tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25992171671240351222024-03-13T09:36:33.037-07:00eMas' Korner; More from MalawiEmas is a Human Centred Design (HCD) and Interactive Design Methodologist and facilitator who enjoys creating conducive environment for innovative and creative sparks away from traditional methodologies. He is a professional trainer, community-led development enthusiasts and an advocate and champion for innovations for sustainable impact that empowers his clients and communities. He enjoys facilitating design workshops, research, prototyping sessions, testing and implementing diverse innovationsEMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-89581957550471865952017-04-15T10:42:00.000-07:002017-04-24T03:16:51.775-07:00WELCOME TO THE GLOBAL START-UP ACADEMY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Planet Start-Up Malawi Operations</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Planet Start-Up is A Global entrepreneurship program in a bid by an
international charity PLANET START-UP
to connect and equip unemployed young adults in economically disadvantaged
communities in remote areas of the planet, and within inner cities to end
extreme poverty, build shared prosperity and strengthen youth voices
economically by skills training and connecting them to banking and capital
markets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Planet Start-Up is starting its operations in Malawi and has partnered
with MHub to empower the Malawian young people to becoming successful
entrepreneurs through tailor-made mentorship. please do visit the website on <a href="http://www.planetstartup.org/">www.planetstartup.org</a> to learn more about this amazing opportunity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">About our partner mHub<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">mHub is Malawi’s first technology and innovation
hub. The hub is a social enterprise that champions the development of local
technology solutions. The hub nurtures young innovators and entrepreneurs with
technical and business skills to create sustainable business solutions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The hub facilitates structured mentorship
between young entrepreneurs and innovators with established experts,
researchers and icons in technology <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack">and </a>business. mHub
also aims to enhance knowledge sharing between industry, academia, developers,
researchers and the community to ensure development of relevant technology
solutions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">mHub also provides a co-working space for
young innovators and entrepreneurs. The space is designed to unearth
creativity, stimulate innovative thinking. The hub provides an environment for
upcoming start-ups to work and connect with potential clients. It affords an
atmosphere conducive for interaction with other like-minded innovators and
entrepreneurs, sharing ideas and networking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">you can read more about mHub at www.mhubmw.com </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Opportunity for young people in Malawi<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do you have a <b>BUSINESS IDEA</b> that you want to
transform into a globally acceptable business? Are you <b>PASSIONATE</b> about starting your own venture but don’t know how? Do
you wish and desire to be linked to potential <b>VENTURE CAPITALISTS</b> that might fund and invest in your project? If
the answer to all the above questions is YES, then you are the right candidate
to join our 20-member Global Start-Up
Academy that we are launching soon in Malawi. At Planet Start-Up you will be
mentored through; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Leadership development and connected
with potential investors</span></li>
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</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Developing business plans</span></li>
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</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tailor-made Courses and Online
mentorship at absolutely no charge</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>What do we need from you</b>? We need
you to be fully committed throughout the duration of the Academy and attend all
our 2 hours weekend trainings. We need you to be a good team player and
participate effectively in the assigned group work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><b>Eligibility
Criteria: </b></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Open
to Young Citizens of Malawi and living in Malawi with ages between 15 and 35.
Women are strongly encouraged to apply;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">Must
be able to speak and work in at least English</span></li>
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be available for 3 months (12 days, a maximum of 2 hours every weekend)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">Have a
laptop, although it is not a MUST</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">Should have a clear idea of a business they want to do.</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;">Please </span></b><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;">complete and submit the details below
and return in<b> Microsoft Word</b> format to </span><a href="mailto:epotolani16@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;">epotolani16@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;"> and copy </span><a href="mailto:vkumwenda@mhubmw.com"><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;">vkumwenda@mhubmw.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;"> by <b>26<sup>th</sup> April 2017</b> (5:00pm prompt). </span><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;">Please note that late submissions shall not be accepted</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;">.</span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;">Include in your submission the
following details;</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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as they appear on your passport or valid ID</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Your age</span></li>
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residential location ( we prefer if you reside in Lilongwe or around, classes in other regions will be announced soon)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">A brief
summary of your business idea, project or venture (it doesn't have to be an
active venture, we are interested in making those ideas work and help you get
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">PLEASE TAKE CAREFUL NOTE</span></u></b><br />
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;">The Closing date has been extended to 26th April, 2017 at 5 p.m</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Gulim;">Classes will start on 07th May 2017</span></b><br />
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-276436486618728182017-03-24T16:01:00.000-07:002017-03-25T04:22:33.917-07:00Reminiscences of my CorpsAfrica Adventures <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today, I would like to look back and appreciate the experience I had whilst volunteering with CorpsAfrica. I will try to make it more visual and keep the writings short. It has surely been an amazing ride, full of wonderful encounters and great challenges that has changed my life completely. I hope you will enjoy the pictures and the stories behind them. I have tried to let every picture or at least a chunk of them tell a story but briefly. Here's to my CorpsAfrica Volunteering experiences! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"I believe that Individuals can make a difference in society. Since periods of change such as the present one come so rarely in human history, it s up to each of us to make the best use of our time to help create a happier world"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Dalai Lama</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First and foremost, allow me to appreciate and thank one of the amazing woman I have ever met, Liz Fanning. Liz founded <a href="http://corpsafrica.org/" target="_blank">CorpsAfrica</a> in 2011 after her Peace Corps service in Morocco. CorpsAfrica is as it is today because of her amazing idea that has actualized to this wonderful platform for young and emerging African leaders to help transform their own local communities through volunteering and facilitating developing among their communities. Today, we are talking about CorpsAfrica because someone had a dream, and worked hard on her dream to make them come true, changing the world systematically and transforming African communities from inside out. Thank you Liz, for CorpsAfrica, you are truly a beautiful soul. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDgt7_9rBRUrlzc3BcXZm1FxBqN_W7uVfHb22DqDPhMZLQHZch9_R7i69-q0VBHRPb3dSq_e451Z61W4u1ZYDJSErLbDZ8666tzh9k_XP6fGzyUcZjFF8PymOxjg9zzlRm9TnG3EaYPcg/s1600/_MG_9263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDgt7_9rBRUrlzc3BcXZm1FxBqN_W7uVfHb22DqDPhMZLQHZch9_R7i69-q0VBHRPb3dSq_e451Z61W4u1ZYDJSErLbDZ8666tzh9k_XP6fGzyUcZjFF8PymOxjg9zzlRm9TnG3EaYPcg/s640/_MG_9263.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liz Fanning</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After successfully going through interviews at CorpsAfrica in 2015, I went to attend a Pre-Service Training (PST) in Dedza district, along with other successful candidates. We all came from different backgrounds and made an amazing family. A family of hardworking and dedicated young people passionate about developing communities in various parts of Malawi. Amidst the PST we went around surrounding villages shadowing and learning how people lived. I shadowed a teacher at a certain school in one of the villages and this helped me understand the problems communities face from the roots. We also had a Human Centered Design training which equipped me for my life and work at my site of work. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoyXztCNiDOXRqYtUJLVFL4bYBWZjAhY4Lv3i4HTZ_KkloUoneKBBMKM-Y_02Llx_C5Dm_w_lLoVQi379PjbJ9cam2Z2EIm43kxUJF3VJ9MxEaMLQ6YIXyqVsANTmv3oPf01RjQQmWFso/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoyXztCNiDOXRqYtUJLVFL4bYBWZjAhY4Lv3i4HTZ_KkloUoneKBBMKM-Y_02Llx_C5Dm_w_lLoVQi379PjbJ9cam2Z2EIm43kxUJF3VJ9MxEaMLQ6YIXyqVsANTmv3oPf01RjQQmWFso/s640/IMG_2398.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at a primary school in Chongoni, Dedza</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGavWJ_x2CxyJQQ2mks019zGfu5ppzTkFqh_pB7Blg7PGj8PnUwH3ypCniTiv8gFuufSrImA1O1eKfqEFK5kk4aQm1nQF8f5SbG8_3Jw57AXa8yLrlMRdTknE6Ykq_bYXkVQDWehEubPGX/s1600/IMG_2402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGavWJ_x2CxyJQQ2mks019zGfu5ppzTkFqh_pB7Blg7PGj8PnUwH3ypCniTiv8gFuufSrImA1O1eKfqEFK5kk4aQm1nQF8f5SbG8_3Jw57AXa8yLrlMRdTknE6Ykq_bYXkVQDWehEubPGX/s640/IMG_2402.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2xyxEiB5aROnrBrpSFS-HTLNQBOfelVsK9PRW-EvvmCw_tkt0UR8NG0rL2x0K0aryJpOTp4g3Rs_wkICqRalEafiCGYgHUQVTQxV9bB5rBUQFB_hYofyy0xtaVuNNpmZcMBcjs4I_Vle/s1600/vlcsnap-2017-03-24-16h20m11s338.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2xyxEiB5aROnrBrpSFS-HTLNQBOfelVsK9PRW-EvvmCw_tkt0UR8NG0rL2x0K0aryJpOTp4g3Rs_wkICqRalEafiCGYgHUQVTQxV9bB5rBUQFB_hYofyy0xtaVuNNpmZcMBcjs4I_Vle/s640/vlcsnap-2017-03-24-16h20m11s338.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facilitating a community meeting in Dedza</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After six weeks of PST we went to Lilongwe for a swearing in ceremony, where we took an oath of service to serve our communities with diligence. From there we were deployed to our host communities. My community was the Patisoni Village, popularly known as Chitete in Neno District.</span> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swearing In Ceremony</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMAw2RXx6TuFQxzSuzPeh_BTOM8VUEZ31N5T9bIKGZ-mNwJUegODxIpV8qqRebFr5_KKCaVKArLdgviztmWx9p_B4p2Q3QbqpuoZnc3S1HLyieMl-p6oBDXAN0e1zd5kD5QBVj5fHt2UI/s1600/Swearing+In+Ceremony.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMAw2RXx6TuFQxzSuzPeh_BTOM8VUEZ31N5T9bIKGZ-mNwJUegODxIpV8qqRebFr5_KKCaVKArLdgviztmWx9p_B4p2Q3QbqpuoZnc3S1HLyieMl-p6oBDXAN0e1zd5kD5QBVj5fHt2UI/s640/Swearing+In+Ceremony.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was hosted at the chief's house where I was warmly welcomed and well taken care of. The hospitality at the chief's house helped me integrate and bond quickly with the entire community. This made my work easier since I made a lot of friends and I was frequently invited in people's houses for a meal or a chat which made my assessment of community needs quite smooth. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnTuuEkW3dC4qdqhDthpgr6JNQMBl3TuDmxZ1y_m7yGBjUaOZmh36Yp8hQKslBUKcRTwA5FeC6ZFTWzOxeuIchTaD0DjgJKoQPOE8u9vGvTyQZptFfw8U8pA-wuHnkkSva5Xp3eJlvrlY/s1600/The+Road+to+Chitete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnTuuEkW3dC4qdqhDthpgr6JNQMBl3TuDmxZ1y_m7yGBjUaOZmh36Yp8hQKslBUKcRTwA5FeC6ZFTWzOxeuIchTaD0DjgJKoQPOE8u9vGvTyQZptFfw8U8pA-wuHnkkSva5Xp3eJlvrlY/s640/The+Road+to+Chitete.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road to Chitete..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlqBVBznFVcFzxlJ0idTpAnh9jp2-s5XVOpcSSCV_GkMpTQo4qNLHy-BdCGP7D6wBoLRKFgynLEvjisxB3Pme1V2POexv1TU_LMVNBuSiSi1q3EPY6oOAoEdaQ7OurEibIZ4320_z1wMC/s1600/Chief%2527s+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlqBVBznFVcFzxlJ0idTpAnh9jp2-s5XVOpcSSCV_GkMpTQo4qNLHy-BdCGP7D6wBoLRKFgynLEvjisxB3Pme1V2POexv1TU_LMVNBuSiSi1q3EPY6oOAoEdaQ7OurEibIZ4320_z1wMC/s640/Chief%2527s+house.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chief's house, (host family)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nsima and Pumpkin leaves (Lunch)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lVmfbJh2Y0D5vJR8nRF_jeVnSsAmHKL5Muy0pltFHa3wUQQzG70PuLpfF7hQF-ceNuzURMSmfInMw-YXmu6dOieP_XbstJVVchy3MpJkZwMP-ljNNj9MesmPJIVXLpU4fJfTpigNNWv3/s1600/WP_20160703_007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lVmfbJh2Y0D5vJR8nRF_jeVnSsAmHKL5Muy0pltFHa3wUQQzG70PuLpfF7hQF-ceNuzURMSmfInMw-YXmu6dOieP_XbstJVVchy3MpJkZwMP-ljNNj9MesmPJIVXLpU4fJfTpigNNWv3/s640/WP_20160703_007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a house in Chitete</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">front view for one of the house</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse3rn3sll4BL2T6fUFdSwnYaADLixzJ12J3q6AVjSDvRLfnBd6Nz7EQhxWG18yunrZ6VNX-pMmLQxsLJYHFQ2pWCL6P-BM328xynuEZ3jOr2Cn9VlUQjbPVhJ5zyvV6zVDEXIzUCkaDmh/s1600/WP_20160703_006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse3rn3sll4BL2T6fUFdSwnYaADLixzJ12J3q6AVjSDvRLfnBd6Nz7EQhxWG18yunrZ6VNX-pMmLQxsLJYHFQ2pWCL6P-BM328xynuEZ3jOr2Cn9VlUQjbPVhJ5zyvV6zVDEXIzUCkaDmh/s640/WP_20160703_006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujNCn2RfvopNsEXBpF-6XNHUnKEzzIlz0tH8Ub-Hqudc8uaGLdIeNBMZQOET4_xFZITlWrvEX8rCdzRDtUpYuVN0hqf8WKPQs2gpb3M28B8wNzfXaCjQuJGCJBRnQcJAchnYi94ZOrP9h/s1600/WP_20160703_008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujNCn2RfvopNsEXBpF-6XNHUnKEzzIlz0tH8Ub-Hqudc8uaGLdIeNBMZQOET4_xFZITlWrvEX8rCdzRDtUpYuVN0hqf8WKPQs2gpb3M28B8wNzfXaCjQuJGCJBRnQcJAchnYi94ZOrP9h/s640/WP_20160703_008.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a bachelor's dwelling </td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A<span style="text-align: justify;">fter assessing the community needs I carried out various projects within the community with the help of the community members themselves. I earned the community's trust and this led to my working with the women of the community in one of the projects (IWET Improved Stove Production) despite being a male volunteer. You can find out more about some of my projects right here on my blog. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nSdz6Hg6sQZxW5vjHXOwz-b0eTTqAinCaowFWgpwxIToWvrhXoqL1kc1hpWwXtacWiSUiXES3YZ5h3dM8qw_xkQ2zRf7WxbyxXKsZFqrXuCSfHZ5jkOSCA68G-PSvcv8TA0nwBL9zYGC/s1600/WP_20160626_007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nSdz6Hg6sQZxW5vjHXOwz-b0eTTqAinCaowFWgpwxIToWvrhXoqL1kc1hpWwXtacWiSUiXES3YZ5h3dM8qw_xkQ2zRf7WxbyxXKsZFqrXuCSfHZ5jkOSCA68G-PSvcv8TA0nwBL9zYGC/s640/WP_20160626_007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The women I worked closely with</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYtvlCPRTlv_QAQIV-TBIgN6N3CLCaEauYyQCv0Dkwvhyphenhyphenwb9CPkPGXqgXmkX6dyiwCKZ02i2fBbgy1UaRFOmtQiowyX9eDU5j79FdfUSVigOEyTTQ9ZnlJv81nQ77tEKzm0_S34B5jsAR/s1600/WP_20130720_494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYtvlCPRTlv_QAQIV-TBIgN6N3CLCaEauYyQCv0Dkwvhyphenhyphenwb9CPkPGXqgXmkX6dyiwCKZ02i2fBbgy1UaRFOmtQiowyX9eDU5j79FdfUSVigOEyTTQ9ZnlJv81nQ77tEKzm0_S34B5jsAR/s640/WP_20130720_494.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a photo after completing our first Stove Prototype</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making a stationed stove with the women</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5P9EDy59SGhOYXODkG6HAY2JYQS5n6bD_7DQiPEK_wwV0reKmEMHP2_f8T5f_i_Fuk9kwBApPAGKKO0uufUYEtdGuOcrLtPIfP2S7ka33535Bcm0ZPmQugtX-PPoJJspXhd8jZoP75Vg/s1600/IMG_20160504_121640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5P9EDy59SGhOYXODkG6HAY2JYQS5n6bD_7DQiPEK_wwV0reKmEMHP2_f8T5f_i_Fuk9kwBApPAGKKO0uufUYEtdGuOcrLtPIfP2S7ka33535Bcm0ZPmQugtX-PPoJJspXhd8jZoP75Vg/s640/IMG_20160504_121640.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwuBlh36HaKFrmh8iGChymmB-CRYSlbZ9-BorXkalMW1flanPIm1Rk-wS6r9-8xSGCNTVZHU8eHSpjVCN0S1Wnv0wAkNz7rNz0fFnr58xaCD2jXrw1rx7SetZQiUhmV-ctaNwIU3n1Iun/s1600/IMG_20160504_122113_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwuBlh36HaKFrmh8iGChymmB-CRYSlbZ9-BorXkalMW1flanPIm1Rk-wS6r9-8xSGCNTVZHU8eHSpjVCN0S1Wnv0wAkNz7rNz0fFnr58xaCD2jXrw1rx7SetZQiUhmV-ctaNwIU3n1Iun/s640/IMG_20160504_122113_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">appreciating my community's nature</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A good part of my time in Chitete village was spent at Chitete Primary School where I adopted and taught Standard 3 and 4 Pupils. The time I spent with the kids at the school was simply amazing altogether. But let me give you a brief background of this school. The community never had a school before, and children used to travel close to 5 kilometers to the nearest school. The challenge however, wasn't the distance necessarily, but the fact that children were been killed as they crossed the dangerous highway ( the busy road that connects to Mwanza boarder) to go to school everyday. It was due to these unfortunate episodes of accidents that made most parents to be reluctant in sending their children to school until they were of a much older age. In the year 2014, the community decided to elect a tiny grass-thatched shed to be a classroom for their children. They employed a volunteer teacher for the kids until a certain organization known as <a href="https://www.buildon.org/" target="_blank">buildOn</a> intervened and built the only classroom in 2015 with the amazing contribution of the whole community. According to statistics from buildOn, the school had 65 pupils in 2015 with 39 girls and 26 boys. Today, the School has 7 teachers (2 female and 5 male) with a total enrollment of 253 students; 133 girls and 120 boys yet there's still one classroom that covers only Standard 1 and 2, while Standard 3 and 4 seek shelter in the grass-thatched structures. However, the good news is that buildOn is electing another classroom after the rain season this year, meaning students from Standard 1 to 4 will now be taught in a good and health environment free of dust and without being exposed to the harsh weather in the sheds. It is more likely that the School management will extend the school to standard 5, and if that will be the case, then one class will still be learning in the grass-thatched structure. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yIh5D1nyYH0k54gC-Q8unarWqn5B8pqxza_KKpTBuiMav7T1ewjsz7eISz0buNgc2Zoe50HXbY27tqicjIe1Ap61j1YnNBoSKmbKeItKg_Xt8SV8ilhvqSqmgcDGVNDQKEopmSwh6tGP/s1600/Chiete-Old-School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yIh5D1nyYH0k54gC-Q8unarWqn5B8pqxza_KKpTBuiMav7T1ewjsz7eISz0buNgc2Zoe50HXbY27tqicjIe1Ap61j1YnNBoSKmbKeItKg_Xt8SV8ilhvqSqmgcDGVNDQKEopmSwh6tGP/s640/Chiete-Old-School.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chitete School in 2014 (picture by buidOn)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJ46idjp6UPk1f9tN4KEbD0QCvZNQh1euMwrON5jeqXhzfNtEDjoH2CRrSEwFPVXubTLOhWs1y2OmH4wxB6-urRBFd7AkxX3jmnmRlh4ZTX0S0xBAj1MnLwpCAw8_GCSImedMLBHP7oSS/s1600/Chiete-Women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJ46idjp6UPk1f9tN4KEbD0QCvZNQh1euMwrON5jeqXhzfNtEDjoH2CRrSEwFPVXubTLOhWs1y2OmH4wxB6-urRBFd7AkxX3jmnmRlh4ZTX0S0xBAj1MnLwpCAw8_GCSImedMLBHP7oSS/s640/Chiete-Women.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women participating in building of the first classroom in 2015</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyLvQwrUcWkfWzu9ntOChStEU2NqlohAu2odBvRyKVaGN1Q8osrSDpoxRwZzT8sg8hj2rGIHUrxZT9W-jxs3_JeGv13I8clE79sZ8y_e8HGlE__RrJJvzFYlIq-pEa-v9Ew18l9lqJfMd/s1600/Chiete-Final-School-Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyLvQwrUcWkfWzu9ntOChStEU2NqlohAu2odBvRyKVaGN1Q8osrSDpoxRwZzT8sg8hj2rGIHUrxZT9W-jxs3_JeGv13I8clE79sZ8y_e8HGlE__RrJJvzFYlIq-pEa-v9Ew18l9lqJfMd/s640/Chiete-Final-School-Photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The completed Classroom in 2015</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYt01yVjNDQVT9R0iRhCcEf7QxiXjeIxSC86AXTG7YQi7MccBLtYyo3Y3bRxQk8FiWDq4z2qePXO1KvdRibxtOWCkmZukvXP2lnvLKSl0V2ax_cDJBkU8frvOyensEx_MpX7Y_eILZeo1y/s1600/WP_20160603_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYt01yVjNDQVT9R0iRhCcEf7QxiXjeIxSC86AXTG7YQi7MccBLtYyo3Y3bRxQk8FiWDq4z2qePXO1KvdRibxtOWCkmZukvXP2lnvLKSl0V2ax_cDJBkU8frvOyensEx_MpX7Y_eILZeo1y/s640/WP_20160603_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The School In February 2016</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfEZuLhg_nhTmGv3SA5IrIqdu3UYc-wxKzOnSPj51qM034De3XnWxn7wxW6dwaRxkaP0IT8Q_IB3n5fjqYJCTFLoiIUd41j1Hc7cv0L3UTr9WYrGnI_NdgGHfq1R9wmeX2IKGJBEbLpBq/s1600/WP_20160603_019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfEZuLhg_nhTmGv3SA5IrIqdu3UYc-wxKzOnSPj51qM034De3XnWxn7wxW6dwaRxkaP0IT8Q_IB3n5fjqYJCTFLoiIUd41j1Hc7cv0L3UTr9WYrGnI_NdgGHfq1R9wmeX2IKGJBEbLpBq/s640/WP_20160603_019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grass-Thatched structure in 2016; Classroom for Standard 3 Kids</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a closer view</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesson in progress</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My students working in groups</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcXFDS-0xXfvnMshd4Xk_Iee1b-WM6pYCyGjjbAdq1cLLZvbkKZpxv2FKG7LpPZMnALQf_-0LzNAqpdP98tAznEsDmdoWKag_snL9ug-R8YFoQRUR5BX3Di7QyREilPdakWgkwQroBquG/s1600/IMG_20160517_215948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcXFDS-0xXfvnMshd4Xk_Iee1b-WM6pYCyGjjbAdq1cLLZvbkKZpxv2FKG7LpPZMnALQf_-0LzNAqpdP98tAznEsDmdoWKag_snL9ug-R8YFoQRUR5BX3Di7QyREilPdakWgkwQroBquG/s640/IMG_20160517_215948.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside our Classroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maths in progress</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKalbgOHbRg8OuPhni1OBaun5PozHXVfPTc-hXcuZR7ivRM2-BVonkvNePcWniqI3Hpd1wxGf7PkyeG41CM_fU8QqU_UXqStCiPwpvDycxg7gM0qCRLT-UJAAwEAZrNGWAqA5WStnMjCz/s1600/WP_20160607_025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKalbgOHbRg8OuPhni1OBaun5PozHXVfPTc-hXcuZR7ivRM2-BVonkvNePcWniqI3Hpd1wxGf7PkyeG41CM_fU8QqU_UXqStCiPwpvDycxg7gM0qCRLT-UJAAwEAZrNGWAqA5WStnMjCz/s640/WP_20160607_025.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A student writing teachers' names </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDJ8n7h6WejoNKyVnap4CEmYOgTNeV2CVLuJMY3lFsYuFqIwCCgnbGQ5TLuGYv_Ue3pKaXwtSoxXMom8oAes5sj_wlMVFxUknU06zuhs4-yI4I33YmW3cq9VrWYdk43vlndxRMnbhaAlC/s1600/vlcsnap-2017-03-24-16h12m56s667.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDJ8n7h6WejoNKyVnap4CEmYOgTNeV2CVLuJMY3lFsYuFqIwCCgnbGQ5TLuGYv_Ue3pKaXwtSoxXMom8oAes5sj_wlMVFxUknU06zuhs4-yI4I33YmW3cq9VrWYdk43vlndxRMnbhaAlC/s640/vlcsnap-2017-03-24-16h12m56s667.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maria's smile</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI40GtH1qjaGpYc6YzPXEZ3gDX2tokTFLthzR91rD0GoHqZkGf0fLqu1-CEPNrWukLGw_5HvEtnbG76P0oHoBCtKhAIQJaD39FxemEJBpYdNYAt_A-NJXrDlV9xEDnubF8zinhdKWbLqIb/s1600/IMG_20160517_120720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI40GtH1qjaGpYc6YzPXEZ3gDX2tokTFLthzR91rD0GoHqZkGf0fLqu1-CEPNrWukLGw_5HvEtnbG76P0oHoBCtKhAIQJaD39FxemEJBpYdNYAt_A-NJXrDlV9xEDnubF8zinhdKWbLqIb/s640/IMG_20160517_120720.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside lessons</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having "ball-Talks with my students</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The School in March 2017</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary lee's students @ St Martin's Episcopal School reading a post about Chitete School</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">March 2017, the Grass-Thatched shelter is only remaining with a roof</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With some of my students during the International Day of the Child </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faless, Dorris and Mariam (from Left)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My service brought so many collaborations with other volunteers in my country as well as Senegal and Morocco. When we went for the CorpsAfrica All Countries Conference in Morocco, I shared one of my initiative with Alhassan and Awa. I shared my knowledge on the hand-washing gear known as the Tippy-Tap which fosters sanitation in many ways. Together we worked on a design that would be used in all the CorpsAfrica countries and made a prototype while we were in the Atlas Mountains. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking the High Atlas Mountains on our way to the Azzaden Valley</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking on </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Houses in the Atlas Mountains</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing the Tippy-Tap with Alhassan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Electing the Tippy-Tap</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children washing hands using our Tippy-Tap in a village in the Azzaden Valley</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4BDVC6INWNRmgp7nxWqfYKU1t-JTFYP7VW4yGauDRJwpTzo9251GKFHSHB7rApOLZfP8poc60Kj_71QZrtXVZU_SOWlFFqZ3ac2q2k0pJPfru6UtceSWEZ98H78IIWedq07p4ANSwR1w/s1600/CLSP++MW-MRC-SNG+20170129_205104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4BDVC6INWNRmgp7nxWqfYKU1t-JTFYP7VW4yGauDRJwpTzo9251GKFHSHB7rApOLZfP8poc60Kj_71QZrtXVZU_SOWlFFqZ3ac2q2k0pJPfru6UtceSWEZ98H78IIWedq07p4ANSwR1w/s640/CLSP++MW-MRC-SNG+20170129_205104.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The power team ( with Alhassan and Awa)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making a presentation on the Tippy-Tap<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a great time </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A taste of Moroccan tea</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conducting a Leadership capacity building training for local leaders</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My CorpsAfrica service was full of mixed experiences and there are these diverse experiences that made it all to be transformative altogether. As I move on to take up new challenges in my life, I look back and pat myself at the back for an incredibly successful yearlong service in Neno. I will surely miss my students above everyone else in my host community, this is why I have committed to visiting them at least once every month to make sure I keep in touch and motivate them. Towards the end of 2016, I made some friends from Canada through this blog who have been helping a few of my kids at the school with School Uniform and other scholastic materials, I feel this gesture has to be sustained especially considering the humble backgrounds of the kids at the school. I told the kids I will endeavor to assist them in whatever way possible knowing that it is these little gestures of kindness that change lives. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for new challenges</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you are interested in joining hands with me and my friends in reaching out to Chitete Primary School in helping the school, or the students with books, scholastic materials or writing them some motivating notes, please reach me through the contact form on this blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you for reading, please keep checking for more interesting updates on my new upcoming initiatives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"Your Life and mine should be valued not by what we take..but by what we give."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Edgar Allen</span></div>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-56828548214400018632017-03-22T08:50:00.000-07:002017-03-22T13:53:27.548-07:00 A STOP TO WATER WARS; ENDING WATER WOES IN CHITETE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Today
the 22<sup>nd</sup> of March is World Water Day. The day was proposed and
established by the United Nations during one of its Conferences on Environment
and Development in 1992. By considering the water threats, problems and
poverty, the UN proposed to cerebrate <b>World
Water Day on 22 March </b>each year, and this is according to the agenda 21 of
the UN. This year, the celebrations took place in Mangochi under the theme “Why
waste water.” I have chosen to cerebrate this important day by sharing with you
my dear readers about my Clean Water Provision and Sanitation Project which I did
in my former host community in Neno. The post today is more descriptive with a
few pictures at the end; I hope you enjoy reading it!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">" Clean water and access to food are some of the simplest things that we can take for granted each and every day. In places like Africa, these can be some of the hardest resources to attain if you live in a rural area."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Marcus Samuelsson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>C</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">hitete Village</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> in Neno has more than 130 households. Almost half of this
population experience difficulties to access clean water from clean sources.
There are 65 households who reside along or near the Shire River which passes
by the other side of this community. For almost the entire part of their lives,
the dwellers of this side of the community never had a clean source of water
and as such they entirely depended on the River as their main and only source
of water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
are so many untold stories of how the people in this part of the community
continuously endangered their lives by fetching water from the river which is
infested with crocodiles. “For a very
long time we have lost some lives while some people especially women and
children have been left wounded due to the crocodile attacks as they tried to
fetch water from the river,” shared Village Headman Patisoni. Apart from the crocodile attacks, the people
are also exposed to unending water-borne diseases since the people don’t even
bother to treat the water before consumption and at times they find the
chemicals too expensive at the market to use in treating their water. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is not as if the people who drink water from unprotected sources and end up endangering their lives by getting water from a crocodile infested river are not aware of the disastrous water borne diseases that include cholera, typhoid, dysentery among many others; they continue to put their lives at risk out of desperation. How many times can they boil the water? where can they find the money to buy chlorine or "water guard" to add and treat the water? One woman from the project site and a direct beneficiary, told me that she would rather buy food to feed her four children than spend her hard-earned money to buy water treating chemicals. Like I said, sadly, these are acts of desperation that have characterized the life for the people in this community and many others facing a similar dilemma.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">These
were the stories I started to hear when I joined the Chitete Community as a
volunteer in February 2016. As I continued to collaborate with the local
leadership for my host community and gather community needs, it was very clear
that one of the issue that had to be addressed before the finish of my
year-long service was the water problem in the community. After facilitating a
number of community development meetings with the help of the community
leadership, the Village Development Committee (VDC) and the people in the
community, we resolved to prioritize 2 needs that we would design projects out
of them. We resolved to prioritize a clean water provision and sanitation
project and if time allowed us, embark on a School block construction project
to add one more block at Chitete Primary school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
was the beginning of a wonderful project that ended up providing clean water to
more than 65 households that are now benefiting directly from a borehole that
was drilled in Chitete village. The project mainly aimed at providing safe and
clean water to the residents of the community to enhance their well being and
sanitation. As part of the project, I collaborated with the VDC as well as the
Community’s leadership to train the households in sanitation health practices
and behaviors, teaching them to make hand washing facilities from locally
available materials (the Tippy Tap) and also taking care of the water facility
and handling all the maintenance issues of the Borehole. The training followed after the Civil Works were
done and completed on the borehole by Easy Borehole Drillers, the company that
was hired to drill the borehole. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
would like to thank and appreciate the Australian Consulate through the Direct
Aid Program (DAP) in Zimbabwe for their generous financial support towards this
project. Without this funding this project wouldn't have happened. To ensure sustainability for this
initiative, I collaborated with Eazy
Boreholes to conduct maintenance and repairs training for the Borehole
Management Committee which was established to take of any issues concerning the
borehole itself. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They
were equipped in maintenance of the borehole in cases of breakages among other
technical issues. Interestingly enough,
the borehole management committee already started collecting a maintenance and
repairs fee of MK 200 (about 40 cents) every month per household to help in
footing any bills related maintenance on the borehole.<span style="color: #0070c0;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drilling in progress....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finalizing civil works</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behold the water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xZH18t1XM_fkFMLehcOQgK5Qkumf2E-rww1cyhu8W1SzBbF2UuoOrydPwa6YXby9lt01R7EA-mmyMCUKj-IqY-eSInDxuksfycBi5QgieXJk-TLCsdjtnANQmbAT5AS22K6lnoP2vz4Y/s1600/IMG_19800223_065222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xZH18t1XM_fkFMLehcOQgK5Qkumf2E-rww1cyhu8W1SzBbF2UuoOrydPwa6YXby9lt01R7EA-mmyMCUKj-IqY-eSInDxuksfycBi5QgieXJk-TLCsdjtnANQmbAT5AS22K6lnoP2vz4Y/s640/IMG_19800223_065222.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water that the people used to drink from the River</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some fruits :) </td></tr>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-78691818534615715252016-12-17T05:51:00.001-08:002016-12-17T05:51:29.282-08:00STOVE REVOLUTION IN CHITETE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“If you
don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to
change it. You just do it one step at a time.” </span></i><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Marian Wright Edelman</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In
June this year, I embarked on a project to empower the women of my community in
a socioeconomic development endeavor hoping to transform as many lives of the
women as possible. This was to be done particularly through empowering the
women themselves to develop and attain skills that they would use to make a
living as they also contributed to saving and preserving the environment around
them. This is where the <b><i>Integrated Women Empowerment Through
Improved-Stove Production </i></b>concept and initiative was born. Through this
<b>IWET</b> project I embarked on a journey
to challenge myself to train and teach women in my community how they can
produce Improved Stoves locally known as <i>Chitetezo
Mbaula.</i> I must confess that before starting this initiative, I had never
made even a single Stove in my life before, yes; this was my very first time in
my entire life. And to add to that, I never sat in any class or under some
teaching learning how to make Stoves, I invested time in reading around diverse
manuals from the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When
I was convinced that I was ready and prepared, </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I requested the
chief for a community meeting that was conducted in May 2016, during which I
made a call to all women interested to learn to make these Improved Stoves. Despite over 30 women showing their candid
interest in joining this initiative from the start, only four women actually
attended the first meeting. This gave me joy, at least I knew I wasn't gonna be
alone. We went ahead to lobby for more women to join us resulting to the
formation of a 10 member women’s group which I have been working since June
this year. I wrote about how we made our
first prototypes for both types of the Improved Stoves and if you may need to
follow properly, you may consider reading previous posts on this blog. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Months later after making our first prototype and making sure that every
woman in our group is familiar with the Stove Production, I can smile and pat
myself at the back for a job well done. When I move around my community and see
women cooking using these stoves, I smile, I get excited because I know we are
making an impact together, that slowly we are saving trees and conserving our
environment. Today, the 10 member women’s group is busy training other women
and teaching them how they can make Stoves in their kitchens thereby broadening
the knowledge base whilst increasing the impact. Without being paid anything at
all, the women are willingly and voluntarily doing this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
women are also still producing the movable Stoves and selling within the
village and at a nearby market place at a lower price. The women have proved to
be great change agents and through their selflessness, they are helping to
preserve the environment in their own community as they also develop their
lives and families socioeconomically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It
is very interesting that many households prefer the Improved Stoves more than
the Traditional 3 Stone cooking system which people have been familiar with
ever since. Indeed these Stoves have lots of benefits in the kitchen before we
even start speaking of the numerous environmental ones. Women are using less
wood in preparing food for their families and they are now able to cook in a
clean environment without being intimidated by the choking smoke in the kitchen
or worried about fire accidents which would result into fire burns among
children like it used to be the case before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This
is a Stove Revolution, which is slowly invading my community for the greater
good. I am so much assured that even after I am gone, the women will continue
to share knowledge in making the Stationed Stoves with fellow women, which is
all about sustainability. As I conclude, I would like to end with a quote from <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Mitzi Miller who said and I quote;
“Progress doesn't happen all at once; it's a slow grind. But a commitment to
serving as an agent of positive change will bring us closer one step closer.” I am so sure that the seed of change planted
in my community through my year long service will soon push it to progress to
the next level. I am so convinced that the Stove revolution will end up
reducing the devastating effects of deforestation in this community and that in
a few years to come, it will be a different song. Truly, we can change our
world one step at a time, one village at a time, one household at a time
leading to a lifelong progress as we redefine development.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9fsEyohtO4SkHgbysHPvBX6ysk3unaz5lZolZaM2aPH3O2UAst9fnOBVV-6Olm0lSSip9EWRLlCIh76f90FVCcOBRZmofI9CxT49Sup3-rCNmc9Z6DInaaUGKibXpXnD12QU_9SvFEoN/s1600/IMG_20160822_125723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9fsEyohtO4SkHgbysHPvBX6ysk3unaz5lZolZaM2aPH3O2UAst9fnOBVV-6Olm0lSSip9EWRLlCIh76f90FVCcOBRZmofI9CxT49Sup3-rCNmc9Z6DInaaUGKibXpXnD12QU_9SvFEoN/s640/IMG_20160822_125723.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Jyt32EPfuh4hiWn8trOzePj30oYb2jTOgS9vo9uRJEwzy324L-AoS1Lbz2klOnpY-Z1FfM4-5C9O0CDeLcRf83EanRtkfPTcw6aBTKFDNKXmnHz8_v42RP5c7XKDnSHaAno_TOxGroyT/s1600/IMG_20160504_122019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Jyt32EPfuh4hiWn8trOzePj30oYb2jTOgS9vo9uRJEwzy324L-AoS1Lbz2klOnpY-Z1FfM4-5C9O0CDeLcRf83EanRtkfPTcw6aBTKFDNKXmnHz8_v42RP5c7XKDnSHaAno_TOxGroyT/s640/IMG_20160504_122019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a sample of the Immovable Stoves</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAHSbQSR3BZ9TopCmFElkd7M_GtBFepvYLJYLMjV3v3LyMwjGThy0PkBCp9ec3T1owG7Tn3zkcQ4F_8NOI1qjGJsO85WSIWH9-9TDPwekYgrJ8bySp0s0oNr78VU3Lr89qetBweLvGsmA/s1600/20160815_102522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAHSbQSR3BZ9TopCmFElkd7M_GtBFepvYLJYLMjV3v3LyMwjGThy0PkBCp9ec3T1owG7Tn3zkcQ4F_8NOI1qjGJsO85WSIWH9-9TDPwekYgrJ8bySp0s0oNr78VU3Lr89qetBweLvGsmA/s640/20160815_102522.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the Movable Stoves</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the women checking her Stoves</td></tr>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-65741449558901732002016-09-28T00:32:00.002-07:002016-09-28T00:32:38.669-07:00AS I VOLUNTEER<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Nothing
truly valuable arises from ambition or from a mere sense of duty; it stems
rather from love and devotion toward men and toward objective things”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Albert
Einstein<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When I was signing up to volunteer with CorpsAfrica, I had some
worries and fears. I was worried about the things I normally used to do and
run, whether I’m gonna have the time to run them the way I used to before my
commitment. Worries about cutting some friendship ties or becoming disconnected
to my friends and family especially that time I </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> know where I was to be
posted. I had lots of questions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As I embarked on this journey in February this year, I carried
along these questions with me to an “unknown” destination, a place I now call
my home, my second home. As I established myself among the people in my
community, I began to love what I do even more, not that I loved it not, but
the magnitude itself grew and broadened significantly, especially after bonding
with my students at Chitete Primary School. Life became less about me and what
I might be missing; it became more centered on the people around me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">One special thing that I have come to agree with about
volunteering, is that the service itself end up challenging the being in you,
the self becomes transformed and the conception about this life is totally
transformed. I can boldly say that I have seen this happening to me and it
continues to happen. I have grown up wanting to pursue life and achieve more,
pushing and working hard to achieve my career dreams, I might have tried to serve
others before now but not to this extent; giving myself and laying myself,
sacrificing myself to better the lives of the people around me. My experience
with CorpsAfrica has overwhelmingly transformed me and helped me to discover my
very being and the reason why I exist; to serve, to be part of the
transformation for my own nation, to be an active player in helping the
disadvantaged and rediscover their hidden potential to develop themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Although my service with CorpsAfrica has made me to be able to
discover myself in the way I just shared, it has also helped me to develop
myself even much better. I have been able to do and run the things I used to
before becoming part of this wonderful family, and this is very rewarding to me
personally. Allow me to share with you a few instances of my personal errands
that I have been doing over the years and some that I have been able to do
while I volunteer. I will briefly share with you about Worship-Quake, Citizen’s
Climate Lobby (CCL) and other things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">WORSHIP-QUAKE (www.worshipquake.org, <o:p></o:p></span></b><span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>https://web.facebook.com/worshipQuakeMalawi/)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was privileged to found a movement of students who would
pursue a common goal in using religion as a vehicle to unite people and
different communities. In 2012 while I was in University, the Worship-Quake
started and over the past years it has grown to levels I never thought. That’s
where I spend much of my personal time. Through Worship-Quake, I have made many
friends in other Colleges and Universities in Malawi as well as from other
various denominations across Malawi. I personally believe that having different
religious views </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">shouldn't</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> be a reason to be intolerant and hostile to each
other, rather be a factor to appreciate each other and be able to tolerate each
other as we appreciate everyone for who they are, what they believe in or what
they don’t believe in. Since this post is not about the Worship-Quake I will
pause here and direct you to our page on Facebook and our website for more (). But
the beautiful thing is that as I continue to serve under the CorpsAfrica
family, I have been able to attend all of our 3 worship sessions this year, at
Chancellor College in Zomba in April, at the Polytechnic in Blantyre on 27</span></span><sup style="color: #365f91; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
May, and very recently and for the first time at the Malawi University of
Science and Technology (MUST) in Thyolo this month on 17</span></span><sup style="color: #365f91; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
September. As you can see, my service has actually endowed me with much growth
in my personal development and errands proving all my fears to be wrong after
all. I am so glad that I am still able to offer transformative platforms
together with my team at the Worship-Quake although I am living here in my
community.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfm5wILzVfz94F5Ydhfwcj7Sx8U6mqgaR-I4P32ycRo9NXQ4z76OtcQa056PDef_5annqcfRyIPQp7dqr4s6SlSZ6ecmt-SyVUj_2_ySXHc4OOwJ2UE3c7XU_lylKwzHhzM-2waSFy-RrJ/s1600/IMG-20160624-WA0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfm5wILzVfz94F5Ydhfwcj7Sx8U6mqgaR-I4P32ycRo9NXQ4z76OtcQa056PDef_5annqcfRyIPQp7dqr4s6SlSZ6ecmt-SyVUj_2_ySXHc4OOwJ2UE3c7XU_lylKwzHhzM-2waSFy-RrJ/s640/IMG-20160624-WA0011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Poly Quake</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3hrkTg0M_P2GDhpj6uWAIbHDE1gLIZK2_voxaZr5Q1uPKdhd_0TY0UkHxYcMDTRHJ3LRY_eJ7_QxKTDO5cLWBT69jOP1QonJEmVKFLswF4pxAThAzML8pZcaa5nQHSs3gdpa_DrHJgGa/s1600/IMG-20160918-WA0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3hrkTg0M_P2GDhpj6uWAIbHDE1gLIZK2_voxaZr5Q1uPKdhd_0TY0UkHxYcMDTRHJ3LRY_eJ7_QxKTDO5cLWBT69jOP1QonJEmVKFLswF4pxAThAzML8pZcaa5nQHSs3gdpa_DrHJgGa/s640/IMG-20160918-WA0024.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT3Go_IRsTXrmFJKFdxleWbJPrHPZZMNPzuWmiVTrzsljusmcjcqjZgZGVg3QJeOXd_VcQLpoDkHYwAJ_6eqh4XgE_rHpfFwAqFoI7_hqE1I3OkA77vj52oFT7VhueT8PprfnpjcMtqQ9/s1600/IMG-20160918-WA0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT3Go_IRsTXrmFJKFdxleWbJPrHPZZMNPzuWmiVTrzsljusmcjcqjZgZGVg3QJeOXd_VcQLpoDkHYwAJ_6eqh4XgE_rHpfFwAqFoI7_hqE1I3OkA77vj52oFT7VhueT8PprfnpjcMtqQ9/s640/IMG-20160918-WA0027.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a selfie-after Worship-Quake @ MUST</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Gh5r-yMbxSQ6Cug4b0w-GmW9y86qLsTkNHfNyr8a2crFx7NfcRBMUoT4EifuJtAHRNsMKHADJ1dSgzKFTUyBDe-XfirPYYPy2KwG_9C3rlENXmPHsdnJuDDBQz7gneANGd8Sivm57g1K/s1600/IMG_20160617_114346_139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Gh5r-yMbxSQ6Cug4b0w-GmW9y86qLsTkNHfNyr8a2crFx7NfcRBMUoT4EifuJtAHRNsMKHADJ1dSgzKFTUyBDe-XfirPYYPy2KwG_9C3rlENXmPHsdnJuDDBQz7gneANGd8Sivm57g1K/s640/IMG_20160617_114346_139.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chanco Quake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsx5RonIy-Dtib4wJrD0-8WAKHRbKxIQzyVwD_zZDJlv8AyV3iuoNmZAFAzdftQx_Bkapm_lULyOogD__PuQvMi3ZnYOS783X7W79CQ3LgqoFgkBLfoldLbN8QzmXTxiCEMXqtwWiM6VI/s1600/IMG_20160801_182700_102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsx5RonIy-Dtib4wJrD0-8WAKHRbKxIQzyVwD_zZDJlv8AyV3iuoNmZAFAzdftQx_Bkapm_lULyOogD__PuQvMi3ZnYOS783X7W79CQ3LgqoFgkBLfoldLbN8QzmXTxiCEMXqtwWiM6VI/s640/IMG_20160801_182700_102.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chimango and I sharing some notes</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">CCL (<o:p></o:p></span></b><span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>http://citizensclimatelobby.org, </b></span></span><span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://web.facebook.com/groups/1181008555273377/</span>)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Citizen’s Climate Lobby is a group of volunteers who work
for the lobbying of climate change policies in many other countries. I got
linked up with CCL when I started doing one of my projects to curb climate
change in my community. The CCL family has been so supportive to me especially
technically in helping out to roll out the project which I am working with the
Women in Chitete, </span><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the Integrated Women
Empowerment Through Improved-Stove Production. You will recall from my previous
posts about updates on our Cook-Stoves production with the women in my village.
This project is currently going on well and progressing to the very
implementation phase. Now here’s the thing, I managed to establish a group of
few people to form up what is now the CCL Malawi chapter. The CCL Malawi
chapter is a network where we are now able to share issues to deal with climate
change in Malawi and create some projects that we can voluntarily work on in
some other communities in here. With a purely voluntary membership, we have
some student members and some who are working elsewhere.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cRzz4Ho6hEukZMPFnL8JRFTvA9JRzNyEMmgVutKEZ9rIDt8pM2oezJCQUGXRUphpU6xNC6TZrXP-aQkausMjDrxPGPPor7KeY6DN9Cimm-ausnbeHq2338qhWr7srcTYm-6TRVEORPNP/s1600/IMG_20160916_075152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cRzz4Ho6hEukZMPFnL8JRFTvA9JRzNyEMmgVutKEZ9rIDt8pM2oezJCQUGXRUphpU6xNC6TZrXP-aQkausMjDrxPGPPor7KeY6DN9Cimm-ausnbeHq2338qhWr7srcTYm-6TRVEORPNP/s640/IMG_20160916_075152.jpg" width="622" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a caption from the CCL Int. eMag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, I have
discovered that during my service with CorpsAfrica as a volunteer, I am also
able to make many more relationships, networks while I stick to my work in my
community. My service has developed me personally and I am glad I chose to
volunteer, I am glad to be where I am. I am glad I am contributing towards
making a positive change in my community and also in my country. Today, I am no longer concerned about the
things that worried me before I joined my community. I am actually more
delighted that I am where I am today; knowing the ties I am making today will
forever be part of my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As I finish, I would like to agree with Einstein that our
devotion and love to serve others and better their lives consists wholly of our
selfless desire to see the people around us attain a better life, than our
sense of obligation and duty towards the same. We should all strive to do good
not because we are obligated to do, but because we are selfless in serving
others and making this world a better place for everyone. As we serve humanity,
we are also creating a better world for ourselves, our children, our grandchildren
and everyone. This is the reason why I do what I do. Let me leave you with this
powerful quote from <b><i>Ashley Smith; </i></b><i>“Life is
full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bubble bee, the small child, and smiling
faces. Smell the rain, feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential…”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-11405678251745371722016-07-18T12:34:00.001-07:002016-07-18T12:34:23.125-07:00Video blog on Improved Stoves<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DojQkviml9g" width="480"></iframe>EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-62679659563382012242016-07-16T09:36:00.001-07:002016-07-16T09:36:46.393-07:00FINISHED PRODUCT FOR THE MOVABLE CHITETE-ZO MBAULA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So over the past days I
have been updating you on our project concerning improved stoves which I am
doing with the women in my community. I have been giving you some details regarding
the progress of the same. I must confess that the journey </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">hasn't</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> been smooth
and an easy path at all. I decided to start the project with the available
resources and build from that as we grow it into something big. It is said in
the good book that we must not despise the humble beginning of small things,
and myself being a “religious” man knows how to value such humble beginnings. Today
I am both humbled and very glad to look back and appreciate the collective efforts
of the women and myself especially after reaching this far. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, Friday July 8<sup>th</sup>
was the day myself and the women’s group gathered at the same place where we
left the unfinished movable Chitete-zo Mbaula. The day was chilly but this did
not keep us in our warm blankets to save the work for another day. We were
there to all work together and witness the finishing of our stove and the mood
was exciting. To make it more exciting,
we had a new member who came to join after hearing of our work from her friends.
In no time after we grouped, we were onto the business of the day. If you
remember from my previous post we were remaining with fixing and attaching the
stands and handles. And so the work started. We molded the handles and the
stands. The women learnt so fast how to do all this and it was an exciting
moment for us all especially after we were done with our prototypes. We fixed
the stands and the handles and the rest was for the stove to dry up and allow
us to test how we had done.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">At this stage I would say
I am so proud of my village and especially the women in this group whom I have
been working with to make these prototypes a success. Now we know where we
stand, we can gladly pat ourselves at the back and whisper loudly “<i>Great job</i>!”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">J</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">. So the whole process of
making these stove prototypes has helped us identify a few areas we need to
work on so as to make this entire project a complete success. We plan to search
for clay that is suitable for the stoves in terms of quantity and more
importantly quality. We are also in need of materials for the group to have to
make the whole work easier and lastly we plan to have expert trainings for
these women so that as a group they can function well in terms of leadership
and strategizing on marketing and making returns. We are an excited group and
we are the group that believes that “It’s all possible if we put our minds to
it and work together.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As I conclude, I would
like to appreciate the support and mentorship from the both the </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Global Initiative Food Security and </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Citizens’ Climate Lobby and </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">from the CorpsAfrica team here in Malawi and
from DC, you guys keep me on my feet and I must salute you. To all the family
and friends reading, commenting and following my blog from far and wide, I say thank
you as well, I </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">wouldn't</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> be more encouraged if not for your moral support and
the many views I am getting on this blog. Surely together we can do more </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">J</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">J</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpODejBXvch1qe1qIocxKpdR-7rjKfeK1OI7CTGs5U6dPf7C41_GTJ9qD907JXdZQiSO2hEDGyl581jVAt09QE1YGxeFzybrxNGHJAf566kfilNA0bq0Qw4NiLd8ktgfJdxYPUj3dxLQK/s1600/IMG_20160508_163938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpODejBXvch1qe1qIocxKpdR-7rjKfeK1OI7CTGs5U6dPf7C41_GTJ9qD907JXdZQiSO2hEDGyl581jVAt09QE1YGxeFzybrxNGHJAf566kfilNA0bq0Qw4NiLd8ktgfJdxYPUj3dxLQK/s640/IMG_20160508_163938.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">women pose for a photo with the finished stove</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVQgZhHHM0zeLyyJjClU_Ot0eeqWoSHgA-6-4fjUmMFqiS_RObMDUWoOcHC7ajRaJFI8QeZOuEBGyIGTTClmR0VGm5W3QABiXbKwXHNiutSbKvb104yu5KE2TMwfMyb_pxWtIIIg431td/s1600/IMG_20160508_161309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVQgZhHHM0zeLyyJjClU_Ot0eeqWoSHgA-6-4fjUmMFqiS_RObMDUWoOcHC7ajRaJFI8QeZOuEBGyIGTTClmR0VGm5W3QABiXbKwXHNiutSbKvb104yu5KE2TMwfMyb_pxWtIIIg431td/s640/IMG_20160508_161309.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">collective effort</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAaR7I-XIeuCMUX3h3ynsZsG0d3xVHb-5mrl5Pat9wvC4qxHGgBWvsQSnS93O-EAeypqod-mQeNXHQ62blejIGWVpZ8db0WhYyH6IedjLMwt-rm8oVdmHGmAWPtuCAMGUFxPve2vIn9C1/s1600/IMG_20160508_163917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAaR7I-XIeuCMUX3h3ynsZsG0d3xVHb-5mrl5Pat9wvC4qxHGgBWvsQSnS93O-EAeypqod-mQeNXHQ62blejIGWVpZ8db0WhYyH6IedjLMwt-rm8oVdmHGmAWPtuCAMGUFxPve2vIn9C1/s640/IMG_20160508_163917.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:) </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AlrBg6dMMTR7S-LJ_J_l4Mh_chCGLcgZPrKW8zFAI2J87ocj-4Ckh24-B-3ZHgDtJQ440f9RdqIoUyjn03TscVHb8QwNL5xci5gjXp2-Ri5ZM7TVIGc-t7OTsmzaMtGlKsOnXiran3M_/s1600/IMG_20160508_161028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AlrBg6dMMTR7S-LJ_J_l4Mh_chCGLcgZPrKW8zFAI2J87ocj-4Ckh24-B-3ZHgDtJQ440f9RdqIoUyjn03TscVHb8QwNL5xci5gjXp2-Ri5ZM7TVIGc-t7OTsmzaMtGlKsOnXiran3M_/s640/IMG_20160508_161028.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">final touches</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nEIxvMZWp5ogue6uwr7RWsq4T4DsNdC_OmIdmi4GxjddMo1AB-F3PeOdSrvx2nn-ySwetOylJALM9oET-1K6oLVKPbCPYcUF77di3Jr5g_7T4MEVylJm1hXFe4LHYlTpdDO-Jl_biGhN/s1600/IMG_20160508_164052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nEIxvMZWp5ogue6uwr7RWsq4T4DsNdC_OmIdmi4GxjddMo1AB-F3PeOdSrvx2nn-ySwetOylJALM9oET-1K6oLVKPbCPYcUF77di3Jr5g_7T4MEVylJm1hXFe4LHYlTpdDO-Jl_biGhN/s640/IMG_20160508_164052.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">two prototypes in 2 weeks</span></td></tr>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-13150682787389817992016-07-06T13:04:00.001-07:002016-07-06T13:04:40.848-07:00a Futlali break on 6 July <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jlddz599oig" width="459"></iframe>EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-86493689229304363132016-07-06T12:35:00.001-07:002016-07-06T13:01:45.179-07:00CHITETE-ZO MOVABLE STOVE “PROTOTYPE”<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Today 6<sup>th</sup> July 2016, is the day we
scheduled to continue doing the first prototype for the <b>Chitete-zo</b> movable Stove. Again this post interlocks with my
previous update on the production of the same. After what we made on Monday the
4<sup>th</sup> of July together with the women, the anticipation was high which was coupled with an excitement and
yearning for more action towards the completion of our “Prototypes” for this
project. The women came early as usual and following our agreement during our
last meeting, the women brought sweet potatoes, some brought salt, groundnuts
flour and pots to prepare some food cooked using the stationed <b>Chitete-zo</b> stove that we made on
Monday. It was very interesting to see that our stationed <b>Chitete-zo</b> Stove was
nearly ready and we decided to use it still for the purposes of demonstrating
to the women how they can be cooking their foods using this stove with its
numerous advantages. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">We ate the sweet potatoes which were cooked on the
stove. The potatoes were mixed with groundnut flour and this meal is known as </span></span><i style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Futali</i><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> in Chichewa.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcV9yJmm11iNoMEF0QCfYku-RWCNem-2j1ngQc_2AHW3zBecgiWQIu2x11gPI7NUU97nEKKXE2AYWazdxR3S5cJW18QiSQZ-he90RIfz3r5mlyqXSAG3zTpWyqETeezTxJyCzYeZLSrWxW/s1600/WP_20160626_037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcV9yJmm11iNoMEF0QCfYku-RWCNem-2j1ngQc_2AHW3zBecgiWQIu2x11gPI7NUU97nEKKXE2AYWazdxR3S5cJW18QiSQZ-he90RIfz3r5mlyqXSAG3zTpWyqETeezTxJyCzYeZLSrWxW/s640/WP_20160626_037.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the women making the fire ready</td></tr>
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</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9iWqzxH4af5a3t6hyDHVPChoKIF97Jx7IP-pweHSQp42uCB-KsrKTaaXOKDK6RNzQKIF2zOGGTzitabh8G0b1i80k8R6QPybVHRwn-czDEVU1eutmhapCAqlzlvJJ6vpB6cEEsY8yj1c/s1600/WP_20160626_051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9iWqzxH4af5a3t6hyDHVPChoKIF97Jx7IP-pweHSQp42uCB-KsrKTaaXOKDK6RNzQKIF2zOGGTzitabh8G0b1i80k8R6QPybVHRwn-czDEVU1eutmhapCAqlzlvJJ6vpB6cEEsY8yj1c/s640/WP_20160626_051.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the fire is set and our food being prepared </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Everybody loved how
the meal was cooked in no time. The meal was delicious and we really loved the
day. This gave us the energy to move on with the preparation of the </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">movable</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> stove.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQKT_MZ8MgznW8ZRWmoGxYb7dkPvxAmQbYYsw8H8yFKxZ7oVPCW3uqp-0m4S27N_uLI14wAp8-gPiAFfuSVO7oElicLgLYiOuzpwXgiYB5Lju4I1o3DHJbj1vlt9f-byMnl3ykdSCJ0g1/s1600/WP_20160626_167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQKT_MZ8MgznW8ZRWmoGxYb7dkPvxAmQbYYsw8H8yFKxZ7oVPCW3uqp-0m4S27N_uLI14wAp8-gPiAFfuSVO7oElicLgLYiOuzpwXgiYB5Lju4I1o3DHJbj1vlt9f-byMnl3ykdSCJ0g1/s640/WP_20160626_167.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">enjoying <i>Futali with the women</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibh_ikoi3LabeHGHZFhPkfgQ8PZkppr56nMqELMk9J9fiHXQASAW8Q9iYM2aUFvdiNMbmN9vs1jm_CpXNhoxWSHDCnCljrm4htgQx_cbXawR8m0PZI25y727ln14eCtzeFmLtcMgyc2bmQ/s1600/WP_20160626_140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibh_ikoi3LabeHGHZFhPkfgQ8PZkppr56nMqELMk9J9fiHXQASAW8Q9iYM2aUFvdiNMbmN9vs1jm_CpXNhoxWSHDCnCljrm4htgQx_cbXawR8m0PZI25y727ln14eCtzeFmLtcMgyc2bmQ/s640/WP_20160626_140.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Futali </i>is ready </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">While some women were busy preparing the sweet
potatoes, the other women were engaged in preparing of the clay for the movable
Stove. Although we </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">couldn't</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> find a perfect steal bucket to use for the
prototype, we worked diligently in utilizing the available bucket so that the
women could still learn on how to make this type of stove.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1dCD5ChwooVXbHiGBDO9kKAp_4-URyhX9rG2CY5VgDLtUtdyqnncHqds6whUlRoYjduw0VNA4-bTQ6Qh1xjY_zUVxhdK4mXHpDV3DA-d_TF2rdExSCVq6bItdFdYpMZBJcXm0yohYMgB/s1600/WP_20160627_085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1dCD5ChwooVXbHiGBDO9kKAp_4-URyhX9rG2CY5VgDLtUtdyqnncHqds6whUlRoYjduw0VNA4-bTQ6Qh1xjY_zUVxhdK4mXHpDV3DA-d_TF2rdExSCVq6bItdFdYpMZBJcXm0yohYMgB/s640/WP_20160627_085.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our prototype for the movable Chitete-zo stove ready being finalized </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was amazing to
see the women sharing roles and participating while working as a group towards
our common agenda for the day, no wonder our day was incredible and enjoyable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">After we finalized the first phase for producing
our second prototype, we agreed to leave our stove and visit it after a day to
finalize with adding stands and handles. This is going to be an amazing
project, and I love it so much. The IWETI Project is surely on course<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">watch this short clip here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlddz599oig </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l-pV_zpcyGSmDRN8e6oH6kLPZx71hw1Bbd9Cx2L6FWHX2U8Qf9x9ApYnmh6fdbcFuxYBEuBSLAOXriHp71_Vg3LyGP1rzumtr_2YLUXDH_-xqTEmjGz9TcpaUWTdkiu6xQtJARV9d9mh/s1600/WP_20160626_154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l-pV_zpcyGSmDRN8e6oH6kLPZx71hw1Bbd9Cx2L6FWHX2U8Qf9x9ApYnmh6fdbcFuxYBEuBSLAOXriHp71_Vg3LyGP1rzumtr_2YLUXDH_-xqTEmjGz9TcpaUWTdkiu6xQtJARV9d9mh/s640/WP_20160626_154.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Futali is served </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQf_sx3Q35Uo-y1bPcGXQKb4DTe4BX5CkRlXzKaFMLlJWnS14KeEnfGxN8h7y7hdcQaISr7SoUKjuhbM4BSby4FZ3ecEwMX5kYOS3F1XDuu1L1BJb9frDU7lqGeMXiq6ddlTNJ6cwsrwDp/s1600/WP_20160626_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQf_sx3Q35Uo-y1bPcGXQKb4DTe4BX5CkRlXzKaFMLlJWnS14KeEnfGxN8h7y7hdcQaISr7SoUKjuhbM4BSby4FZ3ecEwMX5kYOS3F1XDuu1L1BJb9frDU7lqGeMXiq6ddlTNJ6cwsrwDp/s640/WP_20160626_004.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">women preparing the potatoes </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUeRwkyqwr9_MFOv4rMnq53fkqscktDNleomf0BqhyLKkhPehzh1HIcdvAeVo73l684mOIODTPBXGHf1eWW0pnpIstGKlufOfvsJ_9MWBFEK7ASDtlpd1-wjBH-niLplRO2RAPqL9QPyK/s1600/WP_20160626_117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUeRwkyqwr9_MFOv4rMnq53fkqscktDNleomf0BqhyLKkhPehzh1HIcdvAeVo73l684mOIODTPBXGHf1eWW0pnpIstGKlufOfvsJ_9MWBFEK7ASDtlpd1-wjBH-niLplRO2RAPqL9QPyK/s640/WP_20160626_117.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">healing the clay in process</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnE_npWji5fuLbavFpeuAF7pJrD-W0ZEXMtc7YPtQ5_WliMyqd9eyiff0YGV7TZq0bCU28ZL2JZtrUJ5o0pz4GQ0-chdqB2H5Eha13q9WKlFldJw6KUIeVXeQQ-UYIWxb-70HRe1PkD07j/s1600/WP_20160627_094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnE_npWji5fuLbavFpeuAF7pJrD-W0ZEXMtc7YPtQ5_WliMyqd9eyiff0YGV7TZq0bCU28ZL2JZtrUJ5o0pz4GQ0-chdqB2H5Eha13q9WKlFldJw6KUIeVXeQQ-UYIWxb-70HRe1PkD07j/s640/WP_20160627_094.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finally the prototype is out </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxR9hUrPoEhyVbOuMsXX4a2-RVOAG3-Tz-K-G9rmNKoxBDYrACXd4IWQ6IvIkBH3W6Ae4TTA-aHDgpdwh8H9HqUsX5EJZuphbIYchrEZiT_qXoX-GV0LrusI2pZNw6E9q0wBcjEGyOcD3/s1600/WP_20160627_085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxR9hUrPoEhyVbOuMsXX4a2-RVOAG3-Tz-K-G9rmNKoxBDYrACXd4IWQ6IvIkBH3W6Ae4TTA-aHDgpdwh8H9HqUsX5EJZuphbIYchrEZiT_qXoX-GV0LrusI2pZNw6E9q0wBcjEGyOcD3/s640/WP_20160627_085.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the stove ready to be pulled out of the bucket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BmzGWX4bCg2BnnYh5Jp7UMiY-xP6b8dwRzg8eVnXMUQGNlQf-bfWuZGo3y-0D6HLAkhyRQxQqa0TNDIs7SFEadsPJsWh7tfV_qPAT_v7qqP_o_YJRNvTCV6TO1YpvrZSNhHtEEqlO_no/s1600/WP_20160626_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BmzGWX4bCg2BnnYh5Jp7UMiY-xP6b8dwRzg8eVnXMUQGNlQf-bfWuZGo3y-0D6HLAkhyRQxQqa0TNDIs7SFEadsPJsWh7tfV_qPAT_v7qqP_o_YJRNvTCV6TO1YpvrZSNhHtEEqlO_no/s640/WP_20160626_002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mai Sarah Yohane working on the clay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-61386688972368282962016-07-05T14:05:00.000-07:002016-07-06T04:56:09.081-07:00CHITETE-ZO STATIONED STOVE “PROTOTYPE”<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">If you read my previous blog post you will remember that Monday the 4th of July is the day I scheduled to start doing the prototypes for the improved stoves in
the IWETI Project with the women in my community. Well, it has been a very much
motivating and adventurous journey working so closely with the women in this
amazing project so far. The women continue to portray and show their keenness in
knowing how to produce the improved stoves and their commitment is undying. I
am </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">continuously</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> thrilled by their passion to learn and be empowered. Just
imagine that even after we agreed to convene on Monday 8</span><span style="line-height: 24px;">am</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> at one of the group
member’s residence, some women came 30 minutes early, wow! For today, do allow
me to write less and show you more of what we did with the women as we get the
IWETI Project on course.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Last week when I met the
women, we agreed to do a prototype for the Stationed Improved Stove on Monday
the 4<sup>th</sup> of July 2016. It is amazing to see that the women are so
much committed in making this project a wonderful success. I must confess that I
never foresaw the women’s commitment to this magnitude. I somehow could doubt
if the women would really be this much interested especially after working with
my community in other endeavors for the past 5 months I have been volunteering
here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The climax of the day was
when the women and I were discussing on a possible name to give to our Improved
Stoves, stationed or moveable. See, “<i>Improved
Stoves” </i>is an English word, and I did encourage the women to think of an
interesting name which is local and will mean something to them and our
community. One woman suggested that we call these stoves “<i>Mwaiwathu Mbaula”</i> meaning our fortune/luck. Another one suggested
that we called it “<i>Chitete Mbaula</i>”;
remember Chitete is the name of our community. We opted for “Chitete Mbaula”
with a little modification that led to the creation of “<b><i>Chitete-zo Mbaula.” </i></b>Why <b>Chitete-zo Mbaula? </b> Well, the women thought that this name is
unique and particular to them since they originate from Chitete and that and
additional of “<b>-zo</b>” to the name “<b>Chitete” </b>would denote their
originality and the word <b>Chitete-zo </b>translate to protection. Remember
that I highlighted the advantages of the improved stoves in my previous posts.
These stoves are able to reduce fire related accidents in homes, and most
importantly protect the environment through their ability to emit less smoke
and their usage of less firewood thus having a huge positive impact on the
environment. We have produced a prototype for the Stationed Chitete-zo Mbaula.
The prototype was made by the women and myself at Mirriam Molande’s residence,
a very dedicated member of this group. Mirriam Molande (Mai Molande) does not
have a kitchen currently and cooks at an open space as shown in the picture below<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: red; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3MiO6R_GIL9Ssv8TK3nTf64jmfwqOGsRaxY6mY1_YG8_IoANnyrI6G2o0BeCcstTHe0IpwdkazTWuxqt0OKZP0wixu9KCkJ85gLMcab7FhOKrbrJCQsQGsyvt5eIntdxuxrkRYTzFSWi/s1600/WP_20160625_019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3MiO6R_GIL9Ssv8TK3nTf64jmfwqOGsRaxY6mY1_YG8_IoANnyrI6G2o0BeCcstTHe0IpwdkazTWuxqt0OKZP0wixu9KCkJ85gLMcab7FhOKrbrJCQsQGsyvt5eIntdxuxrkRYTzFSWi/s640/WP_20160625_019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mai Molande's cooking place </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This has been affecting her since she
is always supposed to gather a lot of firewood to cook with her traditional three-stone
fire to feed her six children. Mai Molande informed us that due to the coming
of the stationed stove at her house she will proceed to construct a kitchen to
house the Stationed Chitete-zo Mbaula which the group has made for her since
she cannot be using it in the open space. This is so amazing that we can make a
difference in the lives of women like Mai Molande. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every woman gave a hand in making this stove
while in the process learning. By now I believe that every member has the
knowledge of how to construct this stove. The learning process will continue as
we will all as a group move from house to house of each group member making the
stoves.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgGQ_xrHH6U3p3mgO8w6tRFeJ_bIYdDyhwO55bf-rfVqKOu9blX8_FWOTobjDmlG-zlCrGx9k0S89exkKFP90-duLUCtzWVez6OPNRkFuQZH77U-51zkDY4ISVrb7ylXGaD8RNvHMI9Bn/s1600/WP_20130720_265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgGQ_xrHH6U3p3mgO8w6tRFeJ_bIYdDyhwO55bf-rfVqKOu9blX8_FWOTobjDmlG-zlCrGx9k0S89exkKFP90-duLUCtzWVez6OPNRkFuQZH77U-51zkDY4ISVrb7ylXGaD8RNvHMI9Bn/s640/WP_20130720_265.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">women working on our stationed Chitete-zo mbaula</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By the end of the Day we agreed to have a committee for this team and
we came up with positions which are as follows; </span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chairlady -
Sarah Yohane, Secretary - Getrude Mnenula, Treasurer - Cecilia Chikuse, and
Marketing Managers - Mirriam Molande and Esther Kainga. We have included
marketing positions since there will be a need for this team to be searching for
markets to sell these stoves. I will therefore work hand in hand with the
entire committee and the marketing team in finding good markets for our Stoves.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We later left the
produced stove to dry for two days and so we have agreed to reconvene on
Wednesday July 6, 2016 to check on the stove and celebrate the success of our
prototype.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYnluBlAhgFCyrxo_ygpUrzGW8JiA9iEcy9BPN9GHQ8363fg8qyaeo3Jhfs3mL5NzQEmpgzaePgdHSF6Qocn1RjS2V1h2lJkGuQj2LaS07dvewKEUa2JB-8lV8kSl5UzuqDzox_LgbTaj/s1600/WP_20130720_485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYnluBlAhgFCyrxo_ygpUrzGW8JiA9iEcy9BPN9GHQ8363fg8qyaeo3Jhfs3mL5NzQEmpgzaePgdHSF6Qocn1RjS2V1h2lJkGuQj2LaS07dvewKEUa2JB-8lV8kSl5UzuqDzox_LgbTaj/s640/WP_20130720_485.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a finished product of Chitete-zo Mbaula produced by the women</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Wednesday also happens to be Malawi’s Independence Day making it a
double celebration. On this day we are geared to produce the second prototype
for the movable <b>Chitete-zo Mbaula.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Enjoy the pictures <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjdM9A2eRSxRIEVHA8a78wiCYzTfWwu8xJYJD2K1vKXmN3WajfGZajz7ZBi_TxHr-1yT4TOV8lMWWaSEKybazWzXf6vl-AFoRTXwbqI8hnJsBR128SQ1v7e5u0_wjoiX7KU7EtFwXHOHi/s1600/IMG_20160504_121640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjdM9A2eRSxRIEVHA8a78wiCYzTfWwu8xJYJD2K1vKXmN3WajfGZajz7ZBi_TxHr-1yT4TOV8lMWWaSEKybazWzXf6vl-AFoRTXwbqI8hnJsBR128SQ1v7e5u0_wjoiX7KU7EtFwXHOHi/s640/IMG_20160504_121640.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a Group photo after the mbaula production</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59irHh-Y0VrLFmhTvdy1dSqJfKaH78e5JtpVuZh00wh4v8QtfldhR9spPJNAWJoJoj-OhhEYCvnqmEg_hUYdWkfvXCw0z7Km1PX7JelvdHrtBUWNrnXG0hclKy1aWL2ElJVSQTGQo-hiy/s1600/IMG_20160504_121619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59irHh-Y0VrLFmhTvdy1dSqJfKaH78e5JtpVuZh00wh4v8QtfldhR9spPJNAWJoJoj-OhhEYCvnqmEg_hUYdWkfvXCw0z7Km1PX7JelvdHrtBUWNrnXG0hclKy1aWL2ElJVSQTGQo-hiy/s640/IMG_20160504_121619.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another group shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGaNbcbpnuC700FBcEZ8b6TAKDo5_a2kjjL0-U1gWJDu92gxsPnIR_5Pw0wV25ViQ7jwB77d-OtAyutit0wGk8rA4QExy5fwAmvkHmNOPi1h0F3_8JaVuw1hF4cqnOXC4BpBGFK3_S22P/s1600/IMG_20160504_121549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGaNbcbpnuC700FBcEZ8b6TAKDo5_a2kjjL0-U1gWJDu92gxsPnIR_5Pw0wV25ViQ7jwB77d-OtAyutit0wGk8rA4QExy5fwAmvkHmNOPi1h0F3_8JaVuw1hF4cqnOXC4BpBGFK3_S22P/s640/IMG_20160504_121549.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me and the women</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMr-Py61exLtSXU43OMYHPQkLjnORcpKMu7bkELE8Do4pq5cS-1eEOx5fVwXn10B5arpmoYCweyBa0Ud7sKjVm4ZwEg_U23BMqLpMYniOT9nHZERdiaykjtTTIXRgiBpY9JPK13VXAtBQ/s1600/IMG_20160504_121512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMr-Py61exLtSXU43OMYHPQkLjnORcpKMu7bkELE8Do4pq5cS-1eEOx5fVwXn10B5arpmoYCweyBa0Ud7sKjVm4ZwEg_U23BMqLpMYniOT9nHZERdiaykjtTTIXRgiBpY9JPK13VXAtBQ/s640/IMG_20160504_121512.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The women after a wonderful job</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2M4uctPgwabxMrGgOaW1elYmaFlKCgg-0n5NhJO3FTKDHyZgwmEe5OJCHICdeW084_X3yX5HqXRrOjTxhaSFVJfQOt7TqKbQYCd7Vwnz0w4r-gxQR40c6fD7Ewbo1QlpcOylXkHblTAKW/s1600/WP_20130720_127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2M4uctPgwabxMrGgOaW1elYmaFlKCgg-0n5NhJO3FTKDHyZgwmEe5OJCHICdeW084_X3yX5HqXRrOjTxhaSFVJfQOt7TqKbQYCd7Vwnz0w4r-gxQR40c6fD7Ewbo1QlpcOylXkHblTAKW/s640/WP_20130720_127.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our first steps in setting up the place for the mbaula</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2StbwyoWDx0h3glCeTTBA8Bqk2W9q8Gdh0RXskYcmYenZId1yqSd3urfMbtV1uwEtZt2SHii9L_3pZCP-kujZ3e6CsmXqhF8RsqAlHl5zKg1K_MItPxXPDm0rz2i1g4Awc7NFibPS3e9W/s1600/WP_20130720_161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2StbwyoWDx0h3glCeTTBA8Bqk2W9q8Gdh0RXskYcmYenZId1yqSd3urfMbtV1uwEtZt2SHii9L_3pZCP-kujZ3e6CsmXqhF8RsqAlHl5zKg1K_MItPxXPDm0rz2i1g4Awc7NFibPS3e9W/s640/WP_20130720_161.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mixing the clay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9s9OxdDyh59ek_7Al7jfKD8_ukX38u-ZS8wS7ESMlhRP_xzMOYW1dFrzaqkXGOfVunbEu1u2ZNzqP7TXDyW9dYJE5G30SthPGCEo7_NhxVmgIPLRPW7WDNnvZTBqohe-uZBeS8WfvAfIS/s1600/WP_20130720_116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9s9OxdDyh59ek_7Al7jfKD8_ukX38u-ZS8wS7ESMlhRP_xzMOYW1dFrzaqkXGOfVunbEu1u2ZNzqP7TXDyW9dYJE5G30SthPGCEo7_NhxVmgIPLRPW7WDNnvZTBqohe-uZBeS8WfvAfIS/s640/WP_20130720_116.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">serious business </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Sog9jXHyBvA6k7cxMb8J3eiwVkVYVmHN1I02iaNC-35qe3zzLCuN6WIfO2tlAOg57STv8zs2fCJRN2M24gVTagl8_bKKZSilZIV6rxyMwitwWd-5aKCTMwhjDACKG-AiwFtlOFUGU0z3/s1600/WP_20130720_088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Sog9jXHyBvA6k7cxMb8J3eiwVkVYVmHN1I02iaNC-35qe3zzLCuN6WIfO2tlAOg57STv8zs2fCJRN2M24gVTagl8_bKKZSilZIV6rxyMwitwWd-5aKCTMwhjDACKG-AiwFtlOFUGU0z3/s640/WP_20130720_088.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sharing technical knowledge </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcEr3UZbCowMclS5P9FLx_TwM31Hgylc3hVjB7YSF3ZU0JXR4RZ1S5-kQyc0PcrVrTlWHjp5X4-898CVRA_ZFrJX-79WvdCA1uWAsxan2qAC2af64fWlwFd4H5D5FWIsu5wJeNckrWVPE/s1600/WP_20130720_059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcEr3UZbCowMclS5P9FLx_TwM31Hgylc3hVjB7YSF3ZU0JXR4RZ1S5-kQyc0PcrVrTlWHjp5X4-898CVRA_ZFrJX-79WvdCA1uWAsxan2qAC2af64fWlwFd4H5D5FWIsu5wJeNckrWVPE/s640/WP_20130720_059.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">measuring the place for the Mbaula</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8bDtQ4_pYDKkI81wnIZXj_AnHXkzga_w8gG0Q-nAhyphenhyphenm18nPd5qgiQKCRyfHy59FM-CEn5ZAK3VoSbflsExGK_V8t2oU55VFq4RXcFkMJO_FZCbIEmvxCmj-oeDUayOJ72529nrkGCbZj/s1600/WP_20130720_075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8bDtQ4_pYDKkI81wnIZXj_AnHXkzga_w8gG0Q-nAhyphenhyphenm18nPd5qgiQKCRyfHy59FM-CEn5ZAK3VoSbflsExGK_V8t2oU55VFq4RXcFkMJO_FZCbIEmvxCmj-oeDUayOJ72529nrkGCbZj/s640/WP_20130720_075.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mai Kainga clearing the area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvr_B5-qoBCRPYPMue5qrQS-mW-cB7NxLYP-wrMfNX7PWywHPOkap6gW3FQV66XouPDyDesIBWdMx_-Hszq2-c_2E6PbNbZlNa1EQy7jjRUcyzKJjSuLqAuW3PU53trcG46FCoIiHSv4E/s1600/WP_20130720_111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvr_B5-qoBCRPYPMue5qrQS-mW-cB7NxLYP-wrMfNX7PWywHPOkap6gW3FQV66XouPDyDesIBWdMx_-Hszq2-c_2E6PbNbZlNa1EQy7jjRUcyzKJjSuLqAuW3PU53trcG46FCoIiHSv4E/s640/WP_20130720_111.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mai Chikuse mixing the clay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSk6oW1ZKKbMDlGYgZwF7wz2bhrqLXMlOlLTjdIxyNMmuBM3C8UF3KZlofa9qO-0t67e0-UHqaw01X8nEL1XshBPJTDBUP9_-2kbfjI3Rw88XdvbzPqqfJfZR52K3K3jqW65HLhUcMsUZ/s1600/WP_20130720_127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSk6oW1ZKKbMDlGYgZwF7wz2bhrqLXMlOlLTjdIxyNMmuBM3C8UF3KZlofa9qO-0t67e0-UHqaw01X8nEL1XshBPJTDBUP9_-2kbfjI3Rw88XdvbzPqqfJfZR52K3K3jqW65HLhUcMsUZ/s640/WP_20130720_127.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">serious works</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlbu_-ePUxqY_I9bjR6XE-MARCFOVUqRLon5w-vtGuqT8RdOZ7QqLjgOqoQMsF52qXn3p61bqSvj5eyJj0kiKqQ2MFnOuhS5m-f94lb16soqWY_Hs7KgXbM-opBhEyRTwV0dT4d3hbBQX/s1600/WP_20130720_485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlbu_-ePUxqY_I9bjR6XE-MARCFOVUqRLon5w-vtGuqT8RdOZ7QqLjgOqoQMsF52qXn3p61bqSvj5eyJj0kiKqQ2MFnOuhS5m-f94lb16soqWY_Hs7KgXbM-opBhEyRTwV0dT4d3hbBQX/s640/WP_20130720_485.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">what a beautiful product we made :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFT-BG15i9Yrd4igZUFm-riUIRTANDvhkFtWU7E1XESiOoJRC-eKqa-ZpU6DA43ciASTk6NYcr_viaUlTr0MP4UNqHR8zVNb-DRAlY64DJKyPCHt5kDn18hdrOXsEOFkIbGaNQ-oW7ZRT/s1600/IMG_20160504_122019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFT-BG15i9Yrd4igZUFm-riUIRTANDvhkFtWU7E1XESiOoJRC-eKqa-ZpU6DA43ciASTk6NYcr_viaUlTr0MP4UNqHR8zVNb-DRAlY64DJKyPCHt5kDn18hdrOXsEOFkIbGaNQ-oW7ZRT/s640/IMG_20160504_122019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we did it </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-65449805824999539202016-06-28T10:45:00.000-07:002016-06-28T10:45:19.218-07:00IWET-IMPROVED STOVE PRODUCTION<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 30.0pt;">In my previous post I shared more about women from
my community, Chitete. And I tried to give some detailed account of the endeavors
that these women are involved in here. Well, for those that run some small
scale businesses, Zalewa turn-off is a must go destination so that they can
capitalize on the many customers who invade the market on market days like
today, Tuesday and Saturdays. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Well, ever since I came here I have always been
bothered by many thoughts, many thoughts on how I can help to transform the
lives of the women here. Honestly, in as much as there are those women who are
busy running up and down with various entrepreneurship activities, many women
do not involve themselves in some activities that might in turn uplift them
socioeconomically. I cited an example of the only woman who owns a small retail
shop in the village and some who run various other activities like selling sugarcane
and other local fruits. Not many of these women own and or run more sustainable
businesses as compared to men of whom the greater percentage are running somewhat
more sustainable businesses</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">like motorcycle or bicycle
taxi, retail shops and</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">carpentry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 1.35pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 30.0pt;">Well, in this post I
would like to share with you about the IWETI (<b><i>Integrated Women Empowerment Through
Improved-Stove Production) </i></b>project, that I am doing with a number of
women in my community. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 30.0pt;">The IWETI project is
a project that I have just started following my deep thoughts about a practical
way possible to help empower women without giving them handouts or anything
near that. Well, it has been some rough road ever since I joined this community
in February this year. I must appreciate the moral support I get from the
CorpsAfrica family especially the Malawi team, they have helped me to take some
precautions and consider a number of options before officially kicking off with
projects involving women in my community. And the good thing is that I and my
community have integrated amazingly over the past months as am their “<i>alangizi a chitukuko”</i> (Development
facilitator), the name that most locals call me besides my other name, “<i>sala”</i> (a name the locals use to refer to
a male teacher, borrowed from the English word Sir). I love my community really!
it’s fun in its own way. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: GillSansMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">I spent the month of May (2016) mobilizing women
for the IWETI project. The mobilization was done through the community meetings
which were attended by most community members here. Currently there are 10
women whom I am going to work with but the women suggested that we raise the
membership number to 15.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: GillSansMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 30.0pt;">Now, what does IWETI aim to achieve by the end of
the day, and what is its relevance after all? Maybe you might be wondering the
same. Alright, this </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: GillSansMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">project </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: GillSansMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">will
involve</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: GillSansMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"> teaching women and providing them with skills in the production of
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: GillSansMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">improved stoves </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: GillSansMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">as an income-generating activity, with the aim
of contributing towards the social and economic empowerment of women </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: GillSansMT;">and other disadvantaged groups in my
community.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: AkkuratLight; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The improved stoves will thus indeed compliment efforts by many other
organizations in saving trees and towards saving the environment and in turn improve
or achieve a better health for households in our community.<span style="color: #c0504d;"> </span></span><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 5.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: AkkuratLight; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">While other organizations
are distributing similar stoves to communities, I believe the best way to
empower women in my community is to train them, for herein lies true
empowerment. After the women acquire this impeccable knowledge, they will be
able to produce more Stoves as a group and later on take them to the market to
sell. This will surely achieve </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: AkkuratLight; mso-bidi-font-size: 20.0pt;">social, environmental, and economic sustainability which are key
pillars of rural community development. Socioeconomic empowerment is there
because these women will be able to pocket some kwachas after selling these
stoves at the market, and the environmental part is coming in because these
stoves have been scientifically proved through research that they produce less
smoke and most importantly that they use and require less firewood than the
conventional method of cooking which uses 3 stones and a lot more firewood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 30.0pt;">The IWETI Project is on the Prototype stage and today,
the 28<sup>th</sup> of June, 2016 we started off with a formal training on how
to produce the improved stoves. Although 4 out of the 10 women showed up for
the training, I was so marveled to share my knowledge with them. Being a market
day, most of the women couldn’t make it and so we’ve now decided to change our
meeting days to Mondays every week. The training today focused on how to
construct an Improved Stationed Stove and also on how to make or produce a
Moveable Improved Stove. Our target for today was to be able to learn and get
familiarized with the <b><i>how to</i></b> and also produce a prototype
of the two Improved Stoves, but since the turn up was not as expected and that
we didn’t manage to assemble the materials needed for the production, we
decided to produce the prototype next Monday, July 4<sup>th</sup> 2016. The few
women present were thrilled and excitedly volunteered for the prototypes of the
stationed stoves to be done at their houses. Each of the group members will own
the stationed stove in their kitchens courtesy of the group and this process
will help the women to get familiar with the stove production process. I am so over the moon!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsmu_RmHwJWmmkrOzBnbTrz8Dd3YcsRKUHWgsFuTfwb3H0IBQib3FP6lY9_qG1cA29IRsg6wSwe0EbXTH6RJQP99ja_2M9mG0DPfUMCBU_TzFeyzGoKdeqV-vAiolelERfEGUWr41YNhn/s1600/WP_20160628_020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsmu_RmHwJWmmkrOzBnbTrz8Dd3YcsRKUHWgsFuTfwb3H0IBQib3FP6lY9_qG1cA29IRsg6wSwe0EbXTH6RJQP99ja_2M9mG0DPfUMCBU_TzFeyzGoKdeqV-vAiolelERfEGUWr41YNhn/s640/WP_20160628_020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(some women and myself after the training today)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I will be sharing updates
including pictures on the IWETI Project and I will very much appreciate your
thoughts, feedback and possible partnership links to further help the women in
my community. This project will need a good market for the produced stoves to
make sure that the women make a good return out of the stoves. We will
definitely need your hand. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNHoB0a5Gv5Jz1pymNpiI0XSi7e8Cl8KsJ-bWKp4kJdRvReWroQKA_f80awspKT11AJorTCubTQKQu_C5JehJRII2GTnCvW9VtUjvTLhDSb7PpDNdbUQwVESP-fNmF1yyOQayCjSqx1kG/s1600/WP_20160628_022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNHoB0a5Gv5Jz1pymNpiI0XSi7e8Cl8KsJ-bWKp4kJdRvReWroQKA_f80awspKT11AJorTCubTQKQu_C5JehJRII2GTnCvW9VtUjvTLhDSb7PpDNdbUQwVESP-fNmF1yyOQayCjSqx1kG/s640/WP_20160628_022.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a shot after the training with some group members</td></tr>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-64585742694771852902016-06-26T07:32:00.000-07:002016-06-26T07:32:46.997-07:00CHITETE WOMEN<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Besides
working with primary school kids at Chitete Primary school, over the past three
months and some weeks, I have spent my time interacting and working with
Chitete women. I must confess that my stay in this community has been quite
amazing so far, and indeed this is my other home. My early days in the
community saw me encountering various remarkable works by these women in this
community, from a young mother who is taking advantage of the Out of School
Initiative (OOSC) to reshape her future through free education provided by our
development partner, buildOn to an old woman who caught my attention by
cultivating a quite big piece of land that probably is above her strength all
by herself. All in all I must say, these women are focused, hard-working,
humble, energetic and development-hungry. I have been involved in a series of
few meetings with these women on various topics like that of Agriculture, entrepreneurship,
house-keeping, sanitation and education.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Day
to day life for these women is easy for them as it seems to be normal while for
someone who might just be visiting might find it hard and perhaps complicated. The day for most of them starts with waking
up in the morning to do some house chores and prepare other things around the
house so that when the husband and or kids wake up will find most if not all of
the chores around the house already done. Fetching water in the morning for the
house is inevitable. Most of the women walk a distance of about 1 km or more to
fetch water from a borehole (Water Pump) or the well. After that most of them spend time
keeping the home while their children are gone to school and their husband gone
to run some usual errands ranging from bicycle taxi business to some small
piece works elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Let
me give you a vivid picture of some of the things that women in my community
do. Let us begin with education, as we all know, education is a greater
treasure in life and as Nelson Mandela said, “education is the most powerful </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">weapon</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> which you can use to change the world”. There is an adult
literacy school which I help in coordinating in my community; this school is
open to all parents and adults in our community and those around us. The Adult
Literacy class at Chitete Primary school is dominated by women. This is why I
refer to these women as hard-workers and visionaries. These women are eager to
learn. They are eager to learn how to read, how to write, how to calculate, how
to go about as successful entrepreneurs and how to care for their homes and
children. They are the kind of women who are ready to be taught, ready to gain
knowledge and ready to work for the development of their community, their
families and their lives. This enthusiasm has not stopped here. The OOSC
initiative has also seen women showing interest in the class. Even though the
target for the program is for dropout kids (ages 7 to 17), some women have
found it an advantage to show up in the class and learn to gain some knowledge
they can’t probably gain from the adult literacy class. Wow! This moves me a
lot, incredibly amazing! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Currently,
there’s a group of women who have secured land near the Shire River that has
passed through our community. I am currently working with these women to put
all necessary structures in order so that we commence an irrigation project. I
am very happy to work with these women in this project because not only will it
benefit these women and the community socio-economically but it will also be of
benefit to their families in terms of food and nutrition. When we visited the
secured piece of land we found that the land has suitable soils and is perfectly
located near the Shire River such that it gives us hope of a successful
project. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGjrRncQSO5NtWNne7tBTrWlQgMG7iwX40jKp9pXNVkewdAjEzKVVglbZyv1Uz52hresbP56-2cMhyphenhyphenV_VzZK_E_1xSMfovJXFn4fzmDHJ9rCnp6ETmnAEGYk7dCgK4NQCcZXjcVc-QzL9/s1600/Use2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGjrRncQSO5NtWNne7tBTrWlQgMG7iwX40jKp9pXNVkewdAjEzKVVglbZyv1Uz52hresbP56-2cMhyphenhyphenV_VzZK_E_1xSMfovJXFn4fzmDHJ9rCnp6ETmnAEGYk7dCgK4NQCcZXjcVc-QzL9/s640/Use2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myself at the Shire River,checking out the garden for the Women Irrigation project</td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As we are in
search of irrigation water pumps, we have already started working on the land
and more pictures will be shown in the next blog. So far I have managed to link
with the Agriculture Development Division (ADD) for Neno, and they will provide
us with technical expertise as regards irrigation and other necessary
assistance. Additionally, one of our partner organizations Kusamala Institute (www.kusamala.org) continues to work with me as I
strive to teach the people in my community on modern farming methods. And as
you know that it is good to start with a small group and move to a larger one
later, I chose to begin with the women.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSxLwFEFdNOFDoId2XcFVeXOhGwQvuCi3Z4w1v9TLHsZsIi-x36Gsh1FY8xUfKDtrs36d254Y5ecmxuMpuQnQwA8mtuGKz9oTaQPL3B3vgaeS7HBryjw7I40cbX4VRuyypObkMNMo_Lst/s1600/c-women+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSxLwFEFdNOFDoId2XcFVeXOhGwQvuCi3Z4w1v9TLHsZsIi-x36Gsh1FY8xUfKDtrs36d254Y5ecmxuMpuQnQwA8mtuGKz9oTaQPL3B3vgaeS7HBryjw7I40cbX4VRuyypObkMNMo_Lst/s640/c-women+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myself with the Leaders for the Women's Irrigation group after a site visit at the Shire River</td></tr>
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The women are showing strong interest
in learning to make manure, liquid fertilizer and many other modern farming
techniques which I am sharing with them and I hope this will also help them
improve their households’ way of farming in turn. It is very encouraging that some other NGOs
are also showing much interest in helping these women and I am sure that their
lives will never be the same.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-6CgOFeiIeqXrnYCjOlOtPhqpUZDPhGwk__aXGr73XKnhDqgjNfuwU6SOmjRnFULVYL-KItvZiZkA2g1Et5_PU1Y1kVlH7ioiVVL08vl5GAgfr-LTVVL9AD1v1bLoN2kx08Ae_-roYgw/s1600/use+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-6CgOFeiIeqXrnYCjOlOtPhqpUZDPhGwk__aXGr73XKnhDqgjNfuwU6SOmjRnFULVYL-KItvZiZkA2g1Et5_PU1Y1kVlH7ioiVVL08vl5GAgfr-LTVVL9AD1v1bLoN2kx08Ae_-roYgw/s640/use+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Irrigation group leaders and myself</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Like
I said earlier, these women are energetic and hard-working; most of the women
at Chitete village do not just stay idle. They do various businesses at Zalewa,
a trading center that is less than 2km away from Chitete village. They sell
sugarcane,Tangerines, nthuza, masau (local fruits) which are mostly found in
the forest around the village, and various other home-made snacks.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LJuHxnS95tS6l_jWEazYIxTrswraSUbDp8iSAyHnUmGQ_KMcQ74Rzcl___7B0i1l9iXB3FEQtcpfZSSwHH4RxtX5hVNZ4zOUMQROWNTP47_NQQqbt6VrnvBQ5efyKATyROivXbEAOHeT/s1600/use+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LJuHxnS95tS6l_jWEazYIxTrswraSUbDp8iSAyHnUmGQ_KMcQ74Rzcl___7B0i1l9iXB3FEQtcpfZSSwHH4RxtX5hVNZ4zOUMQROWNTP47_NQQqbt6VrnvBQ5efyKATyROivXbEAOHeT/s640/use+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Road to Zalewa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I found one
woman who owns a very small retail shop deep inside the village but she wasn’t
comfortable to take a picture with me or me at her canteen. This woman walks
everyday to Zalewa to buy her business merchandise to sell in the village,
isn’t this amazing?</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When
it comes to development activities, you will never stop to notice these women
coming in large numbers. They dominate the community meetings and although most
of these women do not contribute much during development meetings, you will
surely see them in large numbers coming to participate in the development
endeavors<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3P9bDK9OeeNLd5J5uYV_SLRQQw8PHTXPFBsebQCjcMgz2tSElduuZmCl3VXh4p6UCDzn-Re85PwlR4v3UqvX-M3wjDV7Dx_FhtGx62IUK7YkgS_8-Y-ic7EdMZzgsVuLTCQ5nBI7qV4HD/s1600/use+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3P9bDK9OeeNLd5J5uYV_SLRQQw8PHTXPFBsebQCjcMgz2tSElduuZmCl3VXh4p6UCDzn-Re85PwlR4v3UqvX-M3wjDV7Dx_FhtGx62IUK7YkgS_8-Y-ic7EdMZzgsVuLTCQ5nBI7qV4HD/s640/use+5.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">some few women attending a needs assessment meeting with the Shire River households </td></tr>
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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">In
my subsequent posts, I will write about another amazing project that I am
working with a group of about 10 to 15 women that is aimed at ensuring socio-economic
independence, health households, caring for our environment among the many
objects. In this initiative, the women will be well trained</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">and then commence producing some products
which they will be selling as a group and then use the proceeds to further
their own small businesses or even start one if they do not have. Like I
mentioned, I will write in detail about this initiative in the subsequent
posts, just continue to follow this blog for more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Chitete
women are women who deserve a hand on their already made various efforts to
sustain their lives, families and community. They deserve to be empowered and
supported as much as possible, surely one will never regret working with and
providing support to these women. I am very proud that I am involved in
empowering these women, this is surely development redefined. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-69573409566756603102016-06-05T05:35:00.000-07:002016-06-07T06:47:33.294-07:00A VISIT BY THE ART OF GIVING BRAND AMBASSADOR FOR MALAWI<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">Well, I must admit I have been missing for a while. The past weeks have been tiring and busy for me. My students and I have been busy with lessons and a number of activities that we were doing. As a comeback post, allow me to share with you my sincere joy and gratitude to the newly appointed Art of Giving Ambassador for Malawi , Miss. Winnie Mwamsamali who paid my school an unforgettable visit on 17th May 2016. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On this day May 17 2016, was Art of Giving celebration Day and different nations in Africa and countries in Asia took time to celebrate art of giving as they touched lives of the vulnerable communities through giving and spending time with such communities (you can read more through this link; </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">http://www.artofgiving.co.uk)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. The theme for this day was <i style="font-weight: bold;">Education for All</i>. In Malawi, the ceremony took place
on at my school Chitete Primary. You might wish to know that my school has about 97 pupils with only Standard One to Standard Three. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Asked on why my School was chosen for this visit and ceremony, the ever </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">smiling</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Brand Ambassador said that she felt compelled to choose Chitete because she follows and read more stories through this blog. I remember reading via the blog posts that t</span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px;">he kids come to school with unwashed clothes and uniforms and mostly without taking a bath simply because washing and bathing soap is a luxury to most household from which these kids come.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> "Additionally, it felt so necessary to visit and conduct this ceremony here considering the fact that I </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">personally</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> know the CorpsAfrica Volunteer volunteering here at Chitete," she said. Wow, this is honestly very humbling, that people out there are reading and following the stories from my community and are doing something to help transforming the lives of my kids here. <i>Mu umidzo mulidi mphamvu (There's surely power in unity).</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was indeed an
afternoon of bliss at Chitete. The day was celebrated in an amazing day and many activities were incorporated to spice up the event. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The event started at 1pm with the Malawi Art of Giving Brand
Youth Ambassador, Miss Winnie Mwamsamali and the school kids playing netball in
a friendly competition between girls and boys at the school. The kids were very
happy and joyful. The sport took about 20 minutes and we later proceeded to an
official start of the ceremony.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Present
at the start of the ceremony were; the Malawi Art of Giving Brand Youth
Ambassador, Miss Winnie Mwamsamali, the school teachers, Mr Chadodoma, Mr
Misomali, Mrs. Kalolo, Mr. Symon, the school deputy head-teacher,</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> two local comedians, Mr Shaibu and Mr Chiwaula and of course myself. The official
opening of the ceremony started with a word of prayer by one of the school kids and this was later followed by a welcome speech and encouragement on education from the school
deputy Head teacher, Mr Symon.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Malawi Art of Giving Ambassador then came in to explain the Art of Giving Celebration and why we ought to have a giving culture as humans.</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The Malawi Art of
Giving Ambassador playing netball with the kids</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As a way of conveying a message to the teachers and kids on
the theme “Education for All”, two local comedians Mr. Shaibu and Mr. Chiwaula,
took the stage to both entertain and at the same time educate the kids and
teachers on education and the importance of education. There was a need
to emphasize on the importance of education since in this area most parents and
kids do not value education. For instance some kids will be found hunting mice
on a school day instead of going to school since they do not know the importance
of going to school. The Ambassador took the stage after the comedians to emphasize on the
importance of education and her own testimony of how she grew up and attained
education and how it has and still is benefiting her, it was such a great motivation to the kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The two local comedians performing</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After all the speeches, the comedy and sports fun, it was
time for the kids to get each their presents for the day. It was amazing to see the
beautiful smiles on the faces of the kids. The Art of Giving Ambassador handed out notebooks, washing
tablet soap and locally made fizzy drinks to the kids at our school. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After gifts presentations, the Deputy Head-teacher couldn't </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">contain</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> it but stood up and conveyed his message of gratitude on behalf of the kids. The presents served as
an encouragement to the kids present and their friends who were absent from
school on that day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teachers distributing gifts to kids</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Ambassador distributing notebooks to the kids</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Ambassador distributing washing soap to the kids</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids with the Art of giving ambassador
celebrating the gifts</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Celebrating the gifts</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The kids were later happily running home with their gifts. We
had ten notebooks remaining and these were given to the teachers present as a
way of appreciating the good job they do of teaching the kids despite the poor
conditions at the school like lack of school staff office and proper classrooms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with my pupils in our classroom
after receiving the gifts<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As we unite to advocate for equal access to quality education to all the children living even in the disadvantaged communities, let us continue to play a role in </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">transforming</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> their lives.</span><b style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I felt compelled to share this amazing story to you knowing there are many of you out there with a kind heart like the Art of Giving Ambassador for Malawi Miss W. Mwamsamali, who will surely do like wise.</span></span></div>
EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-2719339030621189972016-04-24T09:32:00.001-07:002016-07-18T14:20:04.433-07:00SHAPING MALAWI'S NEXT GENERATION<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Nelson Mandela one of the greatest leader who once lived on the face of the earth once said, "education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." In Malawi we say that "<i>maphunziro nchuma</i>" meaning to say that education is key to unlocking or creating wealth. This is the reason why most parents in Malawi strive to educate their children amidst high levels of poverty. They believe and hope that some day their child will hold them a hand after attaining a good future and that their lives will change for the better. Today, I will continue to write about education and I will thus share some stories from my classroom, from my standard 3 pupils in my village, Chitete.</div>
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To begin with, I have always believed that if we want to shape the future our nation into a strong economy, where citizens are truly empowered, patriotic and also development conscious, then we must not despise the essentiall role education plays and that we also consider investing in the youth and children. Investing in young people as well as children will indeed help us to shape the next generation and systematically develop our nation. The question should now be, how do we then shape Malawi's next generation? How do we invest in children and use it as a tool in reshaping our nation? The answers to these questions might vary from person to person but I personally think that you and me are responsible in taking part and playing an active role in educating the young ones. Yes, before we begin pointing fingers at the central government, policy makers and related agencies, you and me must be involved in doing something to change and improve the dilapidated and worsening conditions of education in our very communities. It begins with you, it begins with me.</div>
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On my part, I continue to advocate for better educational standards for the voiceless children in my community, who continue to hope for better education, better learning facilities and quality education derivery. I do not want to only advocate but to be an active doer. I believe in corresponding what I advocate for with my actions. This is why I always share with you respected readers.</div>
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Our schools here closed for a two weeks holiday and pupils have just come back to start the third term (we have 3 terms in the academic year for primary and secondary students, you read more here : https://www.malawi.gov.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=21 and also here : https://mobile.facebook.com/Ministry-of-Education-Science-and-Technology-Malawi-508485642590851/?_rdr)· </div>
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During their two week holiday i deliberately arranged with my class to be teaching them after i noticed that most kids couldn't read, write and handle math problems. I remember spending alot of hours helping some kids to read, write and solve maths problems, it was a great adventure altogether. One of the kids by the name Madalitso, 9 years of age had serious difficulties in both reading and math problems, but this day he went home a happy kid after hours of struggling to get a math exercise right. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping a child Math</td></tr>
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I told him that we could spend the entire day teaching each other until he mastered some basic maths skills. You see, kids like Madalitso inspire me, they motivate me to do what i do.</div>
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When school opened a week ago, I became so energized and looked forward to being with my kids again. I looked forward to teaching these kids, and helping them to read , write and anything else within my reach. Allow me to therefore share with you some of the things my kids and I did during the past week</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Wednesday 20th April. Before I started my lessons for this day I went with my kids for some physical exercises and they teamed up into two teams in a tag of war sport where the boys luckily won. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">After the sporting activity we went back to class and learnt about accidents at home and how the kids can prevent such. To get more from the pupils i decided to group them into groups. The pupils then presented to their friends what each group discussed and this was again delibaretely chosen as a way of enhancing their communication and public speaking skills.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My pupils doing a group assignment </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group discussions in progress</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group Presentations </td></tr>
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I must confess that I was impressed by these kids during presentations and the way they debated in their groups, surely these kids will be great public speakers 😃😃.</div>
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The most disheartening thing for me however,is that, whenever I come to teach these kids, and I give them classwork to do, i keep getting different excuses from most kids. "Sir, i don't have an exercise book to write on" and another one will tell me she doesn't have a writing pen. You would almost think that they're lazy and that they don't want to write but then this problem is real. This is the reason why i decided to take some amount of money from my upkeep and purchase exercise books and ball point pens for all my pupils in my class to at least deal with this problem and Oh boy!<br />
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You should have seen the joy and happiness on the kids' faces. They never expected that someone would give them such a gift. I am glad to see that even the class attendance has greatly improved over the week because there were some kids who kept being absent from school because they didn't have writing materials. Like I mentioned ealier on, I am a doer to the core and thats why I am already working on a sanitation and cleanliness project with my kids. We intend to turn wasted and used papers into waste bins/dust bins plus other handicraft materials which we will later find a market in other schools with an aim of using the money to buy books and soap for the kids so that they wash their school uniforms and bath before coming to school. I believe that my pupils and I are capable of creating long lasting solutions to these challenges.</div>
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Having shared some of the stories from my classroom, I believe that you are greatly motivated and encouraged to begin to take part in helping in shaping the next generation. You may actually consider sharing the little that you have with some needy kids in your community and like I have shown you in this blog post, the best way to invest in the next generation is when we invest our resources in educating the children in our community. When you and me take ownership of our children's education, we're investing in the next generation, when you decide to volunteer in your community and give out your heart to the people right in your community, know that you're inspiring someone and this is how we transform our nation systematically. I emplore you to join me in my noble cause as I continue to transform children's lives in my community as well as the entire community at large. If you want to come to Chitete and inspire the kids or give your ideas on how we csn do our cleanliness and sanitation project, or need to get in touch, please contact me via e-mail: epotolani16@gmail.com and let's together transform Malawi as we invest in our next generation.</div>
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Tionana, see you later!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping s kid in class</td></tr>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-67340713148116370412016-03-27T22:33:00.003-07:002016-07-18T14:22:21.738-07:00QUALITY EDUCATION????<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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On March 12, 2016, I made a pledge through the AIESEC YouthSpeak Initiative (you can make yours right here: https://aiesecmalawi.typeform.com/to/y4iD6a). My pledge is about Quality education. To be honest, I was motivated to make this pledge by my pupils in my class and of course at my school. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kids at my School</td></tr>
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These kids motivate me so much. Many of them come to school without eating anything at home due to the hunger crisis that has hit my community and many other communities in Malawi. Many of the kids if not all, come to school with very dirty clothes and some come without any writing materials. Yet all of these challenges among the unmentioned ones do not stop these kids from coming to school every week day.<br />
Comrades, these innocent souls keep hoping for a better future. This is what keeps me going and motivates me to stand in the gap and sacrifice all I have in order for the children in my community to be able to attain a brighter future.<br />
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Now, as regards to the pledge I made, it is in alignment to the Sustainable Development Goals which were agreed upon by World leaders in Rio last year, 2015. I will not explain much on the transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but you can spare some time and read here: http://www.sdgfund.org/mdgs-sdgs.<br />
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However, let me highlight that the pledge I made is in line with SDG 4 which talks about ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education as well as the promotion of life-long learning opportunities for all. Yes, "inclusive and equitable quality education as well as promotion of life-long learning opportunities for all." Now, here is the thing, my standard 3 pupils in the picture below are part of the "ALL" being talked about in the SDG No. 4. <br />
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My standard 3 pupils in class</div>
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They too indeed rightly deserve quality education. But then how do we make such dream become a reality to the many innocent children who are learning in such unfavorable environments? If you can ask me I will quickly respond by telling you my thoughts that, we should first of all improve these learning environments, construct well-designed classrooms, then give our kids enough learning materials and resources and provide well-trained teachers. Our goal on teachers must not be on quantity but rather quality of the personnel. Providing a well and conducive learning environment will eventually end up encouraging many children from developing countries to stay in school and we are going to narrow and ultimately close the illiteracy gap.<br />
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In addition to this, I personally believe that achieving access to education and providing quality education as is the goal of the SDG 4 is an essential catalyst in eradicating poverty in the long run. But then this sounds paradoxical in a way. Imagine this; it is due to high levels of poverty that a lot of children are systematically denied access to education. For instance, families that are unable to provide food and basic resources for their children will make it harder for their children to attain education. Children who come to class with hunger spend much time thinking about food than what is being taught in class.<br />
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However, I feel like governments, various Non-Governmental Organisations (Local or international), communities and individuals are obligated to join hands in helping make access to education and quality education available to the people in developing countries like my country Malawi. Instead of heavily investing in fighting hunger, we must all invest in the future of our children. For this is how we are going to deal with the root cause of poverty as we also aim at ending poverty of all forms everywhere according to the SDG No. 1.<br />
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I will continue to write, I will continue to be part of the solution, I will continue to help these little children access quality education. Let us join hands as we try to achieve a common goal, a better world for everyone.<br />
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The two teaching classrooms we have</div>
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My students in Standard 3 </div>
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These are standard 2 pupils, who unlike their friends in Standard 3 have somewhat a decent environment for classes (only standard 1 & 2 occupy this classroom block)</div>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-23212767546442782952016-03-15T09:38:00.002-07:002016-07-18T14:20:50.869-07:00Making Quality Education a birthright<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There are hundreds of millions of adults who have never gone to school and tens of millions of children who do not attend school or who have never attended school at all or who will eventually drop out of school before they even acquire literacy skills.<br />
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If we can give the majority of these people an opportunity to acquire formal and informal education, we can end up transforming their lives and bring an everlasting impact on how these people may understand sanitation and health issues, family planning, income generation and even good governance among other important issues. Our communities will never be the same this way!<br />
#youthactionmalawi<br />
#sdgs<br />
#CorpsAfrica_practical_Initiatives<br />
"You can join the movement from the link:<a href="https://aiesecmalawi.typeform.com/to/y4iD6a"> https://aiesecmalawi.typeform.com/to/y4iD6a</a>"</div>
EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-64266268262706834732016-03-12T05:22:00.002-08:002016-03-12T05:22:35.140-08:00<div style="text-align: justify;">
I just made a fresh pledge via the AIESEC YouthSpeak movement, check it out and join the movement. </div>
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Through my service at CorpsAfrica, I am committed to building and upgrading education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, inclusive and effective learning environments for all people in my community. Equitable access to quality education services for girls, young mothers, women and the youth (and men as well ofcourse) is an increadible tool to sustanaible development.<br />
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#youthactionmalawi<br />
#sdgs<br />
"You can join the movement from the link!https://aiesecmalawi.typeform.com/to/y4iD6a" <a href="ttps://aiesecmalawi.typeform.com/to/y4iD6a"">ttps://aiesecmalawi.typeform.com/to/y4iD6a"</a><br />
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Let's make this world a better place for every person regardless of their poverty levels, race/color, age, background or whatever surrounds them.EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-47079204409494711822016-03-04T12:04:00.000-08:002016-03-04T12:04:04.797-08:00MY NEW WORKROOM -CHITETE PRIMARY SCHOOL<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Hello lovely people, hope you're all doing well. </div>
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Wondering what I have been up to over the week? Well, it’s been a tight week, moving around and getting to know people. Oh! By the way, I have clocked one week today, so exciting!! </div>
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Today am not writing much. Let me share with you a few things from my new School. Well, we have a small junior primary school in our community by the name Chitete School. </div>
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This school was constructed by buildOn in collaboration with the community here. These people worked so hard in moulding bricks, gathering enough sand and stones for the construction of the school block. </div>
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I told you in my previous blog post that these people are development hungry. Well, as you can see, we only have one block which houses two classes, standard 1 and 2. However, we also have Standard 3 pupils who also come for lessons. These standard 3 pupils learn in one temporary shelter shown in the picture below.</div>
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The beautiful part of it though is that I have adopted Standard 3 to be my class, the class I will be teaching and this shabby shelter will be our classroom from next week. </div>
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As you can see, this shelter in not a safe and conducive learning environment. But believe you me, this is a common story in most undocumented villages of our country Malawi. When it rains, these students just like many out there, fail to continue their lessons due to the poor conditions.</div>
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However, I feel proud to be here and be teaching in this shark, because I know I will always be reminded of why I am in this community; to collaborate with the people here and aid development activities together. This is indeed community development redefined. I feel so honored to be in this community.<br />
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Well, I already promised not to write much today although I have a lot of stories to share. Well, in other development I have met a new friend, an old woman by the name Gogo Podanira whom am helping with digging a rubbish pit at her house. Yesterday when I visited her, I observed that she just throw her trash anywhere around her house. I am helping her because I believe she deserves a clean environment and that proper waste management is one way to achieve such. Allow me to stop here so I prepare for tomorrow. Thank you for following my posts and for your amazing feedback.</div>
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Keep reading!</div>
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Some of my standard 3 pupils after classes</div>
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Inside the temperory shelter </div>
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With the headteachers for Chitete Primary school</div>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-33738193255658433932016-03-01T00:52:00.001-08:002016-03-01T00:52:08.921-08:00eMas' Korner : I HAVE FOUND A NEW HOME<a href="http://emaspotolani.blogspot.com/2016/02/i-have-found-new-home.html?spref=bl">eMas' Korner : I HAVE FOUND A NEW HOME</a>: Ask me about my life, I would tell you that I have grown up away from my family, of course I usually visit them once in a while. Zomba, ...EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-32400428950547612322016-02-26T12:07:00.000-08:002016-02-26T12:42:24.430-08:00I HAVE FOUND A NEW HOME<div style="text-align: center;">
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Ask me about my life, I would tell you that I have grown up away from my family, of course I usually visit them once in a while. Zomba, a peaceful small city, has been my home since 1996, hence you can't really blame me at all if I tell you that the bond between me and Zomba is somehow unbreakable. There’s more to it though. That’s however for another day.<br />
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But today, 26th February, 2016 I have found a new home, a new people a new tribe and a new family. CorpsAfrica has led me to this village in Neno in the Southern Region of Malawi; a place I gladly call home from this moment on. I am now at Zalewa II in Patason village, popularly known as Chitete Village, very few kilometres from Zalewa turn off.<br />
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The most exciting thing is that my journey to this place was no ordinary, I was driven here by Liz Fanning, the Founder and Executive Director of CorpsAfrica (http://www.corpsafrica.org). Can it get any better than this? It is the very first time for Liz to do this and I guess am the only volunteer to enjoy this homage! hahaha! Can’t contain the excitement! Anyway, about the road trip, we were together with Abdullaziz also known as a Gama (his Chichewa nickname) who happened to have been busy taking some pictures and videos, I took some few too, c'mon! Who wouldn't? It’s the most exciting day of my life.<br />
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At 2:10pm, there we were at my new home, my site. Before meeting anybody else, we were welcomed by the Chief’s representative, who was accompanied by the Head-teacher for Chitete Primary School and the chairperson of the Village Development Committee (VDC). Well, it was a great honor. I am humbled. To be honest with you, these people are so warm and amazing! First impression am already in love with my work site. Isn’t this awesome? And I think these people are development hungry too, just like me.<br />
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My host family is the Nyakwawa (Chief) and his family, of course I am from a royal family myself but wait a minute, did they consider that when they were placing me here? What a coincidence. Am humbled once again, lol. Not to blow my own horn but probably it's just in my blood (. Well want to know about my host family? These guys are simply wonderful people and very warm. Oh! Check this out; the Nyakwawa's wife prepared me some warm water telling me while kneeling down "bambo kasambeni" (Sir, go take a bath), lol. The chief wasn’t home by that time ofcourse, and once he is back from his errands, you don’t have to tell him that the moment I was out of the bathroom, I was welcomed by a really nice plate of Nsima and eggs prepared by his wife.<br />
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Not that am here to snatch the Nyakwawa's wife, but hey she's dope and kind. Wait a minute, did I mention the bathroom is a pigs' khola in the night? So cool!<br />
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More interesting is the fact that I have a mesho (Room mate). I am never going to be lonely at all. I have the company of a black chicken at the far corner of my room.<br />
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I bet we’re gonna have lovely nights and atleast mosquitoes will be dealing with us both and in the middle of the night when everybody else is fast asleep in the tranquility of such quietness, I have a mesho to whisper to, I will probably have to share with him why I am here and how excited I am to be working with the people here. I hope he doesn't get slaughtered tomorrow.<br />
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Oops! I wish I could continue but the chief is here, I gotta go and greet him; Time for some family bonding.<br />
Much appreciations to Liz, the big fish herself for driving me here and for this platform, to Garret for the Human Centred Design training which is going to help me to adapt with ease, to our Dad, Adam Gaskins; get well soon man, to all the CorpsAfrica family for the support and to my ever-smiling woman Winnie; I love you and will miss you.<br />
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Later!<br />
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<br />EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-52720519459873808542015-11-28T00:48:00.001-08:002015-11-28T00:48:10.733-08:00ZOMBA..?<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Should
I write about Zomba?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well,
it’s not as easy as it may appear, to write about one darling place Zomba. Many
have written about it, and will continue to do so, but see, I have grown up
here, done almost all my school here and this is where I live, Zomba is my
home. I will spare a good time in putting down some important things about this
historic place and I will be presenting to you bit by bit as I make and
assemble the whole. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Zomba
District is one of the five districts in the Eastern region Malawi, which is
surrounded by Machimga district, Balaka, Chiradzulu, Blantyre, Mulanje,
Phalombe, as well as the Republic of Mozambique to the East. The total land
area is approximately 2,580 km², which represents three percent of the total
land area of Malawi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Talking
about demographics, The 2008 Population and Housing census projected that Zomba
had a total population of 583,167. Meaning that it has a population density of
230 persons per square kilometer, and more than half of these are 18 years old
or even younger. Nyanja/Mang’anja is the main ethnic group in Zomba among the
Yao, and Lomwe. Chichewa also known as Chinyanja is the local language which
most inhabitants speak, although other languages like Chiyao and Chilomwe are
also spoken. In terms of religion, the dominant religions are Christianity with
78 percent and Islam with 20 percent and the remaining 2 percent could be
shared by those who are unsure or do not subscribe to any religious belief at
all. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For
now, let me pause right here, I will be back with another section as I write
even more about Zomba.</span><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-28566632368071871962015-11-27T23:13:00.000-08:002015-11-27T23:13:13.925-08:00REDOLENCE OF A HUSH-HUSH CASE<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Between the heart and the soul</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Real life gives no meaning of this song</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">It’s like a game of Ping-Pong</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">And this desperation tears away my soul</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">As my people remain strangers in their home</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Alas! this unbreakable shell</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Of a concealed warm tale</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Of Reality impregnated by a false call</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">How I desire to break this shell</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">For the day of liberty is nowhere in spectacle</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Like the children of Israel</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Am sitting and gazing</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Awaiting a breakthrough</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">But as much as I desire this liberty</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Egypt comes with inordinate Pearls</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This is a heart expedition</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Only those beatified with one can discern</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">It doesn’t require one’s acumen</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">They say that silence is golden</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Against all odds I will divulge the opportune</span></span>EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599217167124035122.post-16521418071238801222015-11-25T01:42:00.000-08:002015-11-25T01:42:26.837-08:00THE CASANOVA<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0.360000014305115px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello there, see, I feel greatly honored to begin my official journey here by featuring one adorable person in my life. Yes you heard me right. This person can write, and I am humbled to share with you one of her amazing poem. She is Winnie Mwamsamali, my very heartbeat. enjoy the masterpiece.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">THE
CASANOVA (EPIPHANY TO THE LADY IN LOVE)<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">By
Winnie Mwamsamali </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqDwxDYRbeuYnR2ZJt2A03HwdqMLp5w9uTYjFZFs1JEI3a2ncV0sL6Jb6izSEdZAPDWShYOp7fTP4JF75eBxYyPZ22NHU4mcmiNeOXGNS6eOVt3U59w956oX2SFoAPIJElUJhUYC432wS/s1600/Winnie+Mwamsamali%252C+Passport+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqDwxDYRbeuYnR2ZJt2A03HwdqMLp5w9uTYjFZFs1JEI3a2ncV0sL6Jb6izSEdZAPDWShYOp7fTP4JF75eBxYyPZ22NHU4mcmiNeOXGNS6eOVt3U59w956oX2SFoAPIJElUJhUYC432wS/s320/Winnie+Mwamsamali%252C+Passport+photo.jpg" width="213" /></a></i></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">He begins showing
interest in you, your affairs and your life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">To him its nothing much
but he has eyed a post of high price<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">In no time he is
getting closer to you and shows his affection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Its nothing much, he is
just trying to win your attention<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">As time goes by, for
you he declares his love context<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">That is simply a
presentation of his proposal papers to contest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">With his sweet talk,
you are left with nothing to say but yes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">This is the time with
the husband seat he stands face to face<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">You are the one he will
do everything for, he says you are unequaled<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Do not get your hopes
so high, for him its just a campaign period</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Will you marry me?”, he pops the
question with a ring and a rose flower<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">He is looking for
nothing sincere but for you to vote him into power</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the altar before the pastor, in sickness and in health,
he says “I do” in harmony<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dont rush to being too excited, it means nothing to him but
a swearing-in ceremony<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Expensive accomodation, wine, food and a superb setting
expressing his love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Its not actually for you, he is just celebrating the power
you just gave him not love</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Married you are to him, but he has forgotten how he acquired
that husband seat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His love checks in no more, he is done with you and all he
knows is to fight and cheat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To him you are there in his life to do nothing but clean his
dirty linen and live in sadness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That, my Dear lady is the love of a casanova; selfish, whose
love is nothing but pretence</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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EMAS POTOLANIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100893360946545403noreply@blogger.com1