A January Update from Hillary: Week 2

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Karen Clark

Week 2 in Malawi

I can’t believe I’ve already been here for two weeks. I have learned so much it is ridiculous; I’ve learned about a completely different culture, how wonderful it can be to live in a rural community, especially one that is self-reliant, enthusiastic and happy. I’ve learned about the hardships of living in a developing country; dealing with government corruption, a poor education system, lack foreign currency, gas shortages, human rights violations, pollution, HIV/AIDS, malaria and poverty. I’ve learned about the importance of good agricultural skills, I’ve learned a bit about how non-profits work and how hard the work is, but also how rewarding it is; especially when you are working with such great people! I’ve learned how essential the youth of a community can be, how they can really made a difference. I’ve learned how to be patient, and to be prepared for the unexpected. Being here in Malawi, interning with Face-to-Face and talking with fellow travelers and friends really has broadened my worldview and made me ask so many questions about our world, globalization, development, westernization, and education—and I’m really just intrigued by it all. Anyways, my time in both Chadika and Kan’goma this week has been wonderful; full of celebration and hope for 2012, and I’m so excited to see their project proposals implemented!

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Hillary with kids at Chadika

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A January Update from Hillary: Week 1

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Karen Clark
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Chadika's Youth Group

Wow. I can’t even put into words how this week has been going so far. It’s been incredible, crazy, confusing, educational, stressful, rewarding, delicious, wonderful. It has been wonderful having Ken here (yay!) and I have already learned so much listening in on how the projects are going and the process on how things get done. Malawi itself is also going through some crazy times; the gas crisis is worse than ever, making it harder and harder for people to get around, and with the foreign currency problem not improving, I’m not sure when the crisis will end (the normal exchange rate is about 165 Kwacha to the USD, except on the black market, where most people exchange money, it could be up to 250 Kwacha to the USD). The vendors in Malawi are also getting in trouble by the police for selling on the streets instead of the markets; and the vendors are very unhappy about this; so they are rebelling by attacking women who are wearing pants, approaching them and tearing them off, saying that is culturally unacceptable (as someone who is very much pro-gender equality, this does NOT make me happy). At first it seemed to just be the Malawian women, who were targeted, but apparently people made comments at me today for my pants; I guess I have to whip out the one skirt I brought! Work has been a challenge but also rewarding. We’ve been interviewing the Youth Group members to get their basic information but to also see how the Youth Group plays a role in the community. Chadika has such a strong base, and they are so enthusiastic and have a great sense of community; when I asked to go to see the Youth Group’s garden, I thought that maybe one or two of the members would take us. Instead, everyone who was present at the community center, probably about 50 people total, came too. Today I told them how this is such a big learning experience for me; sometimes I feel like they think I know what I’m doing and that I have the power to change the community forever; and that is sort of scary, I’m the same age or younger than half of the Youth Group! I really love what I’m doing though, every minute; and it gets better everyday. And the people who work with Face-to-Face make it even more worthwhile; Ken, Mike, Arichie, Aubrey and all of F2F’s friends, just wow, I can’t say enough good things!

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A Summer Visit to Chadika, from Karen

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Karen Clark

I couldn’t have been more surprised when I stepped out of Archie and Mike’s pickup at Chadika Community Based Organization. Although I was in Malawi with another organization and only had one day to visit Chadika, I was thrilled I had the chance to meet the F2F team and members of Chadika CBO. As a student at Colby and member of LuziCare, I’d contacted The Face-to-Face AIDS Projects employees in Malawi to ask for a tour of Chadika to meet the people I’d heard so much about and see the projects I’d helped coordinate fundraisers for.

All the kids waiting to greet us at Chadika

I’d expected to spend maybe an hour with Mike and Archie, seeing the year-round crops and maybe meeting the head of Chadika. Instead, there was a mass of kids who immediately surrounded our truck as soon as it stopped and a group of men and women waiting outside the CBO office. We were about thirty minutes late, which is actually pretty early in Malawi, but the entire CBO had still shown up for the “event.”

There was an introductory ceremony, where I was taken into the office and introduced to Chadika’s leadership team. As we sipped on soda (at 9:30am) we talked about the links between Chadika, Colby, LuziCare, and F2F and were amazed at how connected they really are. We stepped back outside for a few songs and my opening remarks (hadn’t planned on that!).

I was then led on a two-hour tour of Chadika’s catchment area and shown all of the fields that were in full bloom in the middle of the dry season, a rarity and blessing in Malawi. The men leading me also pointed out where they hope to build an early childhood development center in the near future. Everyone was so happy to show me their gardens and so thankful for the work Luzi had done at Colby.

Mike, Archie, and I were served a delicious lunch of nsima with greens and another soda in someone’s living room. Then we were prepped for the real festivities – dancing, dramas, and speeches for a few more hours. I had a comfy chair to sit on, and the entertainment was wonderful. Two Village Headmen and the Group Village Headman (a big deal!) each gave a speech applauding the work of Chadika and LuziCare’s financial support. The women’s support group performed two songs about health issues in the community.

The youth group put on a dramatic play about the importance of accepting orphans into ones family. They talked about the rough life orphans can have and why they shouldn’t be shunned or starved by their new families. It was incredibly powerful and the entire audience was enthralled. After talking with the youth group leader, I was inspired by his dedicated to the issues in his community – he wants to learn as much as he can so he can continue educating the youth group and in turn the community, on ways they can empower themselves.

In their drama about stigmatizing orphans, Chadika's youth group leader (center) lectured the offending adoptive parents on why they need to care for their orphaned nephew

All in all, it was a phenomenal day. Having expected an hour and staying for seven, I’m glad Archie and Mike weren’t offended when I dozed off on the ride back. The members of Chadika showed me unrivaled warmth and welcome that day, a feeling I’ll never forget. Having never met them before, I was incredibly touched by their dedication to their community, and their humble thanks for all of our support.

Me, with all the members of Chadika CBO

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