Progress is Measurable
Into the Warm Heart of Africa
Malawi bills itself as the Warm Heart of Africa. Now I know why. I’ve experienced welcome and warmth and wonderful hospitality from everyone. Even the mosquitoes seem to like me!
C. Wright Mills wrote, “Neither the life of an individual, nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both”. Understanding this connection between personal challenges and larger, structural, social issues is key to effective practice while working in an international setting. It’s easy to forget how much we have to learn in order to become confident and competent in our work. Each day, I learn more and more how those challenges present themselves — indeed, how much I have learned in Haiti, and how much I still have to learn about Malawi.
Just this Monday the whole country effectively shut down, fearing violence ahead of a judicial ruling in regards to last year’s presidential elections here in Malawi. The ruling party declared victory while the opposition party cried foul. Most of the citizens, it seems, sided with the opposition. The fear was the expected ruling (which they referred to as “Judgement Day”, sounding rather ominous) would favor the existing ruling party, and that the masses would revolt. Since I’ve been here, we’ve already seen government buildings burned down; roads blocked; groups of people running for cover as policemen fired teargas into the crowds of those seeking first to be recognized as people whose voice matters.
When the ruling was finally announced this week, we breathed a sigh of relief. The judges nullified the election and scheduled a new election for 150 days from now. The same candidates will again compete. The same election council will count the ballots. We hope the result will be less contested.
The country quickly sprang back to its busy, chaotic self, and we were cleared for traveling the roads again. This was particularly good news for me, as I had much to do at St. Mary’s Secondary School for Girls where our projects will be based. We are happy to be working collaboratively with the nonprofit, Team Lift Inc, which built the school and invited us into this partnership.
A few days ago Mercy Beyond Borders, Malawi, hired its Malawi staff members:
Mr. Chancy is an IT professional who comes from the local, northern town of Karonga. He’s one of five children and the first in his family to obtain a university degree. Mr. Chancy will be responsible for a new program we are introducing: enhanced computer learning at the school (where some 600 girls have been studying “computer theory” without any actual hands-on practice). We are grateful that he is on board with us and we can’t wait to see the results of adding his expertise to our team.
Melissa, a recent Malawian university grad, will be implementing our student leadership workshops, college-prep guidance sessions, and the all-important university scholarship program. The first scholarships will be awarded this June, as we celebrate with Team Lift Inc and the St. Mary’s School their inaugural graduating class of 150 young women. Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in information and computer technology and is very eager to get to work with our young scholars!
As for me, this week and next, I’ll be working with both Chancy and Melissa, orienting them to Mercy Beyond Borders, training and mentoring them as to our organizational culture, our core values, our various projects in 5 countries, and more! The work is exciting, and so very important to the lives of the school’s young, hopeful, almost-highschool-graduates. The need always outstrips the means, however; so we ask for your good thoughts and prayers and support, that we may be wise in our decisions and choices, and helpful to the students and grads of St. Mary’s Secondary School for Girls in Karonga, Malawi, as they pursue their dreams.
