Day 10 CPD in Katewe

Travelling to Katewe for CPD

Bicycle ready (with padding) to take me to Katewe Teacher Development Centre 

Unfortunately the phone signal was not good and internet connection was intermittent. However we did manage to downlaod all their photos and learn about Word and e-mail accounts.

Vincent spoke about the training he had received from the British Council

The TDC is about half an hours bike ride away and the PEA is based here (Primary Education Advisor) and we had the use of a dongle.

There was tea (with lots of sugar) and biscuits for all who attended.  It was a very good attendance considering that this was during the school holidays

On the way back the chain broke on the bicycle so we had to walk. Obviously I had had too many biscuits!

Malawi women ride side saddle on the back of bicycles.

It had been a good day. The rest of the day was spent at the market, playing games with children and eating food at teachers' houses.Tomorrow I have been invited to Lucius's house in the village. He is the chief of over 30 villages.

Making a macrame bracelet prototype

Breakfast of tea with condensed milk and sweet potatoes

Fish stall at the market

Leo and Anna

Leo demonstrates hand washing outside the toilet. All the school toilets now have handwashing stations made from plastic bottles

Colline, Anna, Jaqueline and Promise and me

New toilet blocks at the school. Three for the boys and three for the girls and toilets for the staff too.

Pig at the market

Cooking sweet potatoes on the fire. They are delicious steamed.

Vincent's family (without Christopher)

weighing maize at the market

A cactus outside Sara and Daniel's house

Colline tries the chips

Colline with false nose

Lessinya's father was a tailor and she sews clothes to sell at the market. She made two skirts and a blouse that afternoon as Anna watches

Local shop

Buying doughnuts

Fabric at the market 1200 MK each

We wandered through the market

Collecting water. The village now has two bore holes.

In the Village Day 9 Welcome Ceremony

In the Village

I woke this morning to the sound of the cock crowing, and sweeping in the yard. The sun was just up. After a hot bucket shower and breakfast of chips (made from 'Irish' potatoes) and roasted ground nuts I was invited to the school to a welcoming ceremony. Given that the school was on holiday I felt very honoured as there were many chiefs there, the school management committee, teachers and lots of children.

Children turn up for the welcoming ceremony.

Teachers in the staff room. Vincent is very proud of his Scottish scarf.

Village head men introduced themselves. Lucius third from the right is the head of over 30 villages.

Chiefs

Women teachers Ida, me and Gloria.
After prayers and speeches from the chiefs, management committee, teachers and me everybody shook hands and introduced themselves and we took lots of photos. We then walked around the villages and the market and greeted everybody we met. A crowd of children followed.

Anna (Leo's daughter) eats her porridge. She is no longer frightened of me.

Children turn up to ceremony and follow us around.

Making chips in the market

Playing 'duck duck goose' with some of the children.

Sara and Colline wearing one of the noses from my fellow cyclists. The gifts  were very much appreciated with most of them to be used as prizes for classes.

Skipping with a home made sissal rope

Tasting chips in the local chippie

In Leo's yard with Lessinya washing up.

It was a busy day. Tomorrow we are going to the TDC in Katewe for teacher CPD in computing.

Off to Chidewere Village

Off to the Village Day 8

 Having  completed the bike and mountain challenge, now the next adventure begins. It was sad saying good bye to my fellow cyclists, a night in Lilongwe on my own in order to get water and bags organised and then meeting Vincent at 8am and travelling Malawi style to the village. My little legs are still aching and Malawi Squat village toilets don't lend themselves to aching legs. I must remember to hold on to my glasses. Chidewere here I come.

The truck was full of people all travelling out to different villages and included mums and small babies all trying to keep cool in the hot Malawi sun.

Travelling Malawi style was quite an adventure and only 800MK

My first taste of raw cassava in Kabwaze 2 hours later. They arranged for the truck to carry us on to Chidewere, but first it had to be reloaded.

Vincent arranged somebody to help carry our heavy bags in Lilongwe. Yes that bag is mine full of things for the school from fellow cyclists and 10 litres of bottled water. I also had two other full bags which were all placed in the truck.


 After hours of bumping along in the truck with people getting on and off at different villages, we finally reached Kabwaze. Here some of the teachers met us on bicycles and after a reloading with bottles of fanta and pepsi we were off again to Chidewere (only 10 minutes more) and we were there!

Leo Chinseu the head teacher made me feel very welcome. I stayed in his house sharing a room with his older daughter Elise. It was good of everybody to meet me particularly as this is their school holiday.

Vincent gets to grips with a computer in Lilongwe.

A great welcome from the teachers. Tomorrow there is to be a welcome ceremony. It was strange seeing pictures of Gilmerton teachers and management on the wall in the Chidewere School office. Can't believe that I am really here!