The Summer Volunteer Trip was a huge success. The villagers and the volunteers meshed perfectly. Our first initiative involved an Oral Hygiene Program in which Lauren Fitzgerald and Jenna O’Neil, two high school volunteers from Massachusetts. The program involved full tutorial oral hygiene lessons for Standards 1 through 8 and a donation of toothbrushes from the states. Since the usual tooth brushing method involves using sand from the lake and rubbing it against the teeth, toothbrushes were definitely something new! The students laughed at the funny-looking toothbrushes, but were also very excited about learning something new that was good for their health. Lauren, Jenna, and all of the other volunteers did a superb job conquering the language barrier, using parts of Chichewa and lots of gestures in order to be certain that there was no confusion. Our volunteers from England through The Responsible Safari Company were an amazing addition to the team. We learned quickly that our group was going to get along very well.
In addition to the Oral Hygiene Program, the entire community center has been painted, restored, and beautified. There is now a beautiful mural, including children’s handprints from the village, which stands as a symbol of unity for the village. Plays and theater programs have and will continue to be held there, teaching the entire village about the importance of HIV/AIDS protection and other serious issues that permeate the village. Our first play was casted, rehearsed, and performed right in the newly renovated Namaso Bay Community Center as a fun, but also educational, break from the normal routine.
The adult English and basic computer classes also made a huge impact on the adult population of the village. This initiative, along with the Secondary School Scholarship program, which enabled the top 20 students to attend Secondary School and move on in their educational endeavors, has opened new opportunities for those outside of the Namaso Bay Primary School.
Many of the volunteer teachers used specialized teaching techniques from the states in order to show the students and teachers at Namaso Bay School a new and unique way to learn, including group activities, service learning, and partner work. As a whole, a great deal of progress has been made. The village and the volunteers act as one, working together in order to bring sustainable solutions to Namaso Bay. We have all formed close friendships that will continue to grow and develop. I can’t wait to get back to Namaso Bay myself. Please check in regarding future volunteer and research opportunities. There are many initiatives currently underway, including the greening of our school and water purification projects.
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