Former CVCC instructor to spend two years in Malawi with Peace Corps
MORGANTON - When Sondra Kimberlin, 61, retired from teaching at Catawba Valley Community College in December, she thought she would take a few months to decide what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. It didn’t take her long to realize she wasn’t happy sitting at home, not doing anything.
“I was vegetating, and was in a state of discontent,” Kimberlin said. “I went down to Asheville to hear a presentation on the Peace Corps, just to listen. My specialty in teaching was speech, so I didn’t think I could be of use to them. But they told me they would teach me what I needed to know to teach others in another country. I’ve always wanted to live in a different environment and learn a new language. So I thought I’d apply.”
However, applying for the Peace Corps is not as simple as it sounds. Only about a third of the people who apply for the Peace Corps actually get in because the application process is so stringent.
Kimberlin first had to get a medical application. This includes an eye exam that was within the last six months. Then, she had to go to the dentist and have a chart written about everything that was ever done to each tooth. She had to have a complete physical, which included getting booster shots of all of her childhood immunizations.
“My doctor told me they’d never even done some of the tests they had to perform on me for the medical application,” Kimberlin said. “And if one thing was out of whack on any of the tests, they’d have to do that test over again.”
The application was completed with several letters of intent as to why she wanted to join. Kimberlin also had to meet with a recruiter in Greensboro who asked her multiple questions, including which country she wanted to live in. Although you sometimes don’t get your first choice, Kimberlin was one of the lucky ones.
“I wanted to go to Africa because of the culture, the civil unrest, the status of women there is appalling. I’ve just always wanted to go there before I die,” she said. “They offer you a country, and you have five days to turn an offer down. I’ll be going to Malawi.”
Kimberlin will begin her two-day training with the Peace Corps on Sept. 23, and will fly to Africa on Sept. 25. She’ll live with a Malawi family until December, while she learns the native language, Chichewa, as well as the culture. She’s already been practicing the language with a tape she’s received from the Peace Corps.
However, even though she’s made the first cut and has been selected for the Peace Corps, there’s no guarantee that she’ll stay.
“Even though people are selected for the Peace Corps and go to the countries they’re sent to, some people just can’t adjust. Maybe they can’t adjust to no electricity, or they can’t get used to having corn porridge four times a week or community showers,” Kimberlin said. “Whatever the reason, some people will go home.”
Kimberlin, though plans to be one of the ones who will stick with it and remain in Malawi until December 2009. She is allowed to come back to the U.S. on vacation, but at her own expense.
While teaching in Malawi, Kimberlin must wear dresses that fall below her knee and wear close-toed shoes. Kimberlin said she was told the Malawi people dress conservatively not for themselves, but to respect other people.
“When was the last time you heard that in the United States? This is a society where respect is mandated. In the U.S., it’s not even expected. I wanted to find out what these people have found out that made life so enjoyable. There are things to learn from these people,” she said.
Kimberlin may be trading in French fries, vacuum cleaners and TV, but it’s nothing to what she’ll be getting in return.
“I want to experience from these people a culture that will change me. I’m willing to share my talents as a teacher and share hard work, but I want to be changed,” she said.
Monday, 10 September 2007
Taiwan fetes African allies despite Chinese protest
Taiwan and its five diplomatic allies in Africa met on Sunday to discuss new aid requests for the impoverished visiting nations and shore up overall ties, as China slammed the meeting as a political ploy.
Heads of state from Burkina Faso, Gambia, Malawi, Swaziland and Sao Tome and Principe met Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian and other senior leaders from relatively well-off Taiwan to discuss aid related to poverty relief, education, health care and Internet access.
"Of course we're asking for aid," said Thengo Maloya, Malawi's ambassador to Taiwan. "The needs are great."
Health was a key agenda item, with Taiwan giving AIDS-racked Swaziland special medical attention.
The aid requests have exceeded what Taiwan's foreign ministry assistance programme can pay for, a programme official said.
But in Beijing on Saturday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the Taiwan meeting was not motivated by altruism.
"The real purpose in hosting the 'Taiwan Africa Summit' is not to support African development, nor for the benefit of the Taiwanese people, but for the private interests of individual persons and political parties, attempting to conduct 'Taiwan Independence' splittist activities, further intensify its dollar diplomacy, and undermine Sino-African friendship," Jiang said.
China has seen self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory rather than as a separate country since the two split after civil war in 1949. Today China seeks to isolate Taiwan diplomatically by taking away its diplomatic allies.
So the two sides compete for diplomatic partnerships by giving investment aid to poor nations, which must choose either China or Taiwan.
RAW MATERIALS
Thirsty for oil and raw materials, China has zoomed in on Africa's mineral wealth, building on a legacy of goodwill from its support of independence movements in the 1960s and 1970s. Its trade with Africa is forecast to soar to $100 billion by 2010, from $6 billion in 2000.
Taiwan has 24 diplomatic allies around the world, mostly small impoverished nations, compared to China's roughly 170.
Despite mounting pressure on aid-dependent Malawi over a budget crisis and questions about the Swazi king's purchases of fancy cars while the population struggles with poverty, Taiwan Foreign Minister James Huang said his government would stay out of the internal affairs of these two nations.
"Every country has its own situation," Huang said at a press conference. "We respect every country's political system."
Specific aid deals are kept secret.
The five African nations also voiced support in a final summit declaration for Taiwan's application to join the United Nations, a request that China has blocked for the past 14 years.
Taiwan again stands no chance of admission this year, but political analysts say the application -- and the summit as a whole -- play well at home for a ruling party trying to push the issue of Taiwan sovereignty ahead of tough 2008 elections.
"It's for political considerations, for Chen to show the public that he can still get this kind of audience," said George Tsai, a Chinese Culture University politics instructor in Taipei. (Additional reporting by Lucy Hornby in Beijing)
Heads of state from Burkina Faso, Gambia, Malawi, Swaziland and Sao Tome and Principe met Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian and other senior leaders from relatively well-off Taiwan to discuss aid related to poverty relief, education, health care and Internet access.
"Of course we're asking for aid," said Thengo Maloya, Malawi's ambassador to Taiwan. "The needs are great."
Health was a key agenda item, with Taiwan giving AIDS-racked Swaziland special medical attention.
The aid requests have exceeded what Taiwan's foreign ministry assistance programme can pay for, a programme official said.
But in Beijing on Saturday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the Taiwan meeting was not motivated by altruism.
"The real purpose in hosting the 'Taiwan Africa Summit' is not to support African development, nor for the benefit of the Taiwanese people, but for the private interests of individual persons and political parties, attempting to conduct 'Taiwan Independence' splittist activities, further intensify its dollar diplomacy, and undermine Sino-African friendship," Jiang said.
China has seen self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory rather than as a separate country since the two split after civil war in 1949. Today China seeks to isolate Taiwan diplomatically by taking away its diplomatic allies.
So the two sides compete for diplomatic partnerships by giving investment aid to poor nations, which must choose either China or Taiwan.
RAW MATERIALS
Thirsty for oil and raw materials, China has zoomed in on Africa's mineral wealth, building on a legacy of goodwill from its support of independence movements in the 1960s and 1970s. Its trade with Africa is forecast to soar to $100 billion by 2010, from $6 billion in 2000.
Taiwan has 24 diplomatic allies around the world, mostly small impoverished nations, compared to China's roughly 170.
Despite mounting pressure on aid-dependent Malawi over a budget crisis and questions about the Swazi king's purchases of fancy cars while the population struggles with poverty, Taiwan Foreign Minister James Huang said his government would stay out of the internal affairs of these two nations.
"Every country has its own situation," Huang said at a press conference. "We respect every country's political system."
Specific aid deals are kept secret.
The five African nations also voiced support in a final summit declaration for Taiwan's application to join the United Nations, a request that China has blocked for the past 14 years.
Taiwan again stands no chance of admission this year, but political analysts say the application -- and the summit as a whole -- play well at home for a ruling party trying to push the issue of Taiwan sovereignty ahead of tough 2008 elections.
"It's for political considerations, for Chen to show the public that he can still get this kind of audience," said George Tsai, a Chinese Culture University politics instructor in Taipei. (Additional reporting by Lucy Hornby in Beijing)
Making sense of Kagame’s Malawi visit
Last week, President Paul Kagame had a three-day state visit to Malawi where, together with his counterpart Bingu wa Mutharika, inaugurated Paul Kagame Road in the southern African country’s capital, Lilongwe.
There could not have been a more deserved visit by the Head of State than the one to Malawi, a country that shares much in common with Rwanda.
With both countries being landlocked and experiencing high population growth rates, at least 90 percent of their respective populations are agriculturalists.
The visit provided an excellent opportunity for the two nations to share experiences to help overcome obstacles that still dog their economies.
“Rwanda and Malawi have similar challenges.
They are both least developed and fall under HIPC (Highly Indebted Poor Countries), and as such they need to defeat challenges facing them and move on,” Dr David Himbara, President Kagame’s Advisor on Policy and Strategy, said of the problems both nations face.
The advantages from such a visit are wide-ranging and can fit within the contexts of African Union, the Common Market for Southern and Eastern Africa (Comesa), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad); organisations of which both countries are members.
Voted into power in May 2004, wa Mutharika, a former UN expert and economist by profession, is credited for transforming Malawi’s economy. Under his rule, analysts say, the country has turned from food importer to food exporter.
After the visit it was announced that Rwanda would begin to import sugar from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) nation.
Over the past three years, Malawi has made spectacular gains. The country also exports tobacco, tea, cotton, coffee and maize; although it still imports most of the other commodities.
As sister nations, the two countries also have other issues of special interest. For instance, Malawi hosts hundreds of thousands of Rwandan refugees.
Predictably, the two presidents discussed the refugee issue, agreeing that a tripartite commission comprising of both governments and the UNHCR be instituted and immediately devise means to having those Rwandans repatriated home.
This is in line with Kigali’s desire to have all Rwandan refugees in as many countries repatriated home to help rebuild and develop their motherland.
Therefore, the decision to return those in Malawi will ultimately supplement the ongoing efforts to build a knowledge-based economy – one that thrives on the skills of Rwandans themselves.
More importantly, Kagame’s entourage must have borrowed a leaf from their colleagues in Lilongwe in especially implementing government’s programmes and making regular follow-ups.
Whereas most government policy papers have been recognised internationally, the kind of bureaucracy and inconsistencies continue to bog down the pace at which results are realised.
It is extremely important that whenever the President goes on such important visits, those accompanying him should be able to fetch new ideas on how to better carryout out their duties.
For instance, the commitment of Malawian leaders in developing their country should provide a lesson to some of our leaders.
Interestingly, President wa Mutharika is at the same time the country’s Agriculture minister.
Perhaps, he was motivated by his rich personal expertise in economics. He has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Delhi, India and a PhD in development economics from Pacific Western University in California, US.
However, it does not mean that Kagame or other presidents must also award themselves ministerial positions lest all other officials fold their arms and wait for the Head of State to do everything.
It would be ridiculous and highly disastrous if ministers picked up the habit of performing only when they are under the watchful eye of the President.
One thing that the President has always decried about is the country’s dependence on the taxes from the citizens of other countries.
Such a problem can only be overcome when everyone, particularly leaders, execute their duties with a sense of responsibility other than with an “I don’t care” attitude which reportedly characterises a number of our top leaders.
There could not have been a more deserved visit by the Head of State than the one to Malawi, a country that shares much in common with Rwanda.
With both countries being landlocked and experiencing high population growth rates, at least 90 percent of their respective populations are agriculturalists.
The visit provided an excellent opportunity for the two nations to share experiences to help overcome obstacles that still dog their economies.
“Rwanda and Malawi have similar challenges.
They are both least developed and fall under HIPC (Highly Indebted Poor Countries), and as such they need to defeat challenges facing them and move on,” Dr David Himbara, President Kagame’s Advisor on Policy and Strategy, said of the problems both nations face.
The advantages from such a visit are wide-ranging and can fit within the contexts of African Union, the Common Market for Southern and Eastern Africa (Comesa), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad); organisations of which both countries are members.
Voted into power in May 2004, wa Mutharika, a former UN expert and economist by profession, is credited for transforming Malawi’s economy. Under his rule, analysts say, the country has turned from food importer to food exporter.
After the visit it was announced that Rwanda would begin to import sugar from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) nation.
Over the past three years, Malawi has made spectacular gains. The country also exports tobacco, tea, cotton, coffee and maize; although it still imports most of the other commodities.
As sister nations, the two countries also have other issues of special interest. For instance, Malawi hosts hundreds of thousands of Rwandan refugees.
Predictably, the two presidents discussed the refugee issue, agreeing that a tripartite commission comprising of both governments and the UNHCR be instituted and immediately devise means to having those Rwandans repatriated home.
This is in line with Kigali’s desire to have all Rwandan refugees in as many countries repatriated home to help rebuild and develop their motherland.
Therefore, the decision to return those in Malawi will ultimately supplement the ongoing efforts to build a knowledge-based economy – one that thrives on the skills of Rwandans themselves.
More importantly, Kagame’s entourage must have borrowed a leaf from their colleagues in Lilongwe in especially implementing government’s programmes and making regular follow-ups.
Whereas most government policy papers have been recognised internationally, the kind of bureaucracy and inconsistencies continue to bog down the pace at which results are realised.
It is extremely important that whenever the President goes on such important visits, those accompanying him should be able to fetch new ideas on how to better carryout out their duties.
For instance, the commitment of Malawian leaders in developing their country should provide a lesson to some of our leaders.
Interestingly, President wa Mutharika is at the same time the country’s Agriculture minister.
Perhaps, he was motivated by his rich personal expertise in economics. He has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Delhi, India and a PhD in development economics from Pacific Western University in California, US.
However, it does not mean that Kagame or other presidents must also award themselves ministerial positions lest all other officials fold their arms and wait for the Head of State to do everything.
It would be ridiculous and highly disastrous if ministers picked up the habit of performing only when they are under the watchful eye of the President.
One thing that the President has always decried about is the country’s dependence on the taxes from the citizens of other countries.
Such a problem can only be overcome when everyone, particularly leaders, execute their duties with a sense of responsibility other than with an “I don’t care” attitude which reportedly characterises a number of our top leaders.
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