E-mail Central
As the start of our trip to Southern Africa is getting closer, Geartsje’s e-mail box is getting fuller. Introduced by the Dutch organisation the WEB.Foundation, Geartsje has been in contact with several very promising projects in Malawi, that already make us regret the limited amount of time we get to spend in that country.
Malawi: getting there
Blantyre is a city in the South of Malawi where Air Malawi will take us on the 30th of May. Once there, a man named Shepherd will pick us up from the airport and show us to our car. Not just a car. A Nissan Patrol, whose previous string of owners took it from Europe to South Africa and back again. Several times. Shepherd bought the car of Michel from our befriended Dutch organisation Be More. He actually drove the car from Nijmegen to Cape Town last year. Since this flat tire ridden trip Shepherd has totally checked and updated the car for us. We will drive it to nearby located Zomba shortly after our arrival.
Responses from Malawi
The WEB.Foundation has truly opened doors for us, not only in Malawi, but in other Southern African countries as well as in the Netherlands. So far, getting in contact with organizations has been easy. Specifically so, in Malawi where in Zomba YONECO is situated, our first project organisation. YONECO is a nationwide NGO, focussing on social injustice and sexual and reproductive health issues concerning youth, women and children. More on YONECO can be found on their site (www.yoneco.org.mw). We will definitely post more information on this organisation (and our experiences there) as our field research advances in the forthcoming months. The professionalism YONECO has shown so far made quite an impression on us. They are fast in their response, setting up future staff meetings focussing on the Edu Toy method and are already busy making us feel very welcome, indeed. Apparently such a great response is not an exception in Malawi. My Village Organisation in the Northern Rhumpi area, as well as GEMACCADET give us the same positive impression. So positive that, in fact, we cannot wait to arrive in a country we have never been before, but already feel at home in.
Lots of boxes
Lots of boxes have been delivered at our house lately. A Swiss army knife, Maglite, self inflating mattresses, and what not, have been waiting on our doorstep. Next to the extensive mailing and planning, ordering stuff is also part of preparations. The day before yesterday I got a Norwegian knife and our friend Oivind taught us some bushcraft with it. It is save to say that we can now gut a fish and make a sharp stick out of a branch. Out of a branch, people! Something growing in nature, turned into a tool, with which we are able to grill life essential marshmallows in the fire.
Hopefully we will be able to fit everything in our suitcases. We will get you posted on that matter as well. As for now, till the next update!
Geartsje & Dennis.
edutoy 