Inspire Malawi - Africa and Asia Venture

Inspire Malawi - Africa and Asia Venture

Since volunteering with AV in 2003 Michelle Rowe, has spent her time leading groups of volunteers to the Ntcheu and Dedza regions of rural Malawi. Her non-profit organisation ‘Inspire Malawi' was officially launched last Thursday, which aims to support, promote and enhance Primary and Secondary Education in Malawi.

So far Inspire Malawi has repaired and redecorated classrooms at four Primary Schools and one Secondary School, complete with new desks and teaching resources, built a new Science Laboratory at Lizulu Community Day Secondary School (CDSS), provided a new staffroom at Kaonda Primary School, a new Pre-School, Msana Wan'gombe, in Chipigera Village, and funded 50 new beds for the dormitory at Lizulu CDSS. For 2010, Inspire Malawi plans to fund the repair of 8 classrooms at Njonjo Primary School, as well as funding a school building at Khombwe Primary School.

Recently, Inspire Malawi has been working closely with University of Bedfordshire to pilot a four-day Continuing Professional Development course for PE teachers in Lizulu Zone. Over 100 teachers attended the course which aims to demonstrate good practice in teaching and learning, facilitate the delivery of more diverse activities in the curriculum, develop the range of teaching and learning strategies used by teachers, and illustrate the importance of health, hygiene and diet to the teachers and the benefits of physical activity. We look forward to seeing Inspire Malawi's progress with this in Dedza from April.

This non-profit organisation raises funds through fundraising activities, sponsorship and donations. Michelle has been fundraising for Malawian schools since 2004 and the launch party was a great fundraising start to 2010, where approximately £16,000 was donated - a tremendous amount that will go a long way in the rural communities of Lizulu. Well done to Michelle and to everyone who joined her in launching Inspire Malawi.

From all of us here at AV we wish Michelle and Inspire Malawi a very productive future and hope that many other volunteers will be inspired by your efforts to support rural communities in the Developing World.

Follow Inspire Malawi on Twitter, join them on Facebook and visit www.inspiremalawi.com for more information about the forthcoming projects.

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