Bekah's Volunteering Experience
"I have been living and breathing Malawi for the last 5 weeks. What the Mbedza team are doing here to support the local communities and young people goes far beyond what you and I could ever imagine. Just speaking to the staff overwhelms you with the pride, joy and passion bubbling out of every fibre of their being. They’re proud capable people intent on giving their community somewhere to learn, love and laugh."
"I came here with an open mind of what to expect, of what I could gain and what I would learn through my experience here at Mbedza, with each day educating me a little bit more."
"I arrived shattered, as most do after a tremendously long flight and very little sleep, but was immediately introduced to a warm group of lovely people. After a lovely evening I welcomed a good nights sleep and consequently, learnt my first lesson in Malawian culture."
"For those who are unaware, dogs are fairly common in Malawi, but not quite as we’ve grown up to understand here. They’re either strays or guard dogs for protection, and right outside the gap house is a little hang out area. I’ve come to imagine this hangout a bit like the American cartoon, Top Cat. All the cool dogs meeting up and playing their instruments, except instead of instruments they howl for a really long time over the top of each other, not really in tune and quite often in the middle of the night. But the image is good and I’ve rather grown quite fond of it."
"One of my first lessons with Abi (my absolute lifeline) was learning to take a taxi. Terrifying the first time, but I reckon I’m an old pro these days and it's become a source of many an interesting story. I actually think I’ve had more interesting taxi rides than some of the locals, although that’s probably because I’ve no idea what’s going on until it actually happens. Some of those stories involve, switching to multiple vehicles, hiding drivers, confiscated vehicles and many more."
"My work, while out there, involved helping out with the youth ambassadors and teaching English to the MOSES students. My favourite memories include some of the sessions I did with these young students, teaching them basketball and giving them a games afternoon full of competitiveness and laughter. I’ll never forget the wall sit, four of the students completed for 9 minutes. We even started piling weight on them because their fitness levels were too good and they were taking too long to start giving up!!"
"All of the programmes that Mbedza run are extremely important to those receiving the support, but one that particularly meant a lot to me was the Sanitary Project. To be able to provide girls and women in Malawi with the necessary kits to enable them to continue with their daily life when on their period is so important. These women and girls will now have the power to be able to continue to work, to earn money for their family, to look after their children and households in comfort, to go to school unaffected and confident that they have the equipment necessary to protect their modesty and overall continue to live their life uninhibited. So the work that the team and a dedicated group of ladies do every week, is truly inspirational."
"I am extremely grateful for my time in Zomba and for the Mbedza team for welcoming me in. I know that I will continue to support, donate and fundraise for this charity and I implore you to do the same. The work that is being done here has a massive impact and is giving a community a real sense of hope and pride. It’s extremely rewarding as a volunteer to see how the projects benefit the individuals who receive the support from Mbedza. Through their songs and smiles it's clear to see the tangible impact that Mbedza imparts on the lives and wellbeing of those who use it."