Miss Malawi, Joyce Mphande, had three words for the business executives from Busan and South Gyeongsang assembled for a meeting: “Please help us.”
The meeting, at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Haeundae, Busan, on July 21, was organized to help Mphande raise funds for the Corrections Department of Malawi and was part of a 15-day goodwill tour she began on July 14.
There, Mphande talked about the conditions that had brought her to Korea. She said that because her government cannot afford to feed prison inmates, it has begun mobilizing prisoners to help alleviate the problem. Inmates plow fields and plant crops near the institution.
To feed all 11,000 prisoners at the facility, 40,000 50-kilogram (110-pound) sacks of corn powder are required every year. This year, the goal is to produce 80,000 sacks of corn powder. Mphande explained that half of the yield will be used to feed the inmates while the remainder will be given to the needy.
Kim Young-jin, the director of the African division within the Crops of Love Ministries, a Korean religious organization working with the Malawi Prison Service to alleviate the plight of inmates in the country, is in charge of a program that raises funds for Malawian prisons.
Kim, 53, earned his doctoral degree in criminology at Sam Houston State University in Texas and taught at Pennsylvania State University before starting work at Handong Global University in Pohang, North Gyeongsang. Later, he studied theology and began helping African prisoners under a program initiated by Prison Fellowship International, a religious nongovernmental organization based in Washington, D.C., whose mission is to provide aid to needy prisoners. It was Kim who urged Mphande to come to Korea.
Mphande says that through this trip, she hopes to “contribute overcoming poverty in my homeland.”
She participated in a fund raiser called Love for Africa at the Millennium Seoul Hilton Hotel on July 20. More than 300 distinguished guests, including Grand National Party lawmakers Park Jin and Choung Byoung-gug, and Reverend Ohm Shin-hyung of the Christian Council of Korea attended the event. Approximately 100 million won was raised, which Mphande said is equivalent to the Correctional Department’s annual budget.
Malawi is located in southeastern part of Africa. The average per capita income for the population of 14.2 million is between $200 and $300.
Friday, 31 July 2009
Pen PowderReflections
I remember Zimbabwe when I was young, beautiful, spotlessly clean, and on time. We had state buses than ran every route on the hour, every hour, all the time. We had clean public toilets. The street lights all worked. There was no water or power cuts. Our currency was at par with the Pound Sterling, Not the dollar. You would have to give me 2 US Dollars for my single ZimDollar. We named our land Africas Paradise. We also named it the land of milk and honey. We called our Capital City, Sunshine City.
There was fighting and poverty all around us. South Africa was not independent and we housed them. We supported them fight arpatheid. We sang revolutionary songs at Primary School denouncing the boers. We sent troops to Mozambique to fight the RENAMO bandits. The war raged on for about 15 years. Mozambique was a war ravaged country. We took thousands of Mozambican refugees and housed them. We had an interest in Mozambique. Our oil supply pipeline from Beira runs through Mzambique, but I believe when we sent troops we were genuinly supporting our brothers.
Zambia had practically collapsed under Keneth Kaunda. The Zambian Kwacha was worth less than toilet paper. We laughed every night and wondered how on earth a country could decay to such an extent. We had no intention whatsoever of going to Zambia for any reason, howsoever. Malawi had always been colonised for us by the white man. Zimbabwe had always taken cheap labour from Malawi. So Malawians, whilst not outrightly ill treated in Zimbabwe, it was always mutually agreed that they were lesser important than us. They cooked for us, bathed our children, tendered our green gardens, took out the rubbish bins. We were kings.
We also heard stories about Mogadishu, Djibouti etc. We even sent troops to both, to restore peace and stability.
Oh how the mighty have fallen. We now beg for jobs in Mozambique. The South Africans are burning our too many brothers and sisters. Zambia is practically fed up with us. Malawi is laughing. Oh, how the might have fallen.
Cry my beloved Zimbabwe, cry!
There was fighting and poverty all around us. South Africa was not independent and we housed them. We supported them fight arpatheid. We sang revolutionary songs at Primary School denouncing the boers. We sent troops to Mozambique to fight the RENAMO bandits. The war raged on for about 15 years. Mozambique was a war ravaged country. We took thousands of Mozambican refugees and housed them. We had an interest in Mozambique. Our oil supply pipeline from Beira runs through Mzambique, but I believe when we sent troops we were genuinly supporting our brothers.
Zambia had practically collapsed under Keneth Kaunda. The Zambian Kwacha was worth less than toilet paper. We laughed every night and wondered how on earth a country could decay to such an extent. We had no intention whatsoever of going to Zambia for any reason, howsoever. Malawi had always been colonised for us by the white man. Zimbabwe had always taken cheap labour from Malawi. So Malawians, whilst not outrightly ill treated in Zimbabwe, it was always mutually agreed that they were lesser important than us. They cooked for us, bathed our children, tendered our green gardens, took out the rubbish bins. We were kings.
We also heard stories about Mogadishu, Djibouti etc. We even sent troops to both, to restore peace and stability.
Oh how the mighty have fallen. We now beg for jobs in Mozambique. The South Africans are burning our too many brothers and sisters. Zambia is practically fed up with us. Malawi is laughing. Oh, how the might have fallen.
Cry my beloved Zimbabwe, cry!
Does sport really cross cultural boundaries?
Differences between Malawian and American soccer players
Author: Dr. Christina van der Merwe
Malawi SoccerIt is easy to assume that sport, like soccer, is identical across the world. The rules, playing field, number of players, objectives and skills required are the same. However, research shows some cultural differences in the psychological meaning of sport in different cultures. One such study was conducted by Andrew Guest, where he compared the motivations and meaning of sport participation between an American and Malawian soccer team.
The one team, from a private Midwestern University in the US, was compared with a team associated with a Government-sponsored University in Malawi. They were similar in regards to the relative educational and class status, but varied most clearly in their cultural context. Neither the US or Malawian players indicated future ambitions related to sport. Qualitative data was obtained through semi-structured interviews gathered over a period of three years…
In general the US responses tend to consistently cluster around particular themes, while the Malawian responses showed more variety around themes. One theme which emerged was around the reason the players spend so much time on sport. Competition was the most frequent identified motivation for the US players, talking about pride and positive identity through internal satisfaction of accomplishment. The US players saw sport as a “competitive proving ground”. On the other hand no Malawian players talked about competition, but identified status as motivating, and a chance to demonstrate their worth through exhibition- they saw playing sport as a “demonstrating ground”. On the sport field these players could exhibit abilities regardless of competitive success.
When asked what role sport play in their daily life the results showed that the Malawian players referred to sport as aMorocco vs USMNTpastime, while the US players saw it as an outlet. Pastime referred to a diversion to pass the time, while an outlet was seen as a means of expression and allowing someone to become more than he is.
How to justifying the money spend on sport, the Malawian players responded with this being a pastime which allows a person to avoid trouble. They stated that sport gave something to people who were experiencing difficulty in school, or who would otherwise not be productive members of society. Although avoiding trouble was mentioned by the US players as well, they added that sport developed self-improvement and give people an expressive outlet.
Another difference between the teams was observed in the reserve group. Both teams carried a roster of around 25 players, where only about 15 will get playing time in a game. In the Malawian team, the bottom 10 players were often absent from training, but ready when there was a game. They came from out of nowhere with the hope of getting playing time, while they have done little to prepare for the games. They were often optimistic that they could succeed, if given the opportunity.
The US players were the complete opposite. The players least likely to get into the game were often the most dedicated practice players. With no tangible reward in sight, they would put in long hours of training, but be content to be observers at important games. However, when the coach indicated they could suddenly be asked to play, they reacted with visible anxiety. The US players had an understanding of self-improvement, suggesting that one’s performance is a product of ability, which is acquired through effort. In contrast, the Malawian players believed one’s performance is the expression of an innate self. The US players also talked about their development as a continuous process, while the Malawian players saw theirs as a sporadic display of innate ability dictated by opportunity.
Understanding these differences is important for the growing number of humanitarian agencies attempting to use sport to address social problems in diverse communities. These efforts make the assumption that the meaning of sport is universal. Looking at this research, if sport participants do not derive psychological motivation, such as competition, as an intrinsic good or for self-improvement, then certain sport practices emphasizing competition and abstract self improvement might need modification. The approach coaches adopt in training programs with players from diverse cultural backgrounds, could maybe understand the differences in the motivational factors of some players.
Guest, A.M. (2007) Cultural meanings and motivations for sport: A comparative case study of soccer teams in the United States and Malawi. Athlete Insight, Volume 9 (1)
Author: Dr. Christina van der Merwe
Malawi SoccerIt is easy to assume that sport, like soccer, is identical across the world. The rules, playing field, number of players, objectives and skills required are the same. However, research shows some cultural differences in the psychological meaning of sport in different cultures. One such study was conducted by Andrew Guest, where he compared the motivations and meaning of sport participation between an American and Malawian soccer team.
The one team, from a private Midwestern University in the US, was compared with a team associated with a Government-sponsored University in Malawi. They were similar in regards to the relative educational and class status, but varied most clearly in their cultural context. Neither the US or Malawian players indicated future ambitions related to sport. Qualitative data was obtained through semi-structured interviews gathered over a period of three years…
In general the US responses tend to consistently cluster around particular themes, while the Malawian responses showed more variety around themes. One theme which emerged was around the reason the players spend so much time on sport. Competition was the most frequent identified motivation for the US players, talking about pride and positive identity through internal satisfaction of accomplishment. The US players saw sport as a “competitive proving ground”. On the other hand no Malawian players talked about competition, but identified status as motivating, and a chance to demonstrate their worth through exhibition- they saw playing sport as a “demonstrating ground”. On the sport field these players could exhibit abilities regardless of competitive success.
When asked what role sport play in their daily life the results showed that the Malawian players referred to sport as aMorocco vs USMNTpastime, while the US players saw it as an outlet. Pastime referred to a diversion to pass the time, while an outlet was seen as a means of expression and allowing someone to become more than he is.
How to justifying the money spend on sport, the Malawian players responded with this being a pastime which allows a person to avoid trouble. They stated that sport gave something to people who were experiencing difficulty in school, or who would otherwise not be productive members of society. Although avoiding trouble was mentioned by the US players as well, they added that sport developed self-improvement and give people an expressive outlet.
Another difference between the teams was observed in the reserve group. Both teams carried a roster of around 25 players, where only about 15 will get playing time in a game. In the Malawian team, the bottom 10 players were often absent from training, but ready when there was a game. They came from out of nowhere with the hope of getting playing time, while they have done little to prepare for the games. They were often optimistic that they could succeed, if given the opportunity.
The US players were the complete opposite. The players least likely to get into the game were often the most dedicated practice players. With no tangible reward in sight, they would put in long hours of training, but be content to be observers at important games. However, when the coach indicated they could suddenly be asked to play, they reacted with visible anxiety. The US players had an understanding of self-improvement, suggesting that one’s performance is a product of ability, which is acquired through effort. In contrast, the Malawian players believed one’s performance is the expression of an innate self. The US players also talked about their development as a continuous process, while the Malawian players saw theirs as a sporadic display of innate ability dictated by opportunity.
Understanding these differences is important for the growing number of humanitarian agencies attempting to use sport to address social problems in diverse communities. These efforts make the assumption that the meaning of sport is universal. Looking at this research, if sport participants do not derive psychological motivation, such as competition, as an intrinsic good or for self-improvement, then certain sport practices emphasizing competition and abstract self improvement might need modification. The approach coaches adopt in training programs with players from diverse cultural backgrounds, could maybe understand the differences in the motivational factors of some players.
Guest, A.M. (2007) Cultural meanings and motivations for sport: A comparative case study of soccer teams in the United States and Malawi. Athlete Insight, Volume 9 (1)
Malawi to receive US$80m IMF funds as economic cushion
Malawi's resident representative for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Maitland Macfarlan announced last week that Malawi will benefit from the body's rescue plan, to help countries fend off the world economic crisis.
Malawi which benefits from IMF's Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) will receive US$80m expected to help it reduce its foreign currency shortages which has reached an alarming rate.
“This amount will be included in Malawi's gross reserves, [as well as] increase by about 0.5 months of [its] import coverage,” he said.
Malawi's foreign currency reserves have ‘dangerously' been between 1.5 months to 2 months of import cover below the international standard of at least 3 months of import cover.
Although the IMF executive board already approved the programme it is still expected to discuss and endorse the package, early August so that countries like Malawi could start accessing the funds by the end of the same months according to an IMF statement.
The rescue programme was endorsed in April this year by a G-20 summit of industrialised nations in London before it was endorsed by IMF Financial Committee.
Malawi which benefits from IMF's Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) will receive US$80m expected to help it reduce its foreign currency shortages which has reached an alarming rate.
“This amount will be included in Malawi's gross reserves, [as well as] increase by about 0.5 months of [its] import coverage,” he said.
Malawi's foreign currency reserves have ‘dangerously' been between 1.5 months to 2 months of import cover below the international standard of at least 3 months of import cover.
Although the IMF executive board already approved the programme it is still expected to discuss and endorse the package, early August so that countries like Malawi could start accessing the funds by the end of the same months according to an IMF statement.
The rescue programme was endorsed in April this year by a G-20 summit of industrialised nations in London before it was endorsed by IMF Financial Committee.
Malawi President Repeats Threat to Deport Cotton Buyers
International cotton buyers in Malawi who buy lint below the government’s set price of 75 Malawi kwacha (53 cents) a kilogram (2.2 pounds) will be deported, President Bingu wa Mutharika said.
“I will not allow anyone to steal from Malawian cotton farmers,” Mutharika told reporters late yesterday in the commercial capital of Blantyre on his return from the Non-Aligned Movement’s summit in Egypt.
On June 15, Malawi’s Cotton Development Association said cotton buyers will offer 36 kwacha per kilogram for the crop because of the global recession that has resulted in cotton lint prices tumbling on international markets. The Agriculture Ministry responded the next day by saying it might deport buyers who don’t pay the full price.
The southern African nation’s government sets minimum prices for cotton, corn and tobacco to counter what it terms “exploitation by buyers.”
Last year, cotton output in Malawi increased 25 percent to 77,000 metric tons.
“I will not allow anyone to steal from Malawian cotton farmers,” Mutharika told reporters late yesterday in the commercial capital of Blantyre on his return from the Non-Aligned Movement’s summit in Egypt.
On June 15, Malawi’s Cotton Development Association said cotton buyers will offer 36 kwacha per kilogram for the crop because of the global recession that has resulted in cotton lint prices tumbling on international markets. The Agriculture Ministry responded the next day by saying it might deport buyers who don’t pay the full price.
The southern African nation’s government sets minimum prices for cotton, corn and tobacco to counter what it terms “exploitation by buyers.”
Last year, cotton output in Malawi increased 25 percent to 77,000 metric tons.
Malawi Needs To Develop Plan Addressing Country’s AIDS Orphans, U.N. Special Envoy Lewis Says
The mass of AIDS orphans in Malawi is a “potential looming catastrophe,” and the territory needs to advance a comprehensive action formula to address the situation, U.N. Prime Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa Stephen Lewis said recently, the Chronicle/AllAfrica.com reports (Gondwe, Chronicle/AllAfrica.com, 11/6). According to officials, there are about 83,000 children living with HIV/AIDS in Malawi, and 900,000 children have lost one or both parents to AIDS-cognate illnesses. Six percent of the 50,000 HIV-out-and-out people living in Malawi who receive antiretroviral drugs are children (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Boom, 11/6). Malawi recorded 100,000 recent HIV cases in 2005, and 26,000 infants were born HIV-positive during the same time period, according to Mary Shawa, Malawi’s prevailing secretary for HIV/AIDS and nutrition. “Because of our situation, most of the orphans do not go to school,” Shawa said, adding, “We are bringing up the next institution that is HIV-bullish, favourably malnourished and compel be illiterate. … [W]e are sitting on a time batter. Soon it order erupt.” To alleviate the problem, Malawi needs to achieve a social welfare system that would require bundle to “child-headed families, other vulnerable families and to the community,” Lewis said, adding that the country needs more health facilities that offer prenatal clinical services for the benefit of HIV-positive meaningful women. Malawi also needs to provide increased access to mother-to-adolescent HIV prevention methods, Lewis said (Chronicle/AllAfrica.com, 11/6).
FEWS Malawi Food Security Outlook
Food security across the country has greatly improved with the arrival of the new harvest. Most households now have access to their own produced food. However, for parts of Chikwawa, Nsanje, and Balaka districts, some households continue to experience food insecurity due to poor harvests in these areas during the 2008/09 agricultural season. Local market maize prices are generally affordable for the majority of households, though prices are beginning to rise in some of the markets.
- The number of households that have depleted their own produced food will increase in the next six months. Most affected households will turn to the market for food, thereby increasing market demand for maize and exerting upward pressure on local market maize prices.
- The number of households seeking ganyu (casual labor) to obtain cash to buy food will rise in the next six months. However, excess supply of labor in the affected areas could result in a reduction in wages and consequently household incomes.
- The government has announced a producer price for maize of MK40.00/kg, compared to MK50.00/kg last season. However many farmers have already sold their maize to traders at prices lower than the recommended price and may not benefit from the announcement. Most poor households sell their maize during or soon after the harvest. The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) and National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) have not yet begun to buy maize.
- The number of households that have depleted their own produced food will increase in the next six months. Most affected households will turn to the market for food, thereby increasing market demand for maize and exerting upward pressure on local market maize prices.
- The number of households seeking ganyu (casual labor) to obtain cash to buy food will rise in the next six months. However, excess supply of labor in the affected areas could result in a reduction in wages and consequently household incomes.
- The government has announced a producer price for maize of MK40.00/kg, compared to MK50.00/kg last season. However many farmers have already sold their maize to traders at prices lower than the recommended price and may not benefit from the announcement. Most poor households sell their maize during or soon after the harvest. The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) and National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) have not yet begun to buy maize.
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