Finishing Touches

Here are some more photos from our progress on the kitchen project! As you can see we are just about through. We are planning to have an opening ceremony sometime in the next few weeks!

Kitchen Update

I am happy to report that the kitchen is almost complete! Our builder and his crew have been working hard consistently and we should be finished sometime in the next two weeks.

We had a few small setbacks like forgetting to include a few things on our list of what to purchase originally like ridges to cover the tops of the tin roofs and locks for all of the doors.

We were able to resolve theses and all other issues that have come up at the building committee meetings we've been holding every two weeks. The school agreed to pick up the cost on the forgotten things and have everything was back on track in no time.

The walls are finished, the roof is on and now we're just waiting for the floor to be finished, whitewashing, painting and any other last minute touches. Sorry I don't have time to upload any photos today, but I'll be in town again next week to make sure I get pictures posted!!

Laying the Foundation

On Monday, February 8th we began construction of our school kitchen. A few months ago, our building committee held interviews and hired one primary builder for the entire job, Mr. Maluwa. He is assisted by another man and a woman who brings water to aid in the construction. Together they’ve been working hard and it has definitely paid off. I am happy to report that after only one week from breaking ground, phase one of construction is complete! That is, the foundation has been finished.

Our builder, on the first day of construction.

Future and Present Kitchens

Since we started, each day (excluding Sundays) the headmaster or I wake up early and meet the builder to give him the materials he will need for the day. Throughout his working, various member of the committee come to supervise and monitor the progress of the project. Mrs. Chipokosa, the Building Committee Chairperson, has been the most frequent supervisor on the scene.

The whol crew. My headmaster, our committee chairperson Mrs. Chipokosa, the assistant builer, the woman who carries water with two of her children and the builder, Mr. Maluwa.

I’m told that construction will finish in only a few weeks time!

I will keep you posted!

Bringing Building Supplies

Now that we’ve received all of our funding (Thank you! Thank you!) we were able to purchase the rest of the building materials including cement, wood planks, lime, iron sheets, nails, etc. to begin construction. After a Building Committee meeting, we decided that the PTA Chairman, our builder, one PTA member also on the committee and I would go to Lilongwe (Malawi’s capital city) to purchase all of the materials. The PTA Chairman and another committee member were sent to town a few days prior to find updated quotations from several different shops. As a committee we decided on the best place to go and the following day went for all of the materials with the aid of a 5 ton lorry.

Upon arrival back at school, we were met by many eager students ready to help unload the truck and put our materials safely into storage. The boys were so excited to help and ever since the school has been buzzing with talk of our new development project.

End of Term One and Camp Sky Pics

Where has the time gone?!? I have finished teaching four terms since my arrival in Malawi! Absolutely incredible, it seems like I have just begun. Term One ended much the same as any other term; the students were eager to leave for their various homes over break and studied tirelessly up until their end of term exams.

Beginning yesterday, we are on break until March 8th. This gives students about two and a half weeks to return to their homes, help their parents or guardians on their farms and find money for school fees for the coming term. Many of the students and their parents acquire money for fees by selling their crops, especially tobacco. Several students will do “piece-work” over the holiday helping other farmers here and there to earn their own money for school. Other students, specifically many of those who are orphans have their education funded by various NGOs working in Ntchisi District.

As for me, I have 480 (that is not a typo) exams to grade, a tiresome task which will have to be broken up by visiting with other volunteers and of course taking a trip to the lake.

Also, near the end of break, my Mom, Dad and Grandma will be on their way to Malawi for a two week visit!

Ps... Here are some Camp Sky pictures I promised to share!

Career Guidance Speaker

Computer Class! That's Charles, a student from my school at the bottom.

Me, helping the othetr Madam Kelly with some "Buisness English" vocabulary.

Computers were so awesome.

Johnny leading an orienteering class.

Observing endothermic and exothermic reactions in my physical science class.

Tim and Joce helping with Tae Kwo Do!

More in the lab.

Salsa Dancing!!!

The kids had such a great time! Totally worth all of our effort and time.

GGC Arts and Crafts

One of my favorite after school activities over the last few months has been Gwangwa Girl's Club. Every Thursday between ten and thirty girls meet to listen to me talk about different topics like self-esteem, contraception, health, etc., participate in fun games and activities, watch movies, play soccer or just hang out.

This week we had a particularly fun meeting focused on expressing ourselves through art. Each girl was given a piece of paper, markers, stickers and magazines to use to create a poster that described them. I made my own as an example with my name and Chichewa and English words and pictures cut from magazines; pictures and words of things that are important to me or I feel describe my feelings or personality. The girls were really excited about this activity. We spent a few hours making our posters and sharing them with one another. Once finished, they immediately proudly hung their posters above their mats in their hostels. It was really fun and interesting to see how they expressed themselves when given materials and freedom to do what they want.

I haven't done too much with art projects thus far, but this has gotten me thinking of other crafts we can try. Jewelry making? Recycling paper? Knitting? I'll keep you posted!

WE DID IT!!!!!

We’ve done it!!! Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to our Gwangwa CDSS Kitchen fund! Together we have raised over $4,159! That is enough to complete the building of a kitchen and make our school feeding program a sustainable reality!

The funds will reach me from Peace Corps headquarters, sometime in the next week and construction will begin shortly thereafter. I cannot begin to describe how excited we all are here at Gwangwa. Thank you all so much for your donations and support. Currently we are feeding eighty students with a tiny “kitchen” but plan to expand that number as our project is finished. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Regular updates and pictures of construction to follow!!!