I AM CURRENTLY volunteering (with Project Trust) in a centre for street children in a small village called Bangwe, near the city of Blantyre, Malawi.
I work with around 50 children who are aged between 8-17. All of the children have spent a period of time living/begging/sleeping/surviving on the streets - some much longer than others.
Many of the children have disturbing backgrounds involving abuse, neglect, poverty, witchcraft and destructive peer pressure. This makes my work incredibly interesting but at the same time I find it difficult and upsetting to imagine what these kids have been through at such a young age.
The Samaritan Trust is an organisation which accommodates, feeds and sends these children to school. The Samaritan Trust is split into two parts - the "Skills Centre" which is a vocational college for boys aged 17+ and "Chitolera House" orphanage, which is where I live and work.
Earlier this year I applied to do a Social Work course at university in Stirling, Edinburgh or Glasgow so this experience is an ideal opportunity to find out exactly what the role of a social worker entails.
The Social Welfare Office, Blantyre, and the Police Service work together with The Samaritan Trust to improve the children's lives and give them a chance and choice at a positive future. Education is of utmost priority as well as life skills' lessons and healthy eating.
So far I have experienced a wide range of emotions - from feeling the most depressed I have ever felt to feeling that there would be no point in going home because I am so happy working and living here.
The project is rewarding, the children are amazing and, although each day is a challenge, I know I will look back on this year - I return home in July - as a great achievement and a year spent wisely. Already I have been imagining how reverse culture shock will hit.
On arrival at my project I felt very much accepted and welcome - the children all shook my hand and asked my name and where I was from etc. They all seemed so angelic and lovely - turns out they can be little devils when they want to be but I wouldn't change any of them for the world.
I've met lots and lots of people but never have I met a group of children who are as inspiring and bright as these children.
I compare my life at home with life here and start to think how lucky I am. At home I had a constant supply of electricity, clean running water, a massive choice of food, a wardrobe full of clothes, good health care, endless supply of personal belongings and most of all a large, loving (I think) family. I was living the life of luxury and still managed to find things to complain about.
The children here have a bed and the same food every day, they drink dirty water and at the most have three items to call their own.
It's difficult to describe how different life here is. No one could really know what it's like until they actually live it. I stay at the end of the girl's dorm so I constantly have children around me. It's great living in such close proximity but at times it can be very intense and stressful.
Since I arrived at my project, at least 10 children have left the centre to return to the streets. I cannot tell exactly why they would choose to do this but I presume it is mainly to do with freedom. At the centre they must obey rules such as go to school, no begging, stay within centre grounds, no fighting etc.
Although Chitolera House is a safe place for them to live, the majority of the children are used to living on the streets and, therefore, find it far too restraining and strict.
Along with teaching English and maths lessons I have found plenty of time to play/coach football. I managed to break my toe a couple of days ago - barefoot football has its downfalls. Or maybe I'm just clumsy?
It was very generous of my Brora Rangers coach, David Rose, to donate footballs. It's such a treat for the boys (and the girls occasionally) to play with a real ball instead of one made from plastic bags. It's a challenge playing against the boys here. They are so skillful and always make me look like a complete beginner.
I use the excuse "It's far too hot" on a daily basis. Being out in 40 degree heat is hot enough but playing football is so much more difficult. But I am certainly not saying I don't enjoy it, it's often the highlight of my day.
Football usually ends in lots of first aiding. In an average day the children use up about 10 plasters and three bandages. Often more than this. It's not a massive chore but I can imagine it's one of the strange things I will miss as a part of daily routine when I get home.
The rainy season has just started. It's nice having some rain. Makes me feel like I'm back in Lochinver (so thankful that I'm not though). Right now I'm excited about Christmas with the children here but at the same time I will really miss the snow, the food and all the excitement about spending time with family/friends at Christmas and New Year.
The whole point in this article is actually to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported/donated. Lochinver Primary School pupils have made an outstanding effort to collect clothes to send to the children here. These clothes have arrived and the children were so thankful for the gift!
For those who have donated money - I have paid the children's schools fees which means they are all attending local schools now instead of wandering about the centre until funds are available.
Last week we (my Project Trust partner and I) bought 50 pairs of pants for the children. Can you imagine giving a class of 50 children in the UK a pair of pants each! Their reaction would probably be the opposite of the reaction we got over here - screaming, shouting, smiling and lots of thank yous!
Another way in which I have spent donation money is on plastic containers and sanitary products for the girls - both of which the children requested when I asked what they really needed.
Another sum of donation money has been spent on buying lots of tubes of Canesten fungal cream. I spend lots of time applying this cream to get rid of the children's ringworm -actually quite rewarding seeing a child with a healthy head of hair after it being so patchy and unhealthy just a few weeks previously.
The next plan for donation money is to pay a doctor to carry out individual health checks on each and every one of the children at Chitolera House. This used to happen on a regular basis but the company cannot afford it at the moment.
Some donation money has also gone towards paying for the children's food here at Chitolera House. The Samaritan Trust had a poor financial spell so the donation money was definitely spent well as feeding the children is a high priority (if there is no food the children will return to the streets and beg, which is the lifestyle Samaritan Trust are attempting to pull these children away from).
So, thank you again, to everyone.
