Workshop 2: Liz Lithgow of Dawlish College working with Balaka Secondary School on Gender Equality
Breakfast Liwonde Safari Camp: Muesli and fruit (with the additional protein from a caterpillar) Drove for just over half an hour to Balaka Secondary school. Greeted by head teacher Catherine, Benedict, Helmes and Loveness. We were introduced to all of the teaching staff in the staff room and were made to feel very welcome.
I taught 52 children and Becci and Gaby worked with approximately 40 children next door on the topic of fauna and flora - the life of the River Exe. The children had never worked with art materials before and were warmed up gently to test their stencil, cutting and sticking skills.
The importance of education was highlighted in providing the opportunity for choice and the children were asked to think towards their future life goals and aspirations with a view to producing their own propaganda as a daily motivator to achieve it. I encouraged very apprehensive teachers to join in also so they would feel confident in using the art materials in the future.
We looked a differences between the UK and Malawi and spoke about how different the UK was 50 or 60 years ago. Big changes can happen with small steps! I also highlighted the number of female role models we have in UK society and schools.
There are 470 students at the boarding school but not enough mattresses to go around. The kitchen has been upgraded and finished but there is no money for electricity so they cook on 3 stoves in playground. Children eat nsima and beans everyday. There is no running water it is all accessed from a borehole.
Lunch at Balaka Market: vegetarian pizza with pink sauce, super spicy chillies and added chicken!
After the workshop we went into Balaka market to buy patterned fabric and enamel ware.
We went back to the safari camp for about 4 pm to rest on the deck. We waited very patiently for bout 1.5 hours whilst watching the sunset and then suddenly 15 elephants passed by after dark. It was a completely clear night we saw shooting stars and the Milky Way was bright. All the constellations are different in the Southern Hemisphere so the sky looked quite strange.
Dinner at Liwonde Safari Camp: veggie pasta