Sandra in Malawi 2022

I was supposed to go with Dan and Charles to each of the remaining preschools to deliver the supplies.  Dan was unavailable because of the water tank emergency, so I went with Charles, and Lawrence drove us in the truck. We managed to get them all done. Just!

Here's the toys and equipment each pre-school got:

Saying goodbye at Matete 2 preschool:

The new design sleep system and corner chair supports for Caroline, were taken there this morning. They work really well. I am very pleased with my new design. I will have to patent it!

One very happy little girl in her corner chair, (now able to sit up and see the world instead of lying flat on the floor) with Matilda and Emma

We are very busy packing this afternoon, trying to get all our suitcases to weigh no more than 23 kg.  It’s a struggle, as we are bringing back so many chitenjis which weigh a lot.

I went back to Nkhata Bay, one hour’s drive away, to pick up the drums. All but one was ready.

They are really lovely. I am so pleased with them.

I got back from lunch and went down to Kachere for the disability group and to say goodbye to Matilda.

We had a lovely afternoon swim which was much needed, as we don’t have any running water this evening, as the water tank is split and had to be emptied, so it could be patched temporarily, until a new one can be sourced.

Up early, to swim. What a wonderful sunrise we had this morning

I spent a busy morning sorting out the bags for each preschool and filling in the book for them to sign.

We went up to Katherine’s for a traditional lunch, which was cooked on a changu (cook stove made of mud) instead of a three stone fire which uses three times more firewood and is dangerous to children, getting burns.

Teamwork:

Nikki helped to make samosas.

We had a wonderful sunrise. Four of us made the trip to Mzuzu today. We went to the bank (essential) and then the Chitenje market (also essential) then the supermarket (even more essential).

I also found some shape sorters and stacking cups in Mzuzu for the preschools.

We stopped in Nkhata Bay to pick up the drums… Only one was done, but it is fabulous. I am so impressed with my beautiful drum, it sounds fabulous.

We got back just in time for "team building" (drinks) at Lowani:

Followed by the beatiful moon rise:

Dan and I delivered the toys and equipment to two of the preschools and he had them sign for each item in his new Equipment Book, so hopefully this will stop them growing legs.

Here's the first instalment of preschool toys:

I think the dolls will be well loved:

I popped up to the “Forest” to keep an eye on my trees. Kapanda Senior School is expanding rapidly, doubling the number of pupils in the next five years. They are doing a lot of building work, so using the trees for timber. They are replanting as they go, so it is working exactly as I had hoped.

I spent the afternoon designing and making a sleep system for Caroline, who has severe scoliosis, and padding for her chair. They are made of foam covered with breathable waterproof material

The carpenter came to finish off the wheelchairs and we were able to deliver them to the family, so the youngest can go back to school. The oldest girl has a one-year-old baby boy.

The eldest sibling with her baby, glad to get her wheelchair back:

We passed a “house” where someone was living.

The bedding is on the floor. It’s hard to believe that someone could exist there. I suppose it keeps the rain off.

In the afternoon, we all went down to a lodge south of here at Ngala, for a pizza evening. It was lovely.

The lake is nice and calm again, so it was lovely for swimming.

I can’t believe how fast the time has gone. We fly home one week today! I just hope I can get everything done that I want to before then.

I spent the morning, and a part of the afternoon, with Charles (and driver of the truck, Lawrence) going to all the rest of the preschools making swings.

Ripple's trusty truck:

Some of the “roads” were unbelievable, and we certainly need four-wheel drive.

We went to pick up the wheelchairs from the carpenter, but they were chained up and he was nowhere to be seen, so Lawrence went later and got them.

He still hasn’t finished mending the walker or put the new wheels on the other one.

We thought we saw a hippo in the lake, but looking at the photos later, think it was just a rock.

We saw the most wonderful moonrise.

The Ripple team, from the office in Buckingham, arrive today, so I shall have more stuff to sort out tomorrow. All the things that I passed on because my luggage was at maximum weight and lots more that they have brought.

We all fly back together in a week. I can’t believe that we have been here five weeks already. It’s really not long enough.

I visited three more preschools today, and made swings for them. Unfortunately, most of them are still on holiday so no children were there. On the plus side, no little people to humbug the proceedings.

I left my phone at home, so no photos!

The gardeners have made a big bonfire on the beach to get rid of the fallen leaves and bamboo.

I managed to get the swings sorted for Matete preschool, so not a total waste of a day. But the wheelchairs are nearly back from the carpenter and tomorrow I will go with Charles to a few more preschools to sort out the swings.

This what the swings will look like - It’s amazing what you can do with a piece of rope and a bit of hosepipe:

They have 4 removable swings, so can be hung up when preschool is on and locked away when not. Unfortunately they rapidly grow legs if left unattended for a moment

The Lake has calmed down at last, so our swim was a little less boisterous.

There was a mobile clinic for baby vaccinations, which I attended.

All babies here get MMR, whooping cough and polio vaccines. The parents get fined if they don’t attend. They also get fined if they deliver their baby outside of a hospital or midwife-run clinic.

Four of us went to Kachere Kastle for lunch and a chill.

It was a lovely restful day - no photos.