a new era....

Since my last blog post the week before Easter, we have had a lot of changes in Malawi.  On 5th April, 2012 we heard that our President had been rushed to hospital in Lilongwe.  There was much speculation as we waited for news of what had happened.  Listening to the BBC and other radio stations we learned that the President had died.  But it was not until 7th April that it was announced on State radio here.  

Tomorrow the 23rd April, we will have a public holiday as a State funeral will take place at his home in the South of Malawi.

We now begin a new era with a new President, Joyce Banda who has no easy task as she takes over an economy that is crumbling and people who are in despair.  However, she is a lady with much experience in politics and human rights issues, and she has a lot of support no only from within Malawi but internationally.  We are hopeful that Malawi can begin a slow  but sure turnaround!

I can now say that I met the President of Malawi, as she was the one who gave me the Early Childhood Certificate a few years ago!!

Last week the body of the late President was here in Mzuzu for 2 days so that people could go and view it and pay their respects.  I did not go but this is a photograph of the banner across the road on the way to state house.

The country is still in crisis - this last week we have had more fuel because Zambia assisted the country with fuel for the funeral.  Sugar queues are still long although the price has been regulated once more.  We have had torrential rains over the past week when the rainy season is supposed to be ending.......this has resulted in some maize which was almost dry becoming sodden.  Hopefully it will dry again and not rot.  Life is not easy for people here on any level.

The Early Childhood Programme is going on as usual.  The container that arrived a few weeks ago had a lot of stuff for Early Childhood.  So, my house has been piled high with plastic boxes and cartons - yesterday I managed to sort out some of them.  For those of you who read this and send things, I want to say a big thank you - so far I have opened around two thirds of the boxes and I have found very few items which are not much use here!  I appreciate the time and effort you take to fill these boxes, and we do appreciate what you send.  Yesterday I had a call from a minister from Chitipa who was in Mzuzu and wanted to know if I could give him any play materials to take to their nine nursery schools - he left with a box of toys and books for each centre.......

I have started my research for my dissertation in Early Childhood studies.  My study is on play in the early years and I am distributing questionnaires to 150 caregivers in the Mzuzu area (restricted due to the ongoing fuel crisis).  So I was out this week delivering questionnaires and I must admit I was shocked at some of the centres I visited.  I had forgotten how bad some of them are.  Children are in small dark crowed rooms with no toys, untrained teachers and its not a pretty picture.

I also found a few caregivers with canes in their hands to keep children under control...... once again I am humbled and hope that my research can at least go some way to helping in planning and implementing our programme better in the future.

We are in the third term of school which is going on well.  We have a huge waiting list for our school and when I see the conditions faced in other centres, I realise why!

This coming week I am meeting with the Regional Early Childhood trainers in the north to assist them in material making - making materials from 'rubbish', and helping them to understand the use of materials and how they help young children develop.  I am looking forward to that!

In my garden the bird life is flourishing as usual.  I talked some weeks ago about a mongoose in the garden - well now they are two.  On my way to work on Friday I was almost ambushed by them as they were playing a game of chase and I got in the middle!!

I found this nest on the ground below the lemon tree - I am not sure what sort of a bird it belongs to...

This Bulbul is a frequent visitor with all of his family............. it was hard to find him in the foliage of the tree.

and there is always colour from the flowers and plants all year round...

On a different note, its the time of year here for citrus fruits.  The oranges in my garden are almost past, the lemons are just ready and I found some grapefruit in the market last week.  As I was cutting the grapefruit I was amazed at the number of seeds inside only half of it, so the camera came out...........

Think I might plant a grapefruit tree!!

I leave you with a photo of the dam in Mzuzu in the evening light.   I trust that you will have a good week.

Blessings

Diane