School
Tikondwe currently has 7 schools in the local area. Which can range from a 5-30 minute walk to neighboring villages from the volunteer house or you can choose to get a "njinga" (Malawi version of a taxi where a local man cycles and you sit on the back of the bike) to the school which costs around £1 per day.
The organisation runs the school i.e. supplying the limited resources and maintaining the schools. A typical Malawian School is just a small single room some with no windows in. The teachers at the school are all local volunteers and really appreciate us going over to help them! Make sure you think of lots of different activities to do with them. However, what you are expected to do within the school depends on what setting you are in and what the teachers are like. As we went as a group of 5, 3 were in one school and 2 were in another - which we all had different experiences in.
There are 2 classes per day, the first being from 8.30 - 10.30 which is with children aged between 2-6 and the second is at 2.30 - 4.30 with children aged 6 - 16. However these ages are just a guide and do somewhat differ from school to school. Schooling is not compulsory so the amount of students who come is different each day. In the morning those children who can afford it or who are sponsored to go, go to government primary school meaning the evening school.
Feeding Programme
During school in the morning around 10.30 there is the feeding programme. This is when each child each receives porridge supplied by Tikondwe (sometimes this can be their only meal of the day). Food is brought via bicycle to each of the schools. It means you normally leave the school around 11 and can help your teacher serve it out and wash up the bowls if you wish (you also can eat if you like too).
Orphanage
When we were in Malawi the orphanage was still being built and was expected to be opened in May. The orphanage is due to home around 500 orphans, and also will have a school with 5 classrooms and a assembly hall and also a huge dinning room and kitchen.
The accommodation at Tikondwe is completely free however; as it is in a very deprived area of Malawi it is extremely basic with no electricity. There are 2 volunteer houses within the village that are next to each other; the main house which has a large room where all the volunteers eat/socialise and 3 smaller separate rooms with bunk beds in to sleep. Then there is a smaller house which has two separate rooms with 4 sets of bunk beds in to sleep, a small storage room and a toilet/shower room.
There is also a small building with an outside toilet (western toilet with flush) and shower (cold water only) which all the volunteers and even some of the locals share. Although there is a shower and toilet in the smaller house most choose not to use this shower and use the outside one.
Next to this building is an outdoor tap which is used for cooking, cleaning, washing up, brushing teeth and drinking (the locals drink straight from the tap however volunteers put the water into big bottles to be purified).
Between both volunteer houses there is a large hut that the volunteers and locals are able to use either to relax in or to play with the local children.
The only house with solar electricity for a light is the main house (which is still very temperamental) so when it gets dark you only have torches and candles for light. And obviously there were no street lights or outside lights so after about 6pm it was pitch black - so don't forget your torches!
Usually at the start of the week each volunteer puts a certain amount of money into the ‘kitty’ (which for us was 2000 kwacha (around £4) but the amount could change) which pays towards food for evening meals (breakfast and lunch isn't provided so volunteers have to bring food with them or buy food there) and 500 of which is for Momma and Sophie who help with cooking, washing pots and washing clothes. However, if volunteers do not want to contribute to the ‘kitty’ then they are able to eat separately. Cooking is done on a small wooden fire which is outside the smaller volunteer house.
There is also an Education Centre which is a small building next to the larger volunteer house, which stores various materials such as pens, paper, crayons etc which have been donated to the organisation, that can be taken out by the locals or by the teachers in the school for lessons. The organisation also holds a teachers meeting in the Education Centre every Friday to keep the teachers and volunteers within the school up to date with the curriculum for the following week.
Malawi is a very religious country. For girls; showing knees is a very disrespectful thing to do. So make sure you take long skirts, dresses or leggings. And obviously to not show too much flesh such as tummy or chest. Clothes always get very dirty and white clothes turn orange due to the sand so don't take anything that you don't want to get ruined. However, we did go on nights out and for meals so take clothes which will be suitable for that but again, watch out for your knees!
Beds (smaller volunteer house) :
Larger volunteer house:
Toilet:
Shower:
Education Centre:
Although there is no electricy in the houses to charge things a few minutes down there road there is the 'charge shop' where you pay about 5p per item you want charged. In this village you will also find 'cinemas' which you pay around £2 and can get a DVD played. And there are also lots of little shops and stalls where you can buy bread, crisps, biscuits and veg etc. Everyone in the Village is so friendly and everyone will always say hi to you and ask your name!
We flew in 2 separate groups to Malawi. You can fly into either Blantyre or Lilongwe which are the 2 airports in Malawi. We all flew into Lilongwe which is slightly further away from the project however the flights tend to be cheaper because it is the capital.
3 of us flew with Kenya Airways, which we paid about £560. This meant we stopped of at Kenya on the way there and back (where you have to check in again for your connecting flight). The airline were really friendly and we would recommend going with them again. Your in flight meals are included and drinks are unlimited (including alcoholic drinks), there is a variety of films and music channels to choose from whilst on the flight. Luggage allowance - 2 cases each plus hand luggage.
Whilst the other 2 of us traveled with South African Airways which exactly the same however we stopped in South Africa. The flights were more expensive and we payed around £800. Luggage allowance - 1 case each plus hand luggage.
Once you get to Malawi a taxi can be arranged for you for around £150 depending on fuel prices at the time. The taxi driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name on. If people offer to help carry your bags say no as they often expect some kind of money for helping! The taxi journey is about 5/6 hours from the airport but this will take you directly to the project from the airport. You can also stop off at a supermarket where you can buy some food (inc cadbury's and walkers crisps!) and you can also stop to change money as you can't do this in the UK.
Or, if your adventurous you can get the bus. This is quite a lot cheaper but if you are not familiar with the local buses and Malawi in general this can be quite eye opening.
When you are in the village as previously said you will walk or get the njinga to school. To go else where such as other towns and city's you will have to get the njinga to Songani or Domasi Works which cost about 50p. From there you can get minibus' very easy. Some drivers try to take advantage because you are anzungu (a white person, you'll get called that a lot so don't get offended!). Make sure you agree your price before you get on the minibus. If they do try and make you pay more normally it's only about 50p - £1 so it really isn't too much of a rip off.
Minibus' can get very crammed - a 12 seater can fit about 25 people in.
Lake Malawi;
Lake Malawi is the third biggest lake in Africa. We went to Nkata Bay which was 10 hours away by night coach. However there are other parts of the lakes which are closer. It was so beautiful and amazing so we strongly recommend a visit. You're not supposed to swim in the lake due to parasites however we all did and were all okay. But you can buy tablets for a pharmacy in Zomba which you should take 6 weeks after swimming in the lake for about £3. Some of us took them and some of us didn't bother.
Zomba;
Zomba is a nearby town which takes about 20 minutes on the minibus costing around 50p. Zomba has banks, cafes, restaurants, the internet, markets etc. We went into Zomba quite frequently as it didn't cost a lot and we liked cafe rouge (not the same french chain as here). There is also bars in Zomba, we went to a place called dominos and then we went to a club called G-string but that wasn't in Zomba.
There is also a chance to climb Zomba Plateau but we didn't do this - it's meant to be amazing.
Liwonde;
Liwonde is a close by town. It takes around 30 minutes to get there in a minibus and cost us around £1. At Liwonde you are able to do a Safari and visit a Swimming Pool. The Safari costs around £50 per car and we saw lots of different animals including elephants which was fantastic. There is also a boat safari which we didn't do but it's ran by the same man so wouldn't be too expensive. We stayed over at Shire Camp for this night and it was £8 per room for 2 people. The room was very basic but everything you needed including a toilet shower and electricity. This was also ran by the man who does the safari's.A little further down the road is Hippo Lodge where you can go swimming for the day. This costs £1 which you also receive a beach towel. Hippo Lodge was probably the nicest food we ate all throughout our stay so if your hungry and want some good food visit Hippo.
Things to do, things not to do
DO take food from home - this is for you lunch everyday and snacks (you are always hungry)
DO take candles
DO take a good bright torch because it can get very dark
DO take water purification tablets
DO take a camera and lots of photos
DO take clothes which will cover your knees
DO use lots of insect repellent (50% DEET recommended)
DO always lock your case
DO take english money and change in Malawi (better conversion rate)
DO get involved with helping the locals
DO visit the lake
DO go on a mini bus!
DON'T promise any of the locals things you cannot fulfill
DON'T give out your contact details
DON'T take any valuables
DON'T take clothes that you don't want to get ruined
Joshua Mbozole - Project Founder
joshua.tikondwe@yahoo.com
Emma Camm - Project Co-ordinator
emma.tikwonde@gmail.com (English lady who now lives over there. She lives with you and is so helpful with any questions or queries you have)
You can do this trip with Original Volunteers however we didn't and you really don't need to!
Before you go there are many vaccines you will need.
You will need to check all your boosters and immunisation's are up to date and you will need to pay for several others.
Rabies vaccine is essential, it is 3 injections on 3 separate occasions the price of this will vary from £120 - £150 so it is often best to look around.
Hepatitis B is 3 vaccines on 3 separate occasions, spread over 3 months so it is important you are prepared with your vaccines these total about £90.
Hepatitis A – which is usually free from your GP
Typhoid vaccine
You will also need to ensure you have enough Malaria tablets for your stay in Malawi, the cost of this will vary depending where you buy the tablets from and which tablet you choose. Your GP will talk about the best choice for you.
Ensure you have insurance in case of any emergencies!
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