August 7, 2009 - “Biggers has a big wide smile…”

Today was amazing. First, let me give you some background as briefly as I can…

When we were here in March 2007 we met a woman by the name of Judith who, along with some other women in the community, had started feeding breakfast to orphans. Many people in the area had died as a result of AIDS so there were a lot of children left behind. The program expanded to include dinner as well as caring for seniors. The women were raising funds through a variety of means…gathering and selling sticks for firewood, selling paraffin etc. CPAR got involved with them thru a government AIDS initiative. CPAR had been chosen to implement it because of their track record working in Malawi. I still remember Judith’s words, when asked why she was going to all this effort. She said she wanted to help those less fortunate than her. That really struck me because it’s not like she is all that well off herself.

In addition to a young son of her own (Biggers) still at home, she was raising three of her deceased daughter’s children, which included toddler twins. We met that day under a thatched roof held up by sticks. Her son Biggers handed me a note on which he’d written “Will you be my friend?” and I was instantly smitten. I have kept in touch with Judith and Biggers on occasion since that meeting. And, Biggers is mentioned in the song I wrote called ‘Little Child Big World’.

Fast forward to August 2009. We arrive at the Tawonga (Chitumbuka word meaning “we are grateful”) CBO (Community Based Organization, a government sanctioned org.) and instead of the thatched roof structure there is a beautiful new large brick one. Chairs are set up for us visitors so we go in and sit down while folks are assembling. While chatting with Allan I look over his shoulder and see a young boy shyly looking at me, and I say “Is that you Biggers?” and he smiles that beautiful smile of his and comes running over to hug me. I could barely hold it together. He’s 13 now and in Form 1 at school and an excellent student. Still cute as ever. Apparently he wants to be a lawyer. By now a bunch of other kids had arrived and he led the others in some songs for us. Judith arrived and there were more hugs and more songs! Dwight got some of the songs on video and I am anxious to watch them again. There’s one that’s stuck in my head…”Do what I do, walk like I do, walk like I do. Do what I do, dance like I do, dance like I do. Do what I do, clap like I do, clap like I do.” and so on. It was so adorable to see the little nursery school kids following along doing all the motions.

(Above) Me and Biggers

So, the group is now a full fledged successful CBO and has made incredible gains in a few short years. In addition to the 76 orphans and 41 seniors relying on them for care, they provide home based care for the infirmed, and counselling for people living with AIDS. In addition to feeding the orphans, they pay school fees for the older ones. They grow their own crops…we went to see the crops, which involved a long walk through some rather rugged lowlands in the hot sun. But I can’t complain because these folks make that trek every Tuesday to work the fields, and while we drove part of the way today, they normally walk all of the way.

(Above) Me and Judith

This group is a great example of how community members, working together can achieve so much. We spent the whole day with them. The morning was overviews of the various programs they have, complete with testimonials from beneficiaries. For example, Lydia an 80 woman, proudly got up and demonstrated, on the blackboard, how she could write her name. Then she told us how she used to have to rely on other people when she went to the post office to sign for her but now she does it on her own and she no longer gets cheated out of money because she knows how to count. She was such a sweetie. Another woman, Melafi, 49 years old, told how she became very sick in 2007 and the group encouraged her to go for HIV testing. She did and found out she was positive. The group then provided her with support, counselling, and access to ARV drugs, the combination of which she says saved her life and helped her realized her diagnosis wasn’t the end of the world. We also heard from a young man (17 years old) named Issac who is an orphan and for the past 3 years has been receiving assistance from the group to pay his school fees. He is in his final year of school (Form 4) and hopes to someday be a doctor. We were blown away by what we saw that morning. The afternoon was spent visiting their fields and a recipient of home care services.

(Above) The gang at Tawonga

When we broke for lunch we, along with Joseph and Allabi, headed over to Mum’s again. What a great little place. We had about 15 minutes to spare before heading back to Towanga so we took a stroll of the main street of the business area. A young man approached us asking if we’d like to look at (i.e. buy) some of his paintings. He was so charming we agreed and sat down on the step of a store to look through what he had. One of his paintings caught my eye immediately…a man playing a guitar-like instrument and a woman singing. A Malawian Sue and Dwight! Had to have it and a few others. Being the expert negotiators we are, we most certainly overpaid. Two hints…1) Jim, the artist, threw in another one for free, and 2) he couldn’t thank us enough, saying this would really help him and his family to eat.

(Above) Dwight and Jim

Then it was back to the CPAR office for a debrief and to say our goodbyes to another great bunch of people. At the end of the day, on our way back to the hotel we drove past that repaired borehole well that I wrote about yesterday…and were excited to see people using it. So Dwight hopped out of the car and took some pictures. I waited in the car on the highway and a bunch of kids came running over. Some who were there yesterday were doing a strumming motion with their hands like they were playing guitar, when they saw me. So sweet.

Another beautiful sunset and traditional fare dinner and we sat there, as the waves on Lake Malawi crashed against the shore, lamenting the fact that tomorrow we start heading for home.