Recovering from our 24 hour journey in Mtunthama and Kamuso Academy...
Base: St. Peter’s House in Mtunthama
Breakfast at St Peter's House: delicious creamy porridge with honey and sliced banana, peanut butter on toast and a cup of tea.
We met Monica an inspirational retired teacher who is educating girls about menstrual health and reusable sanitary wear. Girls in some areas would rub mud on themselves to try and stop the bleeding (as they would with a cut or wound) or would miss school completely.
We visited All Saints Secondary Modern in Mtunthama village and met the headteacher Michael and many staff. We visited the library and science rooms. Students were washing and sweeping the floors on the raised corridor areas and many students were sat in groups. Children in the classrooms were calling out and waving from the classrooms as we were quite a distraction.
We saw a huge church in the village that hadn’t been finished with roof and windows owing to a lack of funds - but it was cathedral like in scale.
We went to St Andrews Hospital in Mtunthama and met the one doctor for the area, Dr Shalwyn. It had a paediatric ward, laboratory, maternity ward and there were guardians to feed and wash patients - doctor and nurses do treatments only. There was a nutrition wing for malnourished childrenand we saw a young heavily pregnant girl outside.
Lunch at St Peter's House: tomato sandwiches, crisps and doughnuts. Tea.
We were joined at lunch time by the neighbours' children who just wandered in. They said "we just want to watch you white guys!" We gave them colour pencils to use and one little boy wore my cap.
We then went to Mtunthama market to sort out phone sims. There were meat stalls, bars, deep fried chips, superette, parade for local church with huge amplifiers in pick up truck.
Went to Kamuso Academy for a tour. We saw the music, art and ICT rooms. We saw the teachers accommodation and went to the club for a swim and a cold drink.
Dinner at St Peter's house: pasta, vegetables, beef casserole rice. Fruit & tea.
Kasungo mountain is visible from garden. Orange and red sunset.