Create Your Voice Take 2

Our first camp in March was such a HUGE success and the girls loved it so much that we decided to hold another camp in July between holiday breaks. The boys had been howling so much about not being involved in the first camp that we decided it was time to try a gender empowerment approach that was co-ed. After all, how can there be equality between gender if both sexes are not a part of the conversation?

We had a different set of outstanding PCVs this time: Cody Reed, Beccy Burelson, Justin Krohn, and Shelby Spear. It's kind of insane how great Peace Corps Volunteers truly are!

This camp was a lot like the last one. We used a GrassRoot Soccer curriculum that focused on HIV. We added some gender empowerment components, and of course kept the most successful part of the camp: creative arts.

We should never take even our "smallest" experiences for granted. 
In the US, knowing how to use scissors is a requirement to pass kindergarten. 
In Malawi, this might be the first time a student has used them. 

Having a co-ed group provided some challenges, however, not quite the challenges we were expecting. Due to cultural norms and anecdotal data from teachers we expected girls to act a certain way in the presence of boys. Girls would be more shy, have less English comprehension, and not work as hard as the boys. 

 FALSE. All of these things were false!

The boys needed HUGE amounts of coaxing to join conversations, they had a much harder time understanding English, and the girls and boys worked equally as hard.

Discussing facts and myths about HIV

At some point I have worked with most of these girls doing gender empowerment lessons; driving home the point that they are just as important as boys, can be just as smart, and they deserve to have a voice among all people.

I guess it worked! The girls rocked the show. They brought meaningful conversation and questions to the table and by the end of the week were leading games and praises.

Gender Stadium: Girls and Boys take turns listening to
challenges that gender roles present to both sides.

There are times during a Peace Corps service that you KNOW you are doing good. You are doing what you came to do and you are proud of your service. July 23 to 27 was a distinct example of knowing I'm in the right place at the right time.

I could not be prouder of my learners!

Students viewing their work at the gallery walk during graduation

Create Your Voice Girls Camp

Awesome PCVs!!!

During the school holiday, in March, Matt and I hosted a female empowerment camp called Create Your Voice, with some awesome PCVs Betsy Holtz, Tim Hainley, Amy Oppfelt, Jackie Wille, and Kelsey Smith. We were also joined by Kisty Mtambo, a local Primary School teacher.

In the morning we had interactive lessons about female empowerment and HIV prevention using an outstanding program called GrassRoot Soccer. In the afternoon we taught creative art classes that emphasized how we can use visual, performing, and written arts to share an important message with our communities and friends.

Betsy demonstrating how to use various art supplies. 

During the week we were able to reach 46 girls age 11 to 19 about HIV prevention and management, child rights, family planning, self-confidence, reproductive health, and goal setting. These are things that are not often discussed in Malawi, and rarely in a safe space with other girls. They really had an opportunity to open up and ask hard questions that in other settings might make them uncomfortable.

The camp culminated in a public graduation in which all participants shared with the community what they felt was the more important message from the week of camp. Using the visual and preforming art skills gained during camp, 4 groups of 10-12 students created and preformed messages for the community. The students created songs, posters, poems, and short dramas.

Each group came up with their messages independently, but in the end it was clear that they had one common message to share. Every group wanted to let the community know that the way to a better Malawi is stopping violence against women and promoting gender equality.

When asked about the camp one girl responded,

"We've learned so much and I feel like I can do what I am told is not possible. I want other girls to know that they too can achieve their goals."

Another girl, form 3, said 

"I must dream big to achieve big!"

Girls preforming a skit about gender based violence
for the community

Since the camp several girls have asked to continue to learn art so they can spread important messages to their community. Other girls have asked to help teach lessons on gender equality and HIV. The camp was not only a success in the sense that there was a severe improvement in knowledge (11.3% increase from pre to post-test) but there seems to be a fundamental drive from the participants to let other girls know that they have a voice and deserve to be heard.



Due to demand from the students, in July, we did another Create Your Voice camp.  This time Co-Ed.  Stay tuned for more photos and stories!!! 

Kid's Korner: How do you cook?

We now interrupt your regularly scheduled silence to bring you a new KIDS KORNER!! 

For real though, sorry folks.  We've had this post ready for a while but became consumed with a million other things!!  Please accept our apologies!

"With no electricity, microwave, or stove how do you eat?"
Answer: Fire! Lots of fire!
There are a few ways to do this in Malawi.

1. The traditional 3 brick fire.
This is exactly what it sounds like.  Three bricks are set on the ground in a triangle, a wood fire in the middle, and a pot rests on top.  This is the method most commonly used in the village.  All of the materials are easy to find and you can cook anywhere!


2. A clay mbaola.
This is what we most commonly use! It is mostly used for wood fires but it can also burn charcoal.  It cooks faster than the 3 brick by directing the heat to the pot and makes less smoke.  These are less common because they take more resources and knowledge to make.  Another challenge is that not many villages know about them.


3. Charcoal mbaola.
This one is made of metal and cannot burn wood.  Charcoal is hard to find and technically illegal.  It's not like the charcoal brickets you buy at the grocery store for a Bar-BQ.  It is wood that has been slightly burned and buried for a few days.  This makes it easier to burn.  BUT it takes extra wood to make it and there are not a lot of trees here.

4. Paraffin stove.
We use this sometimes.  It is like a gas stove top in your house. It cooks fast with no smoke.  This is the least common cooking method. The stove is expensive and the fuel is really expensive and sometimes not available.  Just last month Matt went to buy paraffin and the gas station was out.




5. Hot plate.
Colleges may have put major bans on hot plates but here in Malawi it is the most popular choice for those with electricity.  The electricity found here is not like the United States.  It does not flow evenly and is not always powerful enough to run more than one big appliance.  There's no way you can run a hot plate and a hair dryer.



No matter what method used, cooking in Malawi is a major chore.  For a family of 8 a 3 brick fire starts at 4 or 5am and is kept going all day.  It boils water for tea, heats bath water, cooks porridge for breakfast, nsima and greens for lunch and then again for dinner. It's an all day affair.

Next time on Kid's Korner:

How do you shower?