Making mud bricks

We went to help a village high up in the mountainous region, too far and treacherous for any vehicle to enter carrying building supplies such as bricks. We arrived to be engulfed by a large group of the children, as was the case at most villages we worked at. We met a group of villagers who were making bricks from the water, mud and clay dust which was available from the ground itself. The process involved mixing water and mud together with hoes, then all of us jumping around in the mixture till it was a smooth dough like consistency. I definitely shouldn’t have worn jeans!  The mixture was then placed in casts and left to dry in the sun. As we started to get involved more and more villagers came out to help which showed a strong sense of community.  Sunny Nahal

Getting dirty making mud bricks to build a classroom

Getting dirty making mud bricks to build a classroom

Cultural celebrations at Lake Malawi

Upon our arrival at Nanchengwa Lodge (on the shores of Lake Malawi)  we had the chance to observe an initiation ceremony- the last part of a 30-day ritual- and see  a local Nyau dance. 

Boys dressed up for the final village celebration of their initiation; well wishers donate drinks & money

Boys dressed up for the final village celebration of their initiation; well wishers donate drinks & money

Masked Nyau dancer performs in the village

Masked Nyau dancer performs in the village

Start the day with Chichewa lessons

Words can’t describe the experience of volunteering in Malawi. I enjoyed every second of it and hope to go again in the future. From day 1 we started learning Chichewa (the main language spoken in Malawi) and a little about the culture and African music by meeting a chief and an artist. Dan Javed

Practicing Chichewa

Practicing Chichewa

Learning Chichewa next to the pool at Fisherman's Rest

Learning Chichewa next to the pool at Fisherman’s Rest

Staff at Fisherman’s Rest giving language lessons

Student reflections – DASH to Malawi 2014

Please click on a student name to read their reflective account of the trip to Malawi

 

Tracey pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tracey Askew –

 

Kieron pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kieron Breen –

 

Beth pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beth Doda –

 

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Bryony Downes –

 

Dan pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dan Javed –

 

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Asha Malla –

 

Liz pic

 

 

 

 

 

Liz McCabe –

 

Sunny pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunny Nahal –

 

Rob pic

 

 

 

 

 

Rob Poole –

 

Chantelle pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chantelle Randle –

 

Lauren pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lauren Rogers –

 

 

Tom pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Swinley –

 

Baking cakes for Malawi

Beth arranged a cake sale at her local church and raised £40 to support rural community projects in Malawi. She talks of her motivation to join the DASH to Malawi 2014 work experience trip and a skill she hopes to share:

 This visit would allow me to learn from the people in Malawi and to appreciate their resourcefulness.  I have achieved my black belt in Shotokan karate which may be interesting for the locals!

Bethany Doda (Dietetics student)

Beth enjoys the summer of 2014

Beth enjoys the summer of 2014

 

Footballs for schoolchildren in Malawi

Rob Poole  looks forward to teaching schoolchildren in rural Malawi and having fun playing football with them. He describes his aspirations for the DASH to Malawi 2014 trip:

Experiencing the Malawian culture and their daily challenges will be inspiring and personally educational.  I hope that the experience will allow me to have a greater impact on the children I go on to teach in my future career, and have UK schoolchildren recognise the privilege and power that their education affords them.

Robert Poole (Exercise, Nutrition & Health student)

Rob with the colourful footballs he is taking to Malawi

Rob with the colourful footballs he is taking to Malawi

 

 

 

 

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Student raises money for community projects in Malawi

I have raised over £300 by asking family and friends and by having a collection at my local mosque where I explained about my trip to Malawi and how the money raised will be spent  to support children, schools and projects in Malawi.

A member of the community said “This project sounds amazing. Hope you raise a great amount” and the local Imam said “May God reward you in abundance for the fantastic work you are doing. I hope it’s a rewarding journey for you, spiritually and emotionally.”

Danish Javed (Biomedical Science student)

Danish