The theme of the trip was supporting education.
The group visited several schools, many of them in very rural settings, supporting their learning, playing sport and helping in their feeding programme.
Nat reads to a small group of enthusiastic children
Becky plays ball with a group
Cataloguing books in one of the school libraries supported by the lodge where the group stayed
We took in part in borehole monitoring which involved surveying boreholes in the local area to asses whether they were functioning or not. We went out in teams to check the status of known boreholes and help repair them. This survey also allowed us the opportunity to monitor the quality of the borehole water.
Bryony at work with the field testing kit
Using a field kit the water was tested for faecal coliforms and in particular E.coli, with some very alarming results, with some water sources showing heavy E.coli contamination.
Work like this allows identification of contamination so that action can be taken which will help to provide safe water to communities, as a single borehole can supply 100s of people (Bryony Down)
Maimoona talks to the Imam and other village members
The group visited the mosque in the small lakeside fishing village when the children were reciting the Qur’an.
Shopping for lunch in Chadzunda market
Local produce for sale
Sun dried fish from Lake Malawi
Hannah surrounded by boxes of books for Malawi
Hannah Steward, her family and friends have been busy collecting books to donate to school libraries in Malawi. The students are travelling to Malawi this week; she and others in the team have filled their suitcases to the maximum allowance with not only books but other toys, including wooden jigsaws, inflatable balls, educational posters and outside play equipment.
A special thanks to Hannah’s Mum who has been very active in packing, collecting, transporting and generally been supportive!
Collecting donations
Olivia Williams raises £50 at her first car boot sale and plans another
Liz McCabe raised £162 at her car boot sale.
Her daughter then raided her holiday fund jar to bump it up to £200.
A family effort!
Enjoying the funds raised!
Hannah has motivated schools, friends and family to collect an amazing 2240 books for Malawi.
Students will take some books in their spare luggage; the rest will be shipped to Malawi.
Hannah Steward surrounded by donated books
Great Yarmouth Mercury newspaper report on the donation of 1000 books by Caister Infants School to DASH to Malawi
Olivia Williams with her shopping for 5 days
Here is the food
…which cost less than £5. Olivia has raised almost £80 in sponsorship.
The head of DASH, Ann Green, hosted an evening event at Square One in Coventry to showcase the experiences and activities of the pioneer group of 12 students who went to Malawi in 2014.
Tom and Kieron perform
Ann Green introduces our internationalisation trip to Malawi
Students prepare to perform; Pat (organiser) is amused; Ann (Head of DASH) looks worried
Liz performs
Click on this link for details of the second student trip to Malawi:
Reading with children
Visit to Mpemba Library in 2014