Hi everyone,
My name is Mandy, and I’m a new volunteer here with Maloto. I’ll be spending the next three months working with children from the Kwithu Feeding Center in Mzuzu and helping about fifteen of them prepare for their entrance exams into Mzuzu Academy. As Anna says, I am only “four days old” in Mzuzu. The people here have been so kind and welcoming, and I feel I’ve known many of them longer than four days. In fact, everyone I meet in Mzuzu greets me with a handshake and welcomes me. I am still adjusting to a lot - the smells, the food, the layout of the city, and probably most notably, the amount of poverty that surrounds us. It’s hard to see children walking around with no shoes on, many of whom are dirty, or emaciated, or both. But many of them are laughing and playing like any other children would. Anna and I were saying today, children are children, no matter where you go.
Yesterday I harvested beans with the women and children of Kwithu. They all work so hard; I am amazed at their ethic. We had a fun (and tiring) day, and it was so nice to finally meet the people I will be working with. Today, I met some of the women and children at the center, where we played some getting-to-know-you games and English games like Simon Says. We are anxiously awaiting the teaching materials, and until then I am planning some of my own lessons and group activities.
Anna and I harvesting beans
The Kwithu Farm
- Stella and Faith
Playing Simon Says at the center
You can see all of my pictures here and visit my personal blog, Small Bright World, for more updates.