The Amai Athanzi Project

More photos from Malawi...

2008-11-30T05:56:00.000-08:00

UPDATE

2008-11-14T01:03:00.000-08:00

Emily and I returned from a very successful research trip at the end of September (SEE PHOTOS BELOW - PREVIOUS POST). We met with people at the District Hospital and with the community in Chisala and this project is ready to move forward. We have signed agreements with everyone involved - the District Hospital will be providing the contractor and labour for the building project and will equip and maintain the hospital once built. They will also hire a Medical Assistant (Doctor) for the clinic. The community has agreed to make 250,000 bricks (and have already started!) and will provide sand and water (necessary for making cement) as well as labour when we start the project. Our job is to raise the approximately $80,000/£40,000 for the supplies! We have a long way to go but are already on our way. Please contact me if you want to help or get involved with the project!

2008-11-13T23:59:00.001-08:00

RESEARCH TRIP PHOTOS

This is a group of expecting mothers we met while we were visiting other maternity clinics in the Nhkata Bay District. These women were staying at the guardian shelter where women and their families come and live when they are a few weeks away from giving birth. This saves them walking miles while in labour!

This group of women are listening to a speaker at the District Hospital - here they about pre-natal and ante-natal care, family planning, care for under HIV/AIDS, PMTCT (prevention of mother to child transmission) and much, much more. It is an excellent program which we will implement at the Chisala maternity clinic.

Baby weighing - this is good practice because it assures that babies are growing at the right rate. If they are not - it could mean they are sick or not getting the proper nutrition.

A young boy waits to be seen by nurses

Lunch Time! (How cute is that face?!?)

A young child and mother

Woman leaving Ante-natal Clinic

The Kawalazi Tea Plantation - this is near Chisala

The Market in Nhkata Bay

Chitenjes - this is some of the colourful fabric worn by women and used for everything from carrying babies to carrying laundry.

A woman carries her son and fire wood

Chisala - a tree grows on an ant hill

Usipa (oo-seepa)! It is sold at the market in small piles

A woman selling bananas in Nhkata Bay

A Guardian Shelter - look at all those women waiting to give birth!

A woman in Chisala makes Nsima - this is the staple food, sort of like polenta. It is a very heavy food and has almost no nutritional value - it's served with vegetables, beans, tofu pieces and sometimes meat.

Coffin Shop in Nhkata Bay

A girl we met in the street - we gave her a little plastic necklace

Meeting with the Chiefs and Village Headmen

The Village Headmen listen as we discuss plans for the Maternity Clinic

Surveying the location of the buildings

Our friends, Mr Bokosi and Mr Banda (Deputy District Health Officer) from the District Hospital - we couldn't have done our research trip with out them!

Equipment at a maternity clinic we visited

Birthing Tables

Baby Weighing Area

Cake Sale

2008-08-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

Today Emily and I baked nearly 300 individual cake type things to sell tomorrow at mine and Andy's office. We are exhausted! It took nearly 8 hours, but it's O-V-E-R! Let's hope it pays off. I never want to bake again!!!

SUCCESS!

2008-08-03T08:21:00.000-07:00

I hardly have the energy to write, but the 14 mile race is finished. It was hilly, more like a hike than a run! But we completed it in about 2hrs 35minutes, which I think is an incredible feat considering how difficult it was. We raised nearly £200 for The Amai Anthazi Project and I couldn't be more proud. Thanks to all who supported us.

Fundraising - The Milland Valley 14

2008-07-27T00:44:00.000-07:00

Next Sunday I'm going to be running a 14-mile race in Liphook to raise money for the project. This will be the longest I've ever run (last year I did a half-marathon, 13.1 miles). I signed up for this race because I thought it would be a little more challenging, but I missed this part of the race website which says:

"The terrain is hilly and the long race is particularly tough. Taking place in August, the weather can also be hot although water stations are provided along the route."

Hmm...so it's longer and more difficult.

Anyway, pray for me! Also if anyone would like to sponsor me, that would be wonderful. Please get in touch with me if you're interested. Thanks!

Who We Are...

2008-07-24T05:58:00.000-07:00

At this point...people working for the project are myself (Maggy) and my dear friend, Emily. We both have an interest in International Development and are looking to channel this energy into something real, like this project. So right now, the project consists of two 25 year old women, who think they have it in them to pull this off!
When I left Malawi in December, I had asked two men in Chisala if they would oversee the project when it came time to start building. I asked them for two reasons. They were both heavily involved in the project I was working on at at the time and were more reliable and trustworthy than anyone I'd met during my time there. They are also well respected in the community and they know the politics of this small Malawian village. They know how to make things happen. These two men are Douglas Gondwe and Chipulouha Banda (the 2 men on the right.)

The Beginning

2008-07-24T05:24:00.000-07:00

This is the start of what I know will be a very long and arduous journey...in every way. From researching and fund-raising to project planning and finally overseeing the project in Malawi. But we're so excited to work with this amazing community and provide them with the maternity ward that their clinic so desperately needs.
The idea for this project was conceived in December 2007 when I went to Malawi the first time and hopefully the project will be completed by December 2009. We are going to need all the help, support, ideas and money(!) we can get.