I'm sitting near the beach. The moon is bright in the sky and illuminating the beautiful coastline of Lake Malawi; at the opposite end of the beach a fire is burning and drums are being beaten creating a rhythm that makes my feet move. An end to one of the most satisfying days of my teaching career.
Malawi is called the Warm Heart of Africa, and that heart beats rhythmically and infectiously all around Nkhata Bay. Today we were privileged to be a part of this rhythm when visiting two schools, Mvwalamani and Mkondezi.
Mvwalamani is only 20 minutes away from Nkhata Bay town but a 4x4 vehicle was required to take us up the rutted mud road to the school. On the journey there we passed through areas that had been cultivated to grow food such as cassava and maize. We bounced around in the back of the vehicle amazed at the hilly countryside that we were passing through. Upon arrival at the school we were welcomed by the Head teacher who took us on the tour of the school. The school is in a very rural area with rolling hills all around, dotted with homes each an area cultivated nearby to provide food for the family. Pupils welcome us politely into their classrooms and answered our questions without too much shyness. The younger children looked at us behind the older children not too sure what to make of these visitors at their schools, but slowly they started saying hello to us and giving high 5's.
The head teacher, along with the local Primary Advisor took us through their sparse classrooms where the children sat on the floor and learnt quietly. To answer a question they would put their hand up but then click as well to hopefully get the teachers attention. Again we saw some great resources that they had created; I have photographed the resources and will use them back in school. Prospice was set up to share educational knowledge and we are learning from our Malawian hosts.
After the classrooms we walked down the path through the head teachers cassava field and banana plants down to the area that the school has set aside for the Prospice project. Here there were saplings being prepared to be planted. They were first going to propagate an orange bud onto the lemon tree, to create tangerines. Two pupils carefully cut open the thin lemon sapling with a razor blade and then put the orange bud into the opening, this was then wrapped in clear plastic, within 10-14 days the bud would start to sprout and there will be the start of a tangerine tree. The school had also created a large pond that they had filled with fish. Both these initiative were hopefully going to help the school as they were going to sell the produce, fruit and fish, to the surrounding population and the profits would then be used within the school.
We were very impressed by their vision.
We left by the rutted track to a school I was very excited about visiting. Ysgol San Sior's partner school Mkondezi Model School with Mary Nyierenda as the head teacher. Again we were welcomed graciously by our host. Mary invited us to walk around freely the school and I went in search of year 5 so that I could give them the letters that my pupils had written for them. When I found them I asked the teacher if I would be allowed to sit in the lesson and he kindly allowed me. I went to sit down on a metal stool next to some pupils who were busy learning about fractions. While looking through the book I saw some of their previous work, long division! I look forward to showing the pupils at home their Mathematic ability. I was then allowed to share out the letters and the pupils couldn't wait to see what I had bought. Their English is not yet that good as year 5 is when they start to learn through English but they looked carefully at the pictures of the pupils on the letters. I took other letters that had been written by classes from San Sior to their respective classes around the school.
I am so grateful that Mary allowed us to freely move around her school. Everywhere I looked the Prospice members were conversing with groups of children around the school grounds. PC Meirion was showing his police helmets, Mr Hughes was singing, I was showing them how to pass a rugby ball; our smiles were from ear to ear.
We were then invited to plant some trees as our Malawian and South African friends did while in North Wales. The trees were Guava and I hope that they grow strong and provide many years of fruit to the children and teachers.
Somewhere around the school we could here the drums being beaten and we were all drawn towards it. Under some large, shade creating trees were two drummers playing enormous drums and around them were ladies dancing. The rhythm was infectious, pupils surrounding the dancers were moving in time, the songs were being sang with joy, Mr Hughes, PC Meirion and Mr Cosmo Baartman couldn't help themselves and joined in.
So many moments of pure joy were experienced today that this days blog could go on for many more pages. I am so thrilled by our visit and what we are learning from our hosts and our Port Elizabeth partners. This Prospice project is bearing fruit for all our partners.
Nos da/Good night
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