The Malawi Project
- Pardon our mess this page under construction -
Malawi is known as the "Warm Heart of Africa." This special project is located not far from the capital city of Lilongwe in Sankahani Village. The government school campus had fallen into great disrepair over many years. BTCV was introduced to local community activist the Rev. Lawrence Benedicto. Together with the community and school staff our teams have been restoring the total campus. This work is improving the education opportunities for students in over 30 villages and sub villages served by this school.
Introduction – about the host, country and their role in the
community. Hello everyone, I am Lawrence Benedicto, a church Minister
and a project partner for Be The Change Volunteers. I've been
in a good working relationship with the BTCV for over 7 years
now, and I am a living testimony for all what the organisation
does. I'm a Malawian national and our project site is at
Sankhani Primary School located in the outskirts of the city of
Lilongwe about 14m , it is situated at the northwest of the
capital city in chief Njewa's Area. My role in the community is
to mobilise them by organising meetings with them and the
school staff these includes the head teacher and his team as
well as the school development committee. I encourage them
to be responsible for every school property and including all
what Be The Change Volunteers has done for them. 1. How did you find out about Be The Change Volunteers? I came
to know about Be The Change Volunteers in 2012 by then I was
volunteering for another ministry called Invest Inc. And we have
an American lady by the name Bethany Slangon who has known
the co-founders of the organisation Jimi and Cristi Cook as the
was a student at the University of Missouri. She told me about
their mission and linked me up with them. In 2013 we have had
our first project at our school. 2. What circumstances led you to reaching out for aid? What was
the biggest challenge you were facing?
My community has one of the high populated area and our
school has been facing a lot of challenges in terms of poor learning
environment, lack of good classroom, a need of other facilities like a
library and teachers houses, all these prompted me to reach the
organisation board for aid. The school building was in a bad state
and we have had a lot most every student seating on the floor due to
lack of desks for almost all of them were brocken. 3. How has this program made an impact in your community? This
program has made a great impact in my community for it has
been able to reach into the areas whereby the community and
the government hasn't been able to do. Over the past few years, we've experienced a great change in terms of developments at
our school the constructing of a school library, new window
frames which has given a chance to our learners have a good
learning environment, building of lamps to give access to the
disabled students, fixing of the transparent sheets on the roof
to give the classrooms enough light good for students all these
the community alone wouldn't be able to do. The program has
helped us so much and we are thankful. Not only the help on
the school project, but the organising has helped to raise
money and support the students who are hard working in class
so they can continue with their studies by paying for their
school fees as well as all their school supplies. This is a great
change this organisation is doing worldwide. 4. Can you tell us about a specific learner who has benefited from
the program? We have a number of students benefited and are
still benefiting from the program, but Rebbecca Benedicto has
benefited a lot as she's doing her 3rd year at college studying
Bussiness Managiment. 5. Now that they’ve gone through this program, what’s their life
like? What is their outlook for the future? Now that they've gone
through this program and are still in the program, their life is
very promising. And they are ready to contribute to the
community and of course their own lives for they will be self
reliant and become good citizens of the country. 6. What do you think other people should know about this
organization? Of course other people should know about this
amazing organisation called Be The Change Volunteers for it is
a great life challenging organisation which has transformed
many communities worldwide in terms of education. I therefore
give my recommendation to everyone who want to know about
this great organisation. 7. With so many great organisations to support, why should other
volunteers choose to support this mission? With many great
organisations worldwide, other volunteers should choose to
support this mission for the following reasons (a) Be The
Change Volunteers is very transparent and accountability, (b)
Their support is 100% benefiting the need. (c) you can be
assured for what they do for all the projects carried are visible. (d) the boarder of directors and the co-founders hearts is for
the people's need. 8. Is there a particular moment or memory that stands out for you
from the builds? The moments that always stands are 1. The
time I met part of the team which came on the first project, the
Columbia Independent Schools (CIS) students at Jimi and Cristi
Cook's residents and seeing all of them came. 2. The library
which was our first build by the team which was dedicated to
the late young girl who died of HIV aids related diseases for she
was born positive. Annie Grace Kamwendo Memorial Library
stands in my mind always. 3. The commitment of every team
member in all the works done. 9. How did it feel when you met the team for the first time? When I
met the team for the first time, I felt like I was dreaming. For I
didn't expect to host such a great team in my life and that just
came life a dream coming true. I was full of joy and
nervousness. But all it all it was a great honour to have the
team on the ground and see the project being accomplished. 10. In what way(s) are you a different person today because of the
organisation?
There's a number of ways I am a different person because of this organisation.
(a) I have learned to be a focused person and be determined on what I want to do. (b) hard working spirit, looking forward to facing all the challenges and believe that
everything is possible. (c) I have an awesome experience to see well educated people working with the
local community forgetting all their honors. (d) Great people like Jimi and Cristi Cook, Grant Venable, Linda Carl, Derby
Waggoner, John Hendrix, Doug Willet , Uncle Al ust to mention a few. These great
people work and very dedicated in every moment and every day of the week without
getting exhausted. I am a total changed people learning from these people's
experiences.
community. Hello everyone, I am Lawrence Benedicto, a church Minister
and a project partner for Be The Change Volunteers. I've been
in a good working relationship with the BTCV for over 7 years
now, and I am a living testimony for all what the organisation
does. I'm a Malawian national and our project site is at
Sankhani Primary School located in the outskirts of the city of
Lilongwe about 14m , it is situated at the northwest of the
capital city in chief Njewa's Area. My role in the community is
to mobilise them by organising meetings with them and the
school staff these includes the head teacher and his team as
well as the school development committee. I encourage them
to be responsible for every school property and including all
what Be The Change Volunteers has done for them. 1. How did you find out about Be The Change Volunteers? I came
to know about Be The Change Volunteers in 2012 by then I was
volunteering for another ministry called Invest Inc. And we have
an American lady by the name Bethany Slangon who has known
the co-founders of the organisation Jimi and Cristi Cook as the
was a student at the University of Missouri. She told me about
their mission and linked me up with them. In 2013 we have had
our first project at our school. 2. What circumstances led you to reaching out for aid? What was
the biggest challenge you were facing?
My community has one of the high populated area and our
school has been facing a lot of challenges in terms of poor learning
environment, lack of good classroom, a need of other facilities like a
library and teachers houses, all these prompted me to reach the
organisation board for aid. The school building was in a bad state
and we have had a lot most every student seating on the floor due to
lack of desks for almost all of them were brocken. 3. How has this program made an impact in your community? This
program has made a great impact in my community for it has
been able to reach into the areas whereby the community and
the government hasn't been able to do. Over the past few years, we've experienced a great change in terms of developments at
our school the constructing of a school library, new window
frames which has given a chance to our learners have a good
learning environment, building of lamps to give access to the
disabled students, fixing of the transparent sheets on the roof
to give the classrooms enough light good for students all these
the community alone wouldn't be able to do. The program has
helped us so much and we are thankful. Not only the help on
the school project, but the organising has helped to raise
money and support the students who are hard working in class
so they can continue with their studies by paying for their
school fees as well as all their school supplies. This is a great
change this organisation is doing worldwide. 4. Can you tell us about a specific learner who has benefited from
the program? We have a number of students benefited and are
still benefiting from the program, but Rebbecca Benedicto has
benefited a lot as she's doing her 3rd year at college studying
Bussiness Managiment. 5. Now that they’ve gone through this program, what’s their life
like? What is their outlook for the future? Now that they've gone
through this program and are still in the program, their life is
very promising. And they are ready to contribute to the
community and of course their own lives for they will be self
reliant and become good citizens of the country. 6. What do you think other people should know about this
organization? Of course other people should know about this
amazing organisation called Be The Change Volunteers for it is
a great life challenging organisation which has transformed
many communities worldwide in terms of education. I therefore
give my recommendation to everyone who want to know about
this great organisation. 7. With so many great organisations to support, why should other
volunteers choose to support this mission? With many great
organisations worldwide, other volunteers should choose to
support this mission for the following reasons (a) Be The
Change Volunteers is very transparent and accountability, (b)
Their support is 100% benefiting the need. (c) you can be
assured for what they do for all the projects carried are visible. (d) the boarder of directors and the co-founders hearts is for
the people's need. 8. Is there a particular moment or memory that stands out for you
from the builds? The moments that always stands are 1. The
time I met part of the team which came on the first project, the
Columbia Independent Schools (CIS) students at Jimi and Cristi
Cook's residents and seeing all of them came. 2. The library
which was our first build by the team which was dedicated to
the late young girl who died of HIV aids related diseases for she
was born positive. Annie Grace Kamwendo Memorial Library
stands in my mind always. 3. The commitment of every team
member in all the works done. 9. How did it feel when you met the team for the first time? When I
met the team for the first time, I felt like I was dreaming. For I
didn't expect to host such a great team in my life and that just
came life a dream coming true. I was full of joy and
nervousness. But all it all it was a great honour to have the
team on the ground and see the project being accomplished. 10. In what way(s) are you a different person today because of the
organisation?
There's a number of ways I am a different person because of this organisation.
(a) I have learned to be a focused person and be determined on what I want to do. (b) hard working spirit, looking forward to facing all the challenges and believe that
everything is possible. (c) I have an awesome experience to see well educated people working with the
local community forgetting all their honors. (d) Great people like Jimi and Cristi Cook, Grant Venable, Linda Carl, Derby
Waggoner, John Hendrix, Doug Willet , Uncle Al ust to mention a few. These great
people work and very dedicated in every moment and every day of the week without
getting exhausted. I am a total changed people learning from these people's
experiences.