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Malawi Nancholi
Co-ordinators:
Judy Barrett & Colin Reilly
Project E-mail: sva_nancholi@hotmail.co.uk
The Country
Malawi is a small country in southeast Africa with a population of
close to 16 million. It is often referred to as ‘the warm heart of Africa’
due to the friendly nature of its people. The official languages are
English and Chichewa, although there are many other regional languages
spoken. Malawi is heavily reliant on agriculture and its main export is
tobacco. Malawi is home to the third largest lake in Africa, Lake Malawi,
as well as the third highest mountain in Africa, Mountain Mulanje.
Malawi gained independence from Britain in 1964, and a 30 year long
period of one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu
Banda followed. Banda lost power in 1993 and Malawi held its first
democratic multiparty election in 1994. The
current president is called Bingu Wa Mutharika.
Malawi is currently struggling with combating the rapidly growing
problem of HIV/AIDS as well as trying to develop the economy and tackle
poverty. Malawi is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the
world.
Although it is generally considered politically stable, Malawi
experienced some anti-government riots in the summer of 2011.
For more details and current issues on Malawi, please go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13864367
Aims of the Project
The work will consist of three main elements:
1) Assisting local health facilities:
This includes the expansion and improvement of a village-based
clinic built with SVA sponsorship in 2011 and helping some of the local
volunteers with their home-based care work in the community - focusing
predominantly on those who are HIV positive. There is the option also of
helping with local testing facilities and establishing a local
"post-test" club.
2) Providing basic health education:
Volunteers will have the chance to run local health awareness
schemes to provide information on sexual health, HIV/AIDs advice and a new
malaria prevention and awareness project.
3) Youth work:
This will involve teaching in local schools and orphanages, as well
as running youth interest groups for teenagers. Volunteers will also be
involved in working with young offenders in a nearby young offenders
institute.
Details of the Project
The project is based in the township of Nancholi,
about 8km from the city of Blantyre, in southern Malawi. Volunteers will be
working with a local CBO (Community Based Organization) called Nancholi Youth Organization (NAYO). It will take place
over 10 weeks - usually from June to August and volunteers
will stay in a rented house in the centre of Nancholi.
SVA has a huge focus on sustainability, so the project will also
partially require the establishment of some income-generating activities,
to keep the project going independently.
Costs
Volunteers will be expected to raise approximately £6,500,
that's around £800 each. Do not be intimidated - SVA projects
regularly raise more than their target. Flights
cost approximately £800 but this changes every year.
Vaccinations/Anti-malarials vary from around £100 to £300, depending on
where you get your health care.
Volunteers are advised to take anywhere between
£700-£1,000, possibly more to spend whilst in country. This depends
on how much you want to do in your free time - there is plenty to see!
Volunteers
We are looking for 6 volunteers who are hard-working and
self-motivated. Volunteers should have a genuine interest in the issues
which the project aims to tackle and be excellent communicators who work
well in a group. An idea of some of the challenges that come with working
in a developing country would also be useful - and plenty of patience. We
welcome people of all fields of study and of different interests. The more
diversity in skill that the group can offer the better!
Community Based Organisation (CBO)
Nancholi Youth Organization
P.O. Box 2057
Blantyre, Malawi
George Nedi
Programs Coordinator
Number: (+265)999762724
E-mail: nancholiyouth@yahoo.co.uk
georgenedi@gmail.com
Useful Websites
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/malawi.htm
http://www.bnltimes.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/africa/
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