It’s been 2 weeks since we arrived in Mzuzu and it’s already hard to believe how fast time is going. 10 weeks are going to up ridiculously fast. We spent the first weekend in Mzuzu undergoing orientation where the UKVs arrived after a long journey to be introduced their ICV counterparts. Both Mzuzu and Sangilo teams learnt about culture in Malawi and being updated on the projects that we will be spending the next 10 weeks working on. We also consumed an amazing amount of CHIPS for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Welcome to Malawi!!!
On the Sunday we were paired with our counterparts and moved into host homes, this was exciting for everyone, but also highly nerve wracking, as we discovered who we would be living with for the next 2 and a half months.
Lattitude ICS is currently working with 3 organisations is Mzuzu. Apause, which delivers sex education to young people. Saved by the Ball, raising awareness of HIV/AIDS through lawn and table tennis, and Mzuzu Young Voices, which aims to enhance literacy in Primary schools through organizing ‘Spell a Word’ competitions, and raising awareness of health and sanitation issues.
After 2 weeks at work, it’s becoming clear to all of us that things really do happen slowly here. ‘Malawian time’ is fast becoming something we are getting used too, but with a lot of hard work and determination progress will definitely be made over the next 10 weeks. Also a few words of advice for anyone reading this from the next group; prepare yourself to eat a lot of NSIMA!!! Don’t expect to lose weight because your in Africa, your bums will expand by the day and also if they tell you in the UK you won’t see a drop of rain, chances are………………..you will!!!!
