Malawi
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03/03/2022
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Hello friends to be!
We are a grassroots nonprofit improving livelihoods in our community through education and sustainable development projects. It is our mission to increase community resilience, stop reliance upon aid and disrupt the poverty cycle. All through sustainable community led projects.
We have started a community center ! A space to come, learn and share new skills & knowledge. Our project is at its early beginnings, so let us start with a bit of the story.
Over a year ago we were given 2 acres of land by a chief nearby in the community of Kapeska. On this land we already have a brick builidng with 2 classrooms, an office, sports ground and gardens, as well as a newly built kitchen!
We ARE :
Julius - Malawian Project Manager, School Director & Founder. While on-site you will be guided by Julius.
Tiwanee - Living in Malawi for 4 years, running a farmhouse lodge.
Quentin - Always traveling back and forth to Malawi, running a dive centre on Lake Malawi.
Rachel - The 'digital nomad' with a passion for the project, helping market and fundraise in Europe.
We have found ourselves with the same idea to develop a community as sustainably as possible by teaching children and women different skills through workshops, sports and a more open education.
Our vision :
Community engagement is the driving force of our organisation. They are our primary stakeholders. We know that community participation in all stages of project development promotes simple yet innovative solutions.
LET'S NOT GIVE FISH, BUT TEACH HOW TO FISH !!! ;)
Up an running right NOW :
- Standard 1 & 2 primary school classes
- Activity/youth center ( sports, games, workshops )
- Garden and orchard
- Organising the build of a borehole as well as new class rooms and toilets
- Full development & production of a social enterprise fashion brand
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Animal Care
Charity Work
Art Projects
Help with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
We encourage a volunteering programme which promotes a flexible structure. There is no strict schedule and we don’t plan your timetable for you. It is really up to you what you become involved with when you reach us, depending on your skills and particular interests. In general, the more you put into your time as a volunteer, the more you will get out of it. We want this to be a collaboration. If you have goals to achieve or skills you would like to develop, let us know and we can work together!
You will get the true experience of living in a rural Malawian community. Malawians are very warm and friendly people. Locals are often very curious about visitors and will want to stop and chat. Learning a few basic greetings in Chitonga always goes down very well! The local language in this area is Chitonga (also known as Tonga), the national language is Chichewa and English is also spoken widely.
Malawi is a truly amazing and magical country. Many people come with the intention of staying a few weeks and often end up staying months or even years! It is known as ‘the warm heart of Africa’ and we hope you see why that is!
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
We love hosting volunteers! We would love to know about your talents and what you can bring to our community. It could be something creative or more practical; your role is dependent on your skills and interests. You are free to make what you want of this experience! We are looking for people that are proactive, self-motivated, enthusiastic, realistic and happy to muck in whenever needed.
Project areas:
Community Centre
Here you can hold a wide range of workshops, from environmental studies to sports teams and performing arts; everyone is welcome in this safe space! We would love to have even more arts, drama, sewing, painting, dance, recycling, helping elders and sports!
Primary School
While we do not offer teaching positions (unless you are a qualified teacher), our children love to get involved in extracurricular activities, language practice and even homework clubs!
Construction
If you can build a table or hang a shelf you’ll never be short of a job around here! For the builders and engineers amongst you, there are ongoing borehole, toilet and classroom building projects.
Garden
Stocking the kitchens and educating our young gardeners, mother earth rules. There's always work to be found, we need fresh green-thumb outdoor pioneers to help steer our mission here. We have a tree nursery, veggie garden and sweet potato crop.
Kitchen & Food
Nutritious lunches are cooked and served in the Malawi Wawi grounds; happy tummies are a key ingredient for strength and growth in all areas of our community. Help us with food preservation and cooking.
Social Enterprise
Our funky wax print garments are produced by local tailors on a fair living wage! Join our dedicated team in assisting with design, creation, photoshoots, marketing or distribution.
And finally - calling all content creators, social media enthusiasts and photographers - we need your help! We need content and documentation of all of our projects and the community in general. This can be photography, blogging, videography and social media take overs! All you need to have is passion and a smart phone.
We need people with innovative initiative and ready to help build from scratch!!
PS : We are currently looking for someone or a couple to take over the management of the project for 6+ months. Please advise if this could interest you so we could exchange further details - there will be added benefits!
EXCITING !!!! :)
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Tonga: Fluent
Water will have to be sourced with buckets from the borehole nearby (150m)...
If you want to really find out what life is like in Malawi, living in a small village with local people is the way to do it. You’ll soon understand the benefits of living within a close community, as well as the challenges that face those living in poverty.
The volunteer's house is in Malaza village, next to Julius’ house. The accommodation is very basic but comfortable, with electricity, water, a shower and a toilet. An evening meal can be provided and other meals are by separate arrangement. The cost will be very low if you are eating locally or with Julius and his family. Sharing local vegetarian meals like beans, nsima, rice, tomatoes, onions, corn, greens, etc... plus anything we can find on the market as well as what will grow from our gardens!
So... you are not allowed any time off !
JOKING :)
The beautiful Lakeside is a stone's throw away from our project, here you can meet other travellers and volunteers. Take a walk further along the shore and you will find lodges offering horse riding, scuba diving, SUP and cafes. Lake Malawi is one of the largest lakes in Africa and indeed the world. It is truly breathtaking!
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
There is space in our community for tents or vehicles of any size. We frequently have tourists on overland trips pass by on their drive around the lake.
All pets welcome!
More than two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
