News and Diaries

Volunteer Will becomes a mentor to his school in Malawi

( Last Updated: 16-04-2008 )

Meet Will an AV volunteer with pure heart and alot of soul. This is his report from his dingy digs at Sheffield University.   

 "Since teaching at St. Anthonys through AV from April-July 2006 everything has changed!

Im now looking towards a career in international development through NGO's and have been fundraising to help with the short terms needs of the school, as well as sponsoring 2 of the kids to go to secondary school.

Returning last year was great, spending 3 months in Malawi, (and a bit of travelling to Zambia) with another AV, Ben, and arranging to teach my boys. All in their last year at primary school I taught in preparation for their national exams that determine whether they are selected to go to secondary school.

In total i think around £2300 pounds was fundraised and that was all spent on several exercise books for every pupil in both the girls and boys schools, (so about 2000 kids i think) for 2 school terms, new sports equiptment for both schools, 50 new desks to be built by a local carpenter for the boys school, admin stuff like stationary for the school offices and school reports printed for each school for 2 terms, and revision packs made whilst i was out there for the boys for their English exam.

 I cant even begin to tell you how amazing it was to be back, and with the boys in standard 8 they had to live and board at the school in the month prior to their exams to revise and have lessons - so i was able to teach again, and spent all other hours either revising or spending time with them.

The money was also used to arrange a better food menu for the boys, increasing the school budget for extra amounts of vegetables, fish, eggs and meat so that they had a better diet when they were learning.
 
I left 2 weeks before they took their national exams so was quite nervous for them but all the children being sponsored by other AV's have passed and our now settled in their secondary schools.

Chifundo passed and was selected to Zomba Catholic Secondary - an excellent school about 25 minutes from St. Anthonys and one of the best in the Zomba district so i was really proud of him for doing so well! The size of standard 8 was 110 pupils, and given the amount fo their class, and other std 8 classes in the district - competition for school places was too high, and even tho 100 boys passed, only 25 were selected to secondary school places. Unfortunately Phillip wasnt selected so with the help of Jane Thorneycroft - who is absolutely amazing! - eventually a place at a really good, private school was found near Blantyre, roughly about 70 minutes from St. Ants. So Phillip is now settled at Kaphuka Private Secondary school and after weeks of not knowing if he would get inot a school at all, he's now there and wrking hard and enjoying it. Im so proud of both Chif, Phill and all the boys for working so hard and going back to teach them was probably even better than the first time!  

 So now im planning on going back again this summer, probably for less time but back to Malawi to teach a new set of standard 8, arrange another food programme with the teachers and sort out some more school and sports equiptment for the next academic year, as well as raising the money for next years school fees for Chif and Phill.

So many AV's decide to sponsor kids at St. Anthonys and it really says a lot about the school itself and how comfortable AV's are made to feel when they arrive - that it should make so many want to return and continue helping the school. Incredible projects that are helping both the school and community of St. Anthony's have already been set up by ex-AV's - Build Up St. Ants - founded by ex-AV Vicky Bayliss was completed when Ben and I were there last summer and the new classroom blocks and library is just awesome and will play a lasting role in helping and developing the literacy skills of the school community.
 
I cant wait to get back and see the kids again! St. Anthonys will continue to be a major part in my life and the longer the better!!"

Hat's off to you Will - the AV team are very proud of your brilliant work.

Back