On to Better Things, Japanese sTyLe.

So living in Zomba is great but I sometimes feel that living out here with all the socializing is taking me away from the reasons I came to Malawi in the first place. Which was really to learn about the country, learn about aquaculture and to help the people in some way. So instead of spending soo much time worrying about the weekend’s events I thought I would start thinking about the issues.

This weekend I’ve decided to ditch my partying friends and join Isa, the Japanese volunteer, in her school event. Saturday morning I left early in the morning to meet Isa and a bus full of Japanese volunteers. These volunteers were on average positioned for 2 years, doing everything from helping revise school curriculum’s and capacity build to teach tailoring or mechanics to people with disabilities.
The ride in the morning was as interesting as it was entertaining. Along with 10 Japanese volunteers, I met a few important Malawian dignitaries, such as the minister of education and the MP for the region. Point of interest: the minister of education was a female!

Anyways merrily we went along, to a remote village location where a secondary school was preparing for the festivities. The Japanese, headed by Isa and another volunteer named Muki, had organized a morning of science and math competitions that was designed to help the kids think through problems and solve them creatively. Hase-san one of the volunteers, showed the kids how to create a hot-air balloon and it was absolutely fantastic. I have never seen someone put more emotion into demonstration, except maybe Bill Nye the Science guy. The students ate everything up and even the on looking younger kids got into the science behind the demonstrations. I even saw one, perhaps 8 year old kid, draw in the dirt the mechanics behind constructing a hot air balloon.

The afternoon was lead by Isa, and it was full of fun sports. The activities that were geared to show the kids that many things can be done without any equipment. I assisted in the demonstrations and had fun showing them everything from limbo to arm linked tug of war.

In the end the day was a success on many levels. African schools are often plagued by students that wait for direction and lack enthusiasm. In class they are often taught down to. So they are very yes sir, no sir and try not to participate unless they are sure they a) have to and b) that they are right. But this informal education/ fun activity really had them problem solving and some stepped out of thier shell and tried (usually with some wrongish methods) but they tried!

Whats more is that they had fun without balls and courts (a usual malawian kid misconception).
Isa is planning a race at the local Domasi elementary school soon and I will help with that aswell!