It’s been two weeks and as we had limited internet access it is now time I share a few events and thoughts. Hopefully I can make this a daily occurrence J. We are enjoying the weather here, warm with rain for an hour or so daily and more the last couple of days. How easily it is to be caught in it. And the umbrella is at home! We will learn.
Because it is the start of the project we are extremely busy, getting the right people together, tendering, getting the commodities ordered, setting up a bank account, getting training organized, different forms printed and copied, traveling to the distribution centers, getting our own house in order and so much more. We now have internet at home so that should make communication more regular although skype isn’t working as well as we hoped.
Life in the city is quite different than in the rural areas as you might imagine. The streets and the roads going outside the city are always filled with people walking to their own destination. Although Malawi has only about 12,000,000 people it is the most densely populated country in Africa. As one can imagine this causes problems, as 80% of the population is involved in farming. Land is limited and as families grow the children are also dependent on land for future livelihoods. As we were driving to one of the affected areas last week , we saw many farmers, mostly women but men as well working so hard on preparing and planting the fields for the harvest next May. The fields looked beautiful as the rains had been coming for the last few weeks. Land is given by the headman of a village to his villagers but some real controversy is present as well as some headmen have been selling parts of their land. More problems for the future.
It is Sunday morning and we will be going to church to a rather interesting community. Malawians and a good number of xpats make this church their home church. Much music, long sermons and some interesting outreach programs. One in particular impressed me was an outreach program for prostitutes in the city. The women are helped to come off the street, taught new skills to find jobs, support for living in a home, given a mentor/counselor and so much more. Last week three of them were introduced in church! Try that back home!
Till tomorrow!
Because it is the start of the project we are extremely busy, getting the right people together, tendering, getting the commodities ordered, setting up a bank account, getting training organized, different forms printed and copied, traveling to the distribution centers, getting our own house in order and so much more. We now have internet at home so that should make communication more regular although skype isn’t working as well as we hoped.
Life in the city is quite different than in the rural areas as you might imagine. The streets and the roads going outside the city are always filled with people walking to their own destination. Although Malawi has only about 12,000,000 people it is the most densely populated country in Africa. As one can imagine this causes problems, as 80% of the population is involved in farming. Land is limited and as families grow the children are also dependent on land for future livelihoods. As we were driving to one of the affected areas last week , we saw many farmers, mostly women but men as well working so hard on preparing and planting the fields for the harvest next May. The fields looked beautiful as the rains had been coming for the last few weeks. Land is given by the headman of a village to his villagers but some real controversy is present as well as some headmen have been selling parts of their land. More problems for the future.
It is Sunday morning and we will be going to church to a rather interesting community. Malawians and a good number of xpats make this church their home church. Much music, long sermons and some interesting outreach programs. One in particular impressed me was an outreach program for prostitutes in the city. The women are helped to come off the street, taught new skills to find jobs, support for living in a home, given a mentor/counselor and so much more. Last week three of them were introduced in church! Try that back home!
Till tomorrow!
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