a returning volunteer and ex pupil of St Maurice's who visited in 2007 so she will see a massive difference when she comes out in August.  My niece is also coming from New Zealand for a month in July and she will be working with the women in the local villages implementing a food and hygiene programme.  So a busy few months ahead.

I will further update once back in the Warm heart of Africa.......until then cheers and keep following us either on the website or on our Facebook page