Volunteering Abroad in Malawi: The Republic of Malawi is a small, impoverished yet incredibly beauty country in southeastern Africa. It is one of the most densely populated African countries, which remains heavily dependent on agriculture.
PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 30, 2008 – Volunteering Abroad in Malawi: The Republic of Malawi is a small, impoverished yet incredibly beauty country in southeastern Africa. It is one of the most densely populated African countries, which remains heavily dependent on agriculture. Malawi is surrounded by Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania. Lake Malawi, formerly Lake Nyasa, occupies most of the country's eastern border, 365 miles long fringed with beautiful beaches and traditional fishing villages.
We offer volunteer placements in northern Malawi in Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay which focus on orphans, children’s education, HIV prevention and caring for the elderly.
The northern shores and villages of Lake Malawi are among the country's most beautiful and least visited. The north is much less populated than the south and the beaches here are far more remote. Miles of pristine white sand are interspersed with jagged rock formations and charming fishing villages, such as Nkhata Bay.
In the south, we have projects around the cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre, as well as surrounding towns and rural villages. . The poverty experienced in these areas is not just a lack of money but also the inability to access basic needs, such as health care and health facilities, voluntary HIV counseling and testing, as well as basic quality education for all of its children. Our programs support street children and orphans, teaching English, HIV/AID prevention, health care clinics and care for the elderly.
Malawi is the fifth poorest country in the world, with a government education system sorely lacking in both funds and teachers. HIV/AIDS and malaria are widespread in Malawi and there is poor access to medical treatment throughout the country.
Our programs allow you to take part in meaningful community service work, while discovering the people, sights, smells and tastes of Malawi.
Volunteering in Malawi is a way to totally immerse yourself in Sub Saharan African culture.
This is a great opportunity to make life-long friends, learn a new culture from the inside out and discover that one person really can make a difference.
Volunteer overseas with us and see A Broader View of the World.
Locations Pages:
* Nkhata bay
* Mzuzu
* Blantyre
* Lilongwe
Volunteer Abroad in Blantyre/Limbe, Malawi. Blantyre is the biggest city of Malawi, located in the south of the country. This settlement has its origins with the Scottish missionaries from the time of David Livingstone. (It is named after Livingstone’s birthplace in Scotland.) The city is beautifully surrounded by hills and striking mountains. The hills which surround the city are the first layer of an echo of hills which stretch to the Kirk Range, the Zomba Plateau and Mount Rushmore.
Blantyre is the commercial center of Malawi and full of shops selling a range of supplies: food, construction, electronics, African artifacts. There is a bustling market area popular with locals offers all kinds of fruits, veggies and used clothing.
Our projects are located in the poor areas of the city, as well as in the surrounding town of Limbe. We focus on supporting the children of Malawi, many of whom are homeless, HIV positive and lacking basic nutrients to survive. Projects are available supporting education of children, HIV/AIDS prevention, health care placements, woman’s empowerment and care for the elderly.
Most international visitors arrive by air, landing at Blantyre or Lilongwe International Airport.For intercontinental flights from Europe, the only direct flight is offered by Air Malawi, once a week between London and Lilongwe. South African Airways operates connecting services through Johannesburg (to Malawi) most days of the week.
Kenya Airways has a similar frequency connecting through Nairobi from London; also operating in conjunction with KLM from Amsterdam through Nairobi. British Airways has a weekly service connecting through Nairobi as well as operating with Air Malawi via the regional hubs of Johannesburg.
With our volunteer program in Malawi we allow you to discover the wonders of Sub-Sahara Africa, while doing meaningful and rewarding community work. Volunteering in Malawi is a great opportunity to explore life in rural Africa, live and work amongst the locals and realize one person can make a difference.
Child Care/Orphanage Assistance
Volunteer at a local orphanage on the outskirts of Blantyre, or in a nearby Limbe town. The orphanages are home to over 50 children of all ages (infants to 15yrs). These children have lost parents to Aids, some have been abandoned, and they know abuse, hunger and fear. The orphanage strives to provide a better future for some of the most vulnerable children in the community. As a volunteer, you will primarily assist with the daily care of the kids; including bathing, feeding programs and clothing. You can play games, arrange activities, create arts & crafts projects and share your time and caring with these wonderful children. Prior experience not necessary, volunteers should have a lot of patience, an open mind and a sense of compassion.
HIV/Aids Prevention Program
Volunteers work with a local grassroots organization that is providing HIV/AIDS education and support to poor communities.
This project focuses on providing culturally sensitive methods of awareness, education and prevention methods to men, woman and children in the community. Some of the activities for volunteers include: Promoting safer sex through education talks at the center and local schools, assisting with home-based care for victims with HIV/Aids, rural outreach programs to those in need with food distribution, grant writing and creative fundraising projects to support the local widows and children of the community. Experience in this field is not required. Volunteers with a strong interest in making a difference are welcome, material is limited, so bringing health leaflets and information from home is strongly recommended.
Health Care Program
Volunteers with medical experience are needed to work in community health clinics and rural outposts. Most clinics are very busy, understaffed; with limited medical supplies and no medical equipment. (A challenge!)
There is a wide variety of cases but disease such as malaria, HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and syphilis, as well as childbirth/maternity needs are most common.Volunteers with medical training; doctors, nurses, paramedics, lab technicians participate in direct patient care such as diagnosing, injections, IV starts and lab work.. Nursing and medical students are welcome and assist with tasks like dressing wounds, record and immunization chart keeping, helping dispense medications, helping to screen and organize patients and assisting with administrative needs or seminars. *Medical volunteers must submit a copy of their credentials or nursing certificate.
Woman’s Support Projects
Through these programs, volunteers work with a local grassroots organization that help the destitute women/widows in Malawi by giving them support, guidance and training. As a volunteer, you can help by teaching English; brainstorming to initiate income generating activities and to create sustainable solutions to the challenges the woman face on a day to day basis. You can assist in training woman in several life and income generating skills and to carry out research to find alternative solutions to fight poverty. Volunteers assist with health education such as HIV/AIDS, child rearing, nutrition, yoga, and sanitation, sewing, bead work, pig farming and other community outreach programs. Volunteers also write grant letters to mobilize resources to assist in the procurement of equipment, materials and supplies needed for income generating activities. No specific requirements except willingness and enthusiasm to help women
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Malawi court denies bail to Pakistani child abuser
A Malawi court sitting in Lilongwe has denied granting bail to a Pakistani national, Mohammed Abid Ali, the owner of Tabaq Restaurant who has been arrested for employing four underage boys children to empty a sewer without any protection or consideration of their age, APA learnt here Thursday.
Senior Megistrate Violet Chipawo said the court would decide for the requested bail at a later date after the complainants, who include three government agencies, have finalised their investigations in the matter.
Ali was accused of child labour law violations by employing the young boys to embark on such a dangerous assignment, whose published images saw them deep inside a sewer full of feces with nothing on but a pair of fecal soaked shorts.
In the second count, Ali is accused of employing young persons and exposing them to situations hazardous to their health, education safety and moral development.
The businessman pleaded not guilty to both counts. If found guilty, the accused will pay a fine of K20,000 (US$180) or serve a sentence of five years imprisonment with hard labour.
He was arrested on Monday afternoon following shocking pictures of the boys appeared in a tabloid on the previous Friday.
Senior Megistrate Violet Chipawo said the court would decide for the requested bail at a later date after the complainants, who include three government agencies, have finalised their investigations in the matter.
Ali was accused of child labour law violations by employing the young boys to embark on such a dangerous assignment, whose published images saw them deep inside a sewer full of feces with nothing on but a pair of fecal soaked shorts.
In the second count, Ali is accused of employing young persons and exposing them to situations hazardous to their health, education safety and moral development.
The businessman pleaded not guilty to both counts. If found guilty, the accused will pay a fine of K20,000 (US$180) or serve a sentence of five years imprisonment with hard labour.
He was arrested on Monday afternoon following shocking pictures of the boys appeared in a tabloid on the previous Friday.
Global Fund grants Malawi US$28million to purchase ART’s
Malawi’s National Aids Commission (NAC), a body assigned to respond the HIV/Aids epidemic in the country, on Thursday said that it had received a grant of US$28 million from the Global Fund for Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/Aids to procure anti-retrovirus therapy (ART\’s) drugs for the next six years.
NAC Executive Director Bizwick Mwale said in Lilongwe that the money would go a long way in scaling up activities of ART treatment to rural health facilities.
"Currently the country has very few rural health facilities which give ART to HIV affected people, therefore the grant would ease the walking distance to reach the treatment," he said.
Malawi has nearly one million people who are HIV-positive from a population of 12 million, of which 180,000 are on ART treatment.
Mwale said his commission would make sure that those remaining and are eligible to start the treatment are put on ART’s.
NAC Executive Director Bizwick Mwale said in Lilongwe that the money would go a long way in scaling up activities of ART treatment to rural health facilities.
"Currently the country has very few rural health facilities which give ART to HIV affected people, therefore the grant would ease the walking distance to reach the treatment," he said.
Malawi has nearly one million people who are HIV-positive from a population of 12 million, of which 180,000 are on ART treatment.
Mwale said his commission would make sure that those remaining and are eligible to start the treatment are put on ART’s.
Malawi team win Manyarara
Charles Mpaka and Mike Chipalasa of the Daily Times, Malawi have won the 2008 MISA John Manyarara Investigative Journalist of the Year Award, and Conceição Vitorino of Canal de Mozambique has won the MISA John Manyarara Upcoming Investigative Journalist of the Year Award, according to a media statement.
Charles Mpaka and Mike Chipalasa receive a cash prize of 4000 Euros for their entry MSCE Examination Leaked which was an expose of the selling of Malawi School Leaving Certificate (MSCE) exam papers which resulted in some officials working in the country’s examinations board being brought to book. In the upcoming investigative journalist of the year category, Conceição Vitorino won a cash prize of 2000 Euros as well as a scholarship to the tune of 6000 Euros to further develop her investigative journalism skills. She won for a series of stories she wrote on the powder magazine explosion.
MISA would also like to congratulate John Grobler, the runner up in the investigative journalist of the year category for his story Mafia Linked to Namibia’s Gems as well as Orirando Manwere and Busani Ncube who were runner-ups in the upcoming investigative journalist of the year category for the series of stories on a scam in Zimbabwe’s High court.
The awards were given on 28.10.08 at a Power Party which is part of an ongoing 3 day Power reporting training workshop that brings together investigative journalists and aspiring investigative journalists from Africa as well as abroad.
While giving her welcome remarks at the party, 2008 Benjamin Memorial Award winner and MISA Trust Fund Board (TFB) member, Beatrice Mtetwa, noted that the celebration of investigative journalism in the developing world is particularly important because of the many obstacles that investigative journalists encounter including repressive and draconian legislation, poor remuneration, absence of mentoring due to skills flight from the profession among others.
The Regional Director of MISA, Mr Kaitira Kandjii, noted the increase in the number of entries to the awards from about 16 last year to a total of 40 this year. He also thanked the partners who convened the Power Reporting Workshop and party including the London Centre for Investigative Journalism (CPJ), Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), Wits Journalism School, Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR), Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), The Valley Trust, the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ) and the Gorthe Institute.
The judges look for work which:
• Demonstrates investigative journalistic or production flair
• Displays the highest standards of journalism and/or programme making
• Tells the story in a clear and balanced manner
• Communicates stories or issues from Southern Africa in a comprehensive way
• Includes the voices and views of women, men and children in all their diversity
• Displays well organized research, depth and insight
• Required great perseverance or bravery to realize
• Is substantially the product of the reporter’s own initiative and effort
• Uncovers facts that someone or some agency may have tried to keep from public scrutiny
• Is about issues of public importance to the readers, viewers or listeners.
• Was broadcast or published between 1 January and 31 December 2007, with proof supplied.
MISA inaugurated the John Manyarara Investigative Journalism Awards on May 3, 2001 after identifying investigative journalism as an important field of expertise, which is much needed in Southern Africa. The awards are named after one of the region’s freedom of expression exponents the honourable Justice John Oliver Manyarara- himself a journalist turned lawyer- who was the founding Chairperson of the MISA Trust Fund Board (TFB) (1994-2000). He retired from the TFB on September 8, 2000.
The awards are brought to you in conjunction with FAIR who bring investigative journalism expertise to the judging process as well as the criteria and the Netherlands Institute of Southern Africa (NiZA) who sponsor the awards.
Charles Mpaka and Mike Chipalasa receive a cash prize of 4000 Euros for their entry MSCE Examination Leaked which was an expose of the selling of Malawi School Leaving Certificate (MSCE) exam papers which resulted in some officials working in the country’s examinations board being brought to book. In the upcoming investigative journalist of the year category, Conceição Vitorino won a cash prize of 2000 Euros as well as a scholarship to the tune of 6000 Euros to further develop her investigative journalism skills. She won for a series of stories she wrote on the powder magazine explosion.
MISA would also like to congratulate John Grobler, the runner up in the investigative journalist of the year category for his story Mafia Linked to Namibia’s Gems as well as Orirando Manwere and Busani Ncube who were runner-ups in the upcoming investigative journalist of the year category for the series of stories on a scam in Zimbabwe’s High court.
The awards were given on 28.10.08 at a Power Party which is part of an ongoing 3 day Power reporting training workshop that brings together investigative journalists and aspiring investigative journalists from Africa as well as abroad.
While giving her welcome remarks at the party, 2008 Benjamin Memorial Award winner and MISA Trust Fund Board (TFB) member, Beatrice Mtetwa, noted that the celebration of investigative journalism in the developing world is particularly important because of the many obstacles that investigative journalists encounter including repressive and draconian legislation, poor remuneration, absence of mentoring due to skills flight from the profession among others.
The Regional Director of MISA, Mr Kaitira Kandjii, noted the increase in the number of entries to the awards from about 16 last year to a total of 40 this year. He also thanked the partners who convened the Power Reporting Workshop and party including the London Centre for Investigative Journalism (CPJ), Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), Wits Journalism School, Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR), Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), The Valley Trust, the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ) and the Gorthe Institute.
The judges look for work which:
• Demonstrates investigative journalistic or production flair
• Displays the highest standards of journalism and/or programme making
• Tells the story in a clear and balanced manner
• Communicates stories or issues from Southern Africa in a comprehensive way
• Includes the voices and views of women, men and children in all their diversity
• Displays well organized research, depth and insight
• Required great perseverance or bravery to realize
• Is substantially the product of the reporter’s own initiative and effort
• Uncovers facts that someone or some agency may have tried to keep from public scrutiny
• Is about issues of public importance to the readers, viewers or listeners.
• Was broadcast or published between 1 January and 31 December 2007, with proof supplied.
MISA inaugurated the John Manyarara Investigative Journalism Awards on May 3, 2001 after identifying investigative journalism as an important field of expertise, which is much needed in Southern Africa. The awards are named after one of the region’s freedom of expression exponents the honourable Justice John Oliver Manyarara- himself a journalist turned lawyer- who was the founding Chairperson of the MISA Trust Fund Board (TFB) (1994-2000). He retired from the TFB on September 8, 2000.
The awards are brought to you in conjunction with FAIR who bring investigative journalism expertise to the judging process as well as the criteria and the Netherlands Institute of Southern Africa (NiZA) who sponsor the awards.
McConnell’s post in Malawi to be filled
The Foreign Office is moving to fill the vacancy created by Jack McConnell postponing his appointment as High Commissioner to Malawi.
Giving evidence to the Commons foreign affairs select committee, the head civil servant at the Foreign Office, Sir Peter Ricketts, said that a process had been put in place to cover the time that the former First Minister of Scotland will now spend as Gordon Brown's special envoy on conflict resolution.
At the cabinet reshuffle the Prime Minister appointed Mr McConnell as a part-time peace envoy, a move that avoided a Scottish Parliament by-election in his Motherwell and Wishaw seat. This meant the MSP would not resign and take up a previous appointment as the UK's High Commissioner to Malawi until a later date, probably after the next Scottish parliamentary election.
The move was described by opposition parties as "electoral manipulation" to avoid a defeat in Motherwell and Wishaw.
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Mr McConnell has appeared before the Commons committee before to answer questions on his appointment as High Commissioner and the MPs returned to the subject yesterday when the Foreign Office permanent secretary appeared before them.
The committee chairman, Sir John Stanley MP, asked why Mr McConnell was still a member of the Scottish Parliament. He was stonewalled by Sir Peter Ricketts who avoided all questions about the unpaid, part-time appointment and any possible conflicts of interest.
He confirmed that the post of High Commissioner to Malawi was now open to internal competition in the FCO and a number of candidates had put their name forward.
On Mr McConnell's new role, the Foreign Office chief said that the former First Minister had already begun discussions with officials. "He is going to spend one or two days a week with us and travel maybe once a month," said Sir Peter. "We see his role as external contact making on behalf of the conflict-resolution policy developed in Whitehall. I would see him going to the UN in New York, the EU in Brussels and to the African Union in Addis Ababa."
Andrew MacKinlay, the Labour MP who has tabled parliamentary questions on Mr McConnell's new role, said: "If he's going to be going to Addis Ababa something else has to be given up somewhere else. How can this be justified?"
Sir Peter replied: "You're drawing me into commenting on behalf of Mr McConnell."
Giving evidence to the Commons foreign affairs select committee, the head civil servant at the Foreign Office, Sir Peter Ricketts, said that a process had been put in place to cover the time that the former First Minister of Scotland will now spend as Gordon Brown's special envoy on conflict resolution.
At the cabinet reshuffle the Prime Minister appointed Mr McConnell as a part-time peace envoy, a move that avoided a Scottish Parliament by-election in his Motherwell and Wishaw seat. This meant the MSP would not resign and take up a previous appointment as the UK's High Commissioner to Malawi until a later date, probably after the next Scottish parliamentary election.
The move was described by opposition parties as "electoral manipulation" to avoid a defeat in Motherwell and Wishaw.
advertisement
Mr McConnell has appeared before the Commons committee before to answer questions on his appointment as High Commissioner and the MPs returned to the subject yesterday when the Foreign Office permanent secretary appeared before them.
The committee chairman, Sir John Stanley MP, asked why Mr McConnell was still a member of the Scottish Parliament. He was stonewalled by Sir Peter Ricketts who avoided all questions about the unpaid, part-time appointment and any possible conflicts of interest.
He confirmed that the post of High Commissioner to Malawi was now open to internal competition in the FCO and a number of candidates had put their name forward.
On Mr McConnell's new role, the Foreign Office chief said that the former First Minister had already begun discussions with officials. "He is going to spend one or two days a week with us and travel maybe once a month," said Sir Peter. "We see his role as external contact making on behalf of the conflict-resolution policy developed in Whitehall. I would see him going to the UN in New York, the EU in Brussels and to the African Union in Addis Ababa."
Andrew MacKinlay, the Labour MP who has tabled parliamentary questions on Mr McConnell's new role, said: "If he's going to be going to Addis Ababa something else has to be given up somewhere else. How can this be justified?"
Sir Peter replied: "You're drawing me into commenting on behalf of Mr McConnell."
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