Barrio Malawi - Box Project

Zolozolo Primary School Library Opening Ceremony

marissa — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 04:29:57 -0500

Yesterday I visited Zolozolo Primary School for the Grand Opening ceremonies for their new library. This school recieved 1.5 tons of books from the World Care shipment. Zolozolo has dedicated a small room for the library, built shelves, labeled everything by category, and are making arrangements for student library cards and class visits to the library for reading time. This is a school that only had 1 book per 6 or so kids before this shipment. They are proud to have a library and have been incredibly self-motivated and resourceful in getting everything organized so quickly. As the World Care representative they gave me the honor of cutting the ribbon and opening the door for the first time.

Profile of Mzuzu Schools

marissa — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 06:29:19 -0400

Makeshift ClassroomThis blog is long, LONG overdue. Back in April I started visiting local primary (grades 1-8) and secondary (grades 9-12) schools, planning for the distribution of books coming from World Care in Tucson. We were expecting the container to ship out from the World Care warehouses at the end of May, which would have it arriving in Malawi 3-6 months later. Just last Friday, October 20th , we received the container in Mzuzu and unloaded 30,000 lbs of books into an empty classroom at Mzuzu University where they will be stored during distribution. This literally doubles, even quadruples in some cases, the number of books at these schools. It’s very exciting to be a part of this effort.

Typical Outdoor ClassroomToday, two of our 6 six schools came to collect their books! In two weeks I will be visiting schools with the Distric Education Manager to discuss with teachers and administration ways to use the books in the classroom and manage their new library so students and community members can borrow books. I claim to be no expert in these things but at least the discussions and planning sessions will take place. I want to make sure that the books get USED, no just sit “safely” in a locked room or closet.

Masasa Full Primary School

Head Teacher: Mr. K.P. Ngwira Chikawi
Student Population: 1819
Grade Levels: Standards 1-8 (equivalent of 1-8 grades)
Age Range: 5-18 yrs old
Classrooms: 13 (4 have electricity)
Student/Teacher ratio: 100/1

CURRICULUM
Agriculture English Mathematics
Social Studies Science Chichewa
Creative Arts Physical Education Needle Crafts

NEEDS
Desks -The school has zero desks and only 220 plastic lawn chairs for their 1,819 students.-There are 13 classrooms falling into 3 different sizes:SMALL: 19’x 24’MEDIUM: 22’ x 22’LARGE: 23’ x 24’
Portable Chalkboards(5-10 needed) To reduce class size, the school would like to have some classes meet outside. They need sturdy, portable chalkboards for outdoors.
Globes
Library Books The school would like to start a library. They need childrens books, reference books, etc. Enough to get a small library started.
English Text Books Needed for ALL standards (grades 1-8)
Social Studies Text Books Nedded for standards 5 and 8 (equivalent to grades 5 and 8)
Math Text Books Needed for standards 6, 7, 8
Teachers’ Guides ALL subjects, ALL grade levels
Teaching Aids Charts for walls (alphabet, shapes, numbers, times tables, etc)
Art Supplies Crayons, paper, markers, scissors, etc.

Zolozolo Full Primary School

Head Teacher (Principal): Mrs. G.A. Kachali
Student Population: 2,423
Grade Levels: Standards 1-8 (equivalent of 1-8 grades)
Age Range: 5-18 yrs old
Classrooms: 12 (6 additional classes meet outside under the shade of a tree)
Students/Teacher ratio: 80/1
Desks: Only for students in standards 5-8

CURRICULUM
Agriculture English Mathematics
Social Studies Science Chichewa Language
Creative Arts Physical Education Needle Crafts

Matope Junior Primary School

Head Teacher (Principal): Mr. Mwamkenenge
Student Population: 500
Grade Levels: Standards 1-2 (equivalent of 1-2 grades)
Age Range: 5-8 yrs old
Classrooms: meet in a church with two rooms (4 classes in the big room, 1 class in smaller room (2 additional classes meet outside, head teacher’s office is a closet)
Student/Teacher ratio: 60/1
Desks: 0
Chairs: 0
Benches: 30
Karonga Girls Secondary School

Acting Head Master: Mr. Chipapa Phiri
Student Population: 324
Grade Levels: Forms 1-4 (equivalent of 9-12 grades)
Age Range: 13-21 yrs old
Classrooms: 6 (w/ electricity 220v)
Students /teacher ratio: 80/1
On average the school has about 1 book per 6 students in each subject area.

St. Peter’s Private Secondary School

Acting Head Mistress: Mrs. Jen Whitlock
Student Population: 450
Grade Levels: Jr. Secondary – Sr. Secondary (equivalent of 6-12 grades)
Age Range: 12-21 yrs old
Library with shelves and lots of books...problem is that they have received a lot of books that have irrelevant or out-of-date material and are not usable.

The Box Project

marissa — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 06:18:50 -0500

Our so called “Box Project” involves a large shipment of humanitarian aid supplies that will be delivered to Malawi through collaboration between World Care International and the University of Arizona. World Care is directed and founded by Lisa Hopper, a former teacher, who has experience shipping aid supplies to more than 30 different countries over the last ten years. Hopper and her volunteers are especially experts in getting books and school supplies into the hands of children and communities in developing countries.

This will be World Care’s first shipment to Malawi, for which they are partnering with Dr. Wayne Decker and his International Studies students from the University of Arizona. Three students are responsible for fundraising the $15,000 needed to cover transport costs, while World Care will provide all of the supplies to fill a 40ft shipping container. This is serious business!

As many of you know, Jon and I are both graduates of the International Studies program and remain in close contact with Dr.Decker. We have been recruited to receive and distribute the aid supplies while we are here in Malawi. Currently we are doing our ground work to understand the transportation network from ports in Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa to Malawi (a land-locked country with a minimally functional rail system). We are also assessing needs in the areas of education, health and technology to inform World Care of supplies that would been most appropriate.

Check back for updates on fundraising, shipping, distribution and plans for future shipments to Malawi.