Malawi – One Tree at a Time

February 24

Hello everyone!

In a recent blog, I mentioned a growing feeling that I want to give back to Malawi, a country which has given me so many unique and wonderful experiences so far. Many in this country already go above and beyond to improve the lives of Malawians, giving them hope for their future.

Planting trees at Banda Hill School

Our friend Michelle runs a charity called Inspire Malawi, which she established in 2003. Its main aim is to provide a more inspiring learning environment so that children want to – and do – gain a good education.

Click on the link above
to see what Inspire Malawi do

A beautiful setting for a school playground

We spent a morning volunteering by planting trees and hedges at Banda Hill School, just before the large town of Dedza. The school, which currently has a roll of 438, has had help from Inspire Malawi and our own school in the past – the wall displays were created by some of the children I taught last year, who are now in Year 6.

The old school building is that ramshackle hut on the right -
Inspire Malawi have helped build the two new blocks on the left

Each new school block cost between £11,000 and £14,000 in total

Our BMIS volunteering team

They also have a permaculture garden, which is a valuable source of income and diversity at a time when the lack of rain is going to put severe strain on families throughout the coming year. This money is important when you consider that a school is provided 50,000MWK (£50) per term to acquire stationery and books for all pupils.

Children from the local community planting trees

Apparently only 1/5 of the trees will grow - Hannah hopes
'Twiggy' will be successful!

It was heartening to see so many people from the local community being actively involved, making the action sustainable in the longer term. It certainly wasn’t a case of foreigners coming in and dictating what is done. The local chiefs requested certain trees and explained to us where they wanted them planted.

Working together to plant the hedgerow

Over 200 trees were planted in total

After getting our hands dirty, we visited the village of Mlanda, about 20 minutes south of the school. In between two areas we’ve already visited in Dedza and Lizulu, it is a lovely area of Malawi. Situated high above sea level and along the edge of the Great Rift Valley, the contrast between lush greens and stony greys makes for a spectacular sight. The low cloud enveloping the stone, circular houses evoked images of Gorillas in the Mist and Jurassic Park.

Maize crops stand tall at this time of year

Mlanda is about an 80 minute drive from Lilongwe

The low clouds create a mysterious aura

We hiked up a trail to one of the rocks which has some very old rock art on its underside. Michelle told us that UNESCO are yet to document this particular site.

Look closely and you'll see the Sun...

The site is unprotected from human intervention

Climbing on the top of the rock also brought its own rewards.

An incredible view from one of the higher rocks

Taking a well-earned breather

It is amazing to see how a gesture which may seem so small to us, such as planting trees and hedges or painting a classroom, can make such a positive impact. An inspiring morning which made me appreciate how lucky I am and reminded me of the importance of productive volunteering in this part of the world.

Love you all

Matt

Malawi – Friends Reunited

January 22-25

Hello everyone!

Having visitors is always nice.

Having my best friend from Korea – more like responsible older sister – visit is pretty special.

Playing volleyball on the beach at Cape Maclear

I started this blog when I moved to Korea. A big reason I moved was a pact I made with some people on my TEFL course that I would move wherever they went after Prague. One person I agreed that with was Kelly, who moved to Korea in October 2009. I followed six weeks later.

Our TEFL graduation in summer 2008 - I was 20...

Aside from a surprise flying visit in May 2011, we hadn’t been in each other’s company since I left Korea in December 2010. Over seven years ago. It goes without saying that a lot has changed since then…

Supporting Korea during the 2010 World Cup in Seoul

Rambling around Beijing's Summer Palace in summer 2010

Remarkably, Kelly still lives in Korea. However, she decided to come to southern Africa with her friend Tom, who I briefly met when we travelled around China in summer 2010. Well, when you’re this close…

Kelly and Tom had seen South Africa and Botswana before arriving

Enjoying a cuppa - if you wait as long as we did for
food to arrive, you need to enjoy it!

One main reason for loving visitors is it helps remind me of the aspects of life that captivated me when I first arrived in Malawi. The little things, like a man struggling to cycle up a hill with a sack of charcoal larger than his head swaying worryingly on the back.

Most of the time I can't take pictures as I'm driving - Hannah
was able to snap this from the passenger seat a week after the visit

It’s also a good excuse to get out of the city and go to Malawi’s main attraction: Lake Malawi. Though there are plenty of options, the closest ‘nice’ place on the lake to Lilongwe is Cape Maclear. More info about Cape Mac can be found in this blog.

Kayaking to Thumbi - the island in the distance - is
a popular activity

Surrounded by cichlids - there are more species of fish in
this lake than in North America and Europe combined

Tom finding inner peace in the lake

As ever, the sunsets were spectacular. A relaxing, beautiful place.

After stopping to help a broken down car, we only just
made it in time for this stunning sunset

A moodier sunset on Saturday night at Cape Mac

Kelly and Tom were pleasantly surprised with Malawi. The warmth of the country and spectacular scenery is a big reason for us enjoying our time in the Warm Heart of Africa, and it was wonderful to share it with two great friends. It was also wonderful to catch up - even after so long, very little seemed to have changed. The question now: who is going to visit next? :-)

The Rift Valley

Here's hoping it won't be another 7 years!

Love you all

Matt

Malawi – Breathing heavily on Bunda Mountain

January 14

Hello everyone!

Much of Malawi is higher than some of the tallest points of the UK. The capital Lilongwe, where I live, is situated about 1100 metres above sea level – higher than any point in England or Wales. In spite of this, it can seem a bit flat…unless you venture outside city limits…

 

Bunda Mountain

The view from Bunda Mountain

  

Strange rock formations dot the horizon when driving through much of Malawi. One of the closer dome-shaped land masses is called Bunda, about a 30 minute drive south of the centre of Lilongwe.

The hill rises quite steeply to about 1,400 metres, making it stick out like a sore thumb. This makes it easy to see, and not too difficult to get to. Assuming you find the unmarked turning, of course…

Locals enjoying us getting ready for our climb

The ascent is only about 2 kilometres. It is, however, quite steep. The threat of rain covering the smooth rocks we were walking on was sufficient to make us climb 200 metres relatively quickly. 

Getting secure footing can be quite tricky
as the rocks are so smooth

Taking in the view with our 'guide', a teenager from the village below

  

The rocks themselves were fascinating. Many streaks of earthy colours shimmy down the granite rock of the mountain, almost mimicking the flow of water which was threatening to soak us from the moody clouds above.

The streaks add colour to the mountainside

Looking back down the mountain

  

Bunda is breathtaking in many ways. Literally, particularly if you try to run up parts of the occasionally precipitous hill face. Metaphorically, for the views.

It has quite a steep gradient in parts, almost 30'

Stunning views of Malawi's Central Region

  

With a full panorama it was noticeable that some areas are shorn of their natural environment: forest. A dam has been built and many areas have been razed for flatter farmland. It makes the eastern direction, which is seemingly filled with many varieties of tree, look special. I hope that area is protected.

Many trees...

Not so many trees...

  

We weren’t alone at the top. It appeared that people were living up here. Bunda is a spiritual site upon which people pray, often for rain. Traditional rain ceremonies occur here, though not when we scaled the mountain. Being exposed as most peaks are, I can’t imagine having to survive the wind and rain that must batter the top of the mountain in small stone ‘huts’, let alone walk up and down the mountain for supplies.

Internet picture of the abodes at the top

Though city life rarely gets overwhelming in a place like Lilongwe, it is always nice to breathe in the fresher air of the countryside. Bunda is a lovely, if lactic-inducing, hike which is easily completed in an afternoon.

Love you all

Matt