Just a few days ago, Malawians lived in fear about what would happen to them next following the 20th July, 2011, riots. The streets were abnormally empty. Banks remained closed for two days and businesses came to a stand still - I didn’t expect this to happen within such a short period.During the 20th July, 2011 demonstrations which spilled over to 21st July, 19 people were reported dead across the country and a lot of property was damaged. The president just five days after the...
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For the January token, we presented a video shot entirely on location near and in Kafukule Secondary School which focused on education and featured students (and even some locals).  The filming took a good solid two days and the administrators and students at Kafukule were very accommodating.  But with no Internet access, the students did not have an opportunity to see the video – and themselves and their friends – when we posted it on the Join My Village web site.  So with a laptop...
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The twister came across Malawi on July 20, 2011.  Earlier this month, President Mutharika announced to the nation that he would hold a public lecture on 20th July, 2011 about current fuel shortages, inadequacy of foreign currency and issues of governance.  Contrary to the expectations of the president that all interested parties and civil society organizations would attend  his lecture where they can share their concerns, most human rights organizations decided to take to the street on Wednesday and march in protest to his lecture.  ...
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What is so encouraging and inspiring to see in my work is the whole family benefiting from the innovations, especially in our more than 240 Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups that Join My Village has established and trained.  But little did I know that true sisters would be in the same group – many of them.Maureen and Evelyn are sisters who are in the Chikondi VSLA in the village of Tembwe.  They shared with me how they found themselves in one group- I...
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When I go through the list of scholars under Join My Village, I often find girls with the same surnames (last names).  As a Malawian, I am aware of the common clan and family names that exist in our country due to extended families. You could for instance find so many ‘Phiri’s’ in opposite parts of the country that are not related at all but finding Phiri’s in the same community usually means they are in fact related.  Mtisunge Foster Phiri and Chitsimiko Foster Phiri...
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