When I first arrived in Malawi all of the volunteers wrote definitions of the word empowerment. Here are some of the definitions shared:

• Empowerment is having the ability to make your own choices and having the chance to pick and choose for yourself.

• Having the self-confidence and courage, along with the channels to express yourself and follow the path you want to take in life.

• When someone is able to recognize their personal strengths and abilities.

• Choice, the ability to have choice and exercise those decisions in your life based on correct information

• The ability to do what you believe is healthy and right for your body without feeling pressured to do something, by inside or outside forces, that you do not wish to do, to yourself or others.

At each school we have volunteered with we have dedicated the second afternoon to a session of empowerment. These sessions have been one of the most impacting and difficult times for me. It is a time when the boys and girls are divided by age and gender and we talk in groups about the very personal issues of sex, their bodies and their futures.

In the girls’ sessions we start by asking the girls about their goals and about the rolls of women in their communities. Every time we have gone around the circle, I have seen girls state proudly that they want to be doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers and even the president. The girls talk about how they see their mothers care for their siblings, cook nsima, wash clothes, search for and carry firewood, draw water, clean and the list goes on and on. Like so many other places in the world, the women of Malawi take on the task of keeping their families and communities healthy, strong and growing.

The girls understand the importance of females, but in the same breath they express the limitations they face—parents who don’t want to pay their school fees for secondary school, early marriage, pregnancy and forced sex.

All of these topics, especially the discussion of forced sex and sometimes rape are hard to stomach, but they are the realities of some of these girls’ lives. Over the past month I have met some girls who are completely unaware of the process of menstruation (beyond the idea that they bleed once a month), but have already been asked for sex in exchange for a bar of soap or worry that if they don’t have sex after they have started menstruating that they will lose a limb.

The girls ask some of these questions openly, but we also give them the opportunity to ask these questions anonymously at the end of the session. At times I have been overwhelmed or left me speechless and near tears. It is hard to know just how to answer the question, “What should I do if my dad is trying to have sex with me?”

But, as many times as I have felt my heart drop at the difficulties these girls face, it has risen and even turned my tears into a smile at the strength, determination and optimism they posses. The discussions we’ve had are always filled with giggles and laughter when we explain the process of menstruation and we all share about ‘the changes our bodies go through as we grow. In the end, it is the girls themselves that come up with the solutions to these difficulties and realize they hold the power to determine their futures.

I want to apologize for not uploading photos. Please check out my fellow WC Volunteer’s blog to see photos and videos:
A Worldwide Education

Emily is working towards her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction in Social Studies and the University of Missouri.

We are celebrating with you in spirit (and with some spirits) here in Malawi!! We are also celebrating the completion of our first Camp.

We have been teaching for the last three days in the village of Kalonga. I have no idea how to find this on a map, but if I had to give directions– Drive about an hour from Lilongwe down a paved road, past the Carlsberg billboard, take a left on the red dirt road, past a few ox driven carts and over a hill and the school is on your left.

The sights, sounds and dust are overwhelming to describe. The first day of camp our vehicle was surrounded by children, waiting to grasp our hands and greet us with smiles, two-handed handshakes and, “Mulibange!” After rallying the students with songs and dances we divided into classes with our translators and co-teachers and all of our educations began.

Our classroom was a dustcovered room, bare of desks or chairs and without a bulletinboard in sight. 23 kids– statistically, given the percentage of HIV infections in Malawi, 3 or more of them, already infected with HIV. 2 teachers and our translator ready to help them discover the means to help themselves and their communities thrive.

Over the three days, we taught our students the ways HIV can be transmitted, how HIV develops into AIDS, ways to protect from HIV and then transitioned into environmental protection– deforestation prevention and solar power. In my 5 years of teaching, I have never taught such respectful, engaged students in my life. That could be because they are used to getting the switch for an incorrect answer, but I’d like to think they truly were learning.

It was incredibly powereful to hear a student respond to the question, “What can we do to help prevent deforestation?” with the response, “We can go out and tell our village and community all about what we have learned and about how forest help protect our soil and grow food for our communities.”

It is difficult to see such amazing kids, smart, respectful, hilarious, bright kids, knowing some of them will die of AIDS, and have to leave them after a few short days– but I hope and believe that our teaching is impacting them and empowering them. ..g

I have now successfully slept for 2 nights under a mosquito net, though what they say about Malaria medicine and nightmares appears to be true! Our house is surrounded by a large brick fence and guarded a 24 hour guard, so I’m confident those fears will remain in my head.

I’v also discovered I LOVE nsima…well, at least I can say that after one supper. I may sing a different tune after 25 lunches. It has the texture of mashed potatos and reminds me of sticky rice. The locals use it as a staple food to dip in a variety of sides– last night we ate it with pumpkin leaves and beans. Delicious!

I’m more excited than ever about the work we are doing here. Yesterday, we visited an orphanage and it was quite surreal. Some of the dirtest children I have seen, bearing the brightest grins and minds ready to soak up information.

I can’t help but think of many of you while I’m here and wish you were with me, contributing your talents and gifts!– know that you are with me in spirit!! All of you Wapsie Warriors will be happy to hear that the children of Malawi are singing the BOOM-Chica- BOOM song that would make Mary and Carl proud!!

g

Or as it’s said in Chichewa - ZIKOMO!

I once had the opportunity to sit in the legendary, Mr. Lyons 7th grade Language Arts class and though it was difficult to keep my full attention upon Mr. Lyons while dodging spit wads flying between Walker and Jake, I did manage to learn, THE FOUR Ps

1. Preplanning

2. Prevents

3. Poor

4.Performance

I decided to apply the wisdom of, The Four Ps in preparation for volunteering with World Camp. The first step of my plan has been to study up on the basics of Chichewa.

Many languages are spoken in Malawi. English is used in government, business as well as the upper levels of school. At home and amongst friends a variety of Bantu languages are spoken, but the majority of Malawians speak Chichewa. Here are a few phrases to practice:

Keep in mind:
A- “ah” E- “eh” I-“ee” O-“oh” U-“oo”

Moni! Muli Bwanji?        Greetings! How are you?

If students in Malawi are anything like those in Bushwick, these should come in handy!

Khala chete        Keep quiet

Pitliliza kuchita bwino        Keep up the good work

…I haven’t been able to find a direct translation for “Good Readers, time to meet at the rug!” but I’ll let  all my NYC teacher friends know as soon as I do!!

I’ll leave you with a phrase I’m sure I’ll never hear:

Umayimba bwin        You sing well

Thank you again for all your support! Only 23 more days to prepare!

Tsalani Bwino!!        Stay well

I just finalized my itinerary to Malawi (thanks to all your generous donations). I’ll be leaving Saturday, June 27^th from JFK and arriving in Malawi on Sunday, June 28^th!!  Here are a few lessons learned:

• A certain (aheem…) travel company that claims to have GREAT flight deals for teachers and students is barely worth consulting.

• Flying to Malawi is cheaper if you book one flight to South Africa from the states and a separate flight from South Africa to Malawi. 

• Here are some better tips from The New York Times, The Other Malawi, an Africa in Microcosm.

If anyone is interested in meeting up for a South African adventure, let me know!!  I’ll be traveling around South Africa from August 1-9th before I return to New York.

I’ve started my preparations for volunteering and by preparations I mean being poked and prodded. Thus far, the doctors have given me the okay and have stuck me with more than one big, scary needle. If I wasn’t tough after getting hit by a bus, I will be by the time I touch down in Lilongwe on the 28^th of June!

I will begin orientation with World Camp on the 29th at Lake Malawi. For three days I’ll be working with the team of volunteers to develop curriculum and organize for the camps. I also hope to enjoy some delicious fish. I’ve heard from many friends that the fish in Malawi is quite tasty!

World Camp also just sent me a schedule for the month. We will be working in six different villages during the month of July, as well as a project with the children in the city of Lilongwe.  In the meantime, my fourth grade and I just wrapped up an incredible poetry month in Brooklyn with, “Poem in Your Pocket Day” last Friday.  I’ll leave you with the words of wisdom from one of our fourth graders at PS377K:

Confident Man

A

Confident Man

Knows how to say

I love you

A confident man

will cry

A confident man

will take good

care of his

family, children

and wife

A confident man

does not need alcohol

drugs or cigarettes

A confident man

will respect

A confident man

will seek education

That confident man is me!!

I am asking you to support my work with World Camp because I believe education can bring real opportunity and change. My goal is to raise $5,000 by June 10th, 2009. One of the great misfortunes in development work is the way money seems to disappear before finding its way to those who need it most. Please rest assured your money will go directly into needed resources, while being careful to provide the education that ensures those resources are not wasted. I’ll be there day to day to put your funding to work. A donation of $250 will support a day of learning, meals and empowerment for a group of children in Malawi. A contribution of any amount will be much appreciated!

Please make sure to put my name in the, “Comments” area of the donation page. Please take a moment to think about the change that can be made in children’s lives from your contribution. Your support will go far!