We're Home

After a fruitful three months in Malawi, Dustin and I have returned home to Portland. And after many empty promises, I am finally able to upload some photos of our time there.

Here's our Program Coordinator Margaret Nandoli.



This is Grace, wearing a shirt donated by Portland friend Shannon Brown (she got them from the Multnomah County Library). Grace is Bola Moyo's volunteer youth librarian.



We used the other donated t-shirts as prizes for a writing contest. To be eligible to win, the students had to write a short essay discussing cultural aspects of their tribe. The assignment included interviewing a parent about the ways of the past. Young students were allowed to have parental assistance in composing their stories. Out of 30 entries, our staff chose 6 winners (3 for each age group - younger and older) and read each winning entry aloud. I wish you could have heard the gasp when we unveiled these bright, beautiful blue shirts as prizes!





Here is our growing library! Thank you to all who donated books.



Here, Dustin is training Grace to be our librarian. Look at that concentration. She is very much up to the challenge.





Before children use the books, they must first wash their hands. We don't have running water at the centre, but we improvise.





The kids also must go through a "book borrower's training" before they use and check out the books. Here, Grace is going over the guidelines, i.e. washing hands, turning pages gently, using bookmarks, placing books on the shelf correctly, and avoiding late and missing book fees, etc. Before a child can borrow a book, he or she must first complete the training and be tested on the material. Children are also required to have a parent or guardian "co-sign," accepting responsibility for the books his or her children check out.

While the book training may sound very simple, most of these concepts are new to many of the kids, most of whom have never owned a book. For example, Malawian kids (and adults) often grab the middle of a page to turn it, instead of using the edge or corner, and thus wear books out quickly. Though there's quite a learning curve, most of our kids are catching on successfully.



Here, our staff member Isaac is reading with some of the early readers during our English study day.



The students are also learning crafts. Here, Margaret is teaching the girls to sew. They are each making a square to join into a large quilt.



And of course, in Africa it would be impossible to not have dance on the menu of activities.



Drums are a new addition to the centre, and quite a welcomed one!



Several days a week, the kids start out the afternoon with games. One team is VERY excited to win.





This is Alinafe. (Her name means "God is with us.") I had to include her picture, simply because she's adorable.



And here we have some of the regulars at The House of Many Stories Youth Centre. The centre is becoming locally known as "the club." So far, we serve a slightly higher proportion of girls than boys.



Well that's it for the first round of pictures. Little by little, we'll add more stories and pics. Thanks for reading!