Bola Moyo ~ Better Life

Program Updates

2009-05-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for your continued and dedicated support of our growing programs over the months. Your support continues to be meaningful to us and our partners, as together we work toward a "better life" for all. We hope you enjoy reading the stories below and staying connected to the amazing women and youth who find community and hope through our programs.

Sincerely,
Dustin & Cara, Co-founders

Bola Moyo Youth Centre

The House of Many Stories Youth Centre has experienced unprecedented growth in the past few months. Last year we had about 20-50 youth attending per day, but recently we've often had more than 150 youth in attendance on any given day! The youth continue to experience our multi-faceted curriculum - including music, drama, art, debate, sports, and agricultural training - which is designed to engage them in creative problem-solving and critical thinking. Our recent growth indicates that our programs continue to fulfill a great need within the community.

Our Board Secretary, Desirée, recently took a trip to Balaka and had fun traveling to Najuchi in east Malawi on the train with a group of our youth. On this trip, Desirée, two Bola Moyo staff members, and many of our youth had the opportunity to see the Malawian countryside and even briefly visit Mozambique! This was quite the exciting trip for the youth, as many of them had never before had the opportunity to leave Balaka.
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ALiCE (Adult Literacy and Continuing Education)

ALiCE is proud to announce our first graduating class of Adult Education students, who passed their Standard 8 exams in Fall 2008! This year we continue to support Katherine, an ALiCE 2008 graduate (age 25 and married with two children), as she pursues her education at a secondary school in Balaka. In the future we hope we can support more students as they continue onto secondary school. Our new class of Standard 8 adult students can only be described as studious - perhaps even nerdy(!) - as they eagerly devour lessons in English, Mathematics, Chichewa, and Health Education every weekday at the Bola Moyo Center. The Adult Literacy School has also recently been flooded with new attendees, who came as a result of an announcement at the Balaka Muslim
Association. In Malawi there has traditionally been some animosity between Christians and Muslims. This is the first time for many of the women of these two groups to work together so closely, as they learn every day at the Bola Moyo Literacy School.

Visit Balaka Via Youtube!

2009-05-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

Check out some new videos of our Youth Centre here.

These were recorded by Desiree Cooper on her last trip to Malawi.

You can read more about her trip in the post below.

Letter from Desiree

2009-05-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

Moni Kwaonse!
Greetings to all!!

You may remember me from newsletters in previous years, first as an Intern and then as the Executive Assistant. Although I moved to England in summer 2007 to pursue a Masters in Development Management at the London School of Economics, my dedication to Bola Moyo has grown even stronger in the years since I left the Portland office. Now I serve as Secretary on Bola Moyo's Board of Directors, a role I have filled since Fall 2008. I've had the wonderful opportunity to take three trips to Malawi in the past year and a half.

I first visited Bola Moyo in Malawi in late 2007 during a break from the internship I had at that point in Kenya. Then I had the privilege to spend summer 2008 in Balaka working with Bola Moyo's staff to strengthen our Adult Education programming. Most recently, in March and April I had a five-week break from my graduate program in London, and I took the opportunity to spend a month in Balaka assessing all of our programs.

I'll admit that I was a bit nervous, since it was my first time without Dustin and Cara also there to hold my hand the whole way. But I'm happy to report that the trip turned out to be a rousing success. I had a wonderful time bonding with our Malawian program staff and participants. The youth centre and the adult education program are not only doing well, but are vibrant, alive, and kicking! More than ever before I am inspired by the dedication of our Malawian staff and participants, who have made our work in Balaka a continuous success.

Now I am back in London where I am busily writing my thesis on primary education in Malawi, but I'm already looking forward to the day that I can once again return to Balaka!

Lero Labwino
Have a great day!
Desiree Cooper

Rose Mbendera

2009-05-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

A Profile of our Adult Education Manager

Mrs. Mbendera is one of our newest employees, having joined Bola Moyo in Balaka in January 2008. Rose leads the adult literacy classes that take place in the afternoon every weekday at the Bola Moyo Center. The lessons she gives to our adult students include English, Mathematics, and Chichewa (the local language). Her students are generally women aged 16 to 65 who either had to drop out of school around 2nd or 3rd grade, or who never had the opportunity to attend school at all in the past.

Rose originally hales from Mchinji district in the far west of Malawi, although she spent many of her formative years in Zambia. She moved to Balaka in 1972 when she married her husband, who is a retired police officer. She has five adult sons.

Bola Moyo WomenRose was a housewife for 32 years, but after her children left home she decided to dedicate her life to promoting adult literacy and education in her community. She developed her own adult literacy program and curriculum, which she taught in Balaka with spirited dedication solely on a voluntary basis for six years. In early 2007, we decided she was so talented that we would swoop her up and give her a job to continue doing what she does best.

She also manages the Adult Education portion of ALiCE, where women who have reached at least Standard 5 can study a more formal curriculum to eventually take their Standard 8 exams. In the future we hope to expand the program to support students who want to go onto secondary school and beyond.

Rose is an invaluable employee who has been instrumental in the success of our adult education programs. Zikomo kwambiri (thanks very much), Rose!

Bola Moyo in Black and White

2009-03-06T12:35:00.000-08:00

Here are some great sketches of some wonderful times at Bola Moyo by Lawrence, one of our favorite Balaka artists.

Just Some of the Latest from Balaka, Malawi

2008-11-04T01:40:00.001-08:00

note: Sorry for the lack of pictures in this blog post. I'm posting this in Malawi and the connection is too slow to allow for the required uploading. -Dustin

Note from our Program Coordinator, Margaret Nandoli

Hello, Muli Bwanji (How are you)? My name is Margaret Nandoli, I am Bola Moyo’s Program Coordinator in Balaka. I am a widow with one child. I met Cara and Dustin Pattison in 2005 and in 2006 helped them start the projects here. I want to personally thank all of you in the US for your support of Bola Moyo. When we started the project we had no idea we would come this far. All the time, we are having more children join our youth centre and we are always hearing how happy the parents are of what the children are learning and who they are becoming. By being a part of our youth clubs, these children are able to keep away from more harmful behaviors and pastimes. Many of them are showing great potential, some in music, some in art, some in writing, and some in sports. We are also very joyful over the ‘Adult Education’ Program that began in January. It is headed by Rose Mbendera. She has registered a total of 48 women in this program and expects that, by next January, it will have grown even more. I want to thank you again for your support of these projects.

On behalf of the rest of Bola Moyo’s Malawian staff, we say ‘God bless you’ and ‘Moni kwaonse’ (Greetings to all).
Margaret Nandoli, Program Coordinator

Note from the Director

As I write this, I sit at the dining room table of the Bola Moyo house in Balaka, Malawi. Because the sitting and dining rooms are really one large space, I am surrounded by windows. If I look through the window to my right and strain my ears a bit, I can eavesdrop on the group of about 40 children who are debating and discussing the issue of deforestation in Malawi (‘The Environment’ is this week’s theme at the Youth Centre). If I turn my head to the left I see a group of 15 women, ranging in age from 20 to 65, sitting in the shade of what we like to call ‘the summer hut’. They are busy learning how to read and write. This is the ‘Adult Literacy’ group which is a part of our new ‘Adult Education’ Program. Looking straight ahead, I can marvel (yes, marvel) at the ingenuity and skill of the youth in our PRIDE Program who have erected a beautiful structure from local materials in our side yard, whose purpose is to provide a hospitable environment for growing edible mushrooms. This mushroom project is just one of the income-generating activities that are helping Bola Moyo move toward a self-sustaining future. All around the Bola Moyo house, one can feel the excitement and the strong sense of belonging that has developed around this place and these projects. Keep scrolling down the page to find several brief articles and stories meant to give you a sort-of snapshot image of what is going on here in Balaka. Enjoy!

Khalani Bwino,
Stay well,
Dustin Pattison, Director

Adult Education Update

In case you’ve not yet heard, we are excited to introduce you to our new Adult Education program! The idea for this program came from our Malawian staff as they recognized that many of the parents of the youth attending the Youth Centre did not know how to read or write. We went to these parents and asked them whether they might be interested in learning these skills and they said “Of course!” To head up this program, we hired Rose Mbendera, who has a stellar reputation in the Balaka community for her efforts in the area of Adult Literacy. These adult students are not only learning to read and write but, through this program, will be able to continue their studies up through a junior high level (and hopefully up through high school once we have enough teaching staff). Almost every one of the participants started formal schooling at one time or another but for various reasons were forced to drop out. Through participating in this program, students learn basic and valuable skills of reading and math that allow them to better navigate life in Malawi (buying and selling in the market, reading basic signs and prescription labels, etc.) and, what’s more, by continuing their otherwise thwarted educations, they will be able to fulfill dreams of making better wages and building a better life for themselves and their families. Our board member/volunteer from the US, Desiree Cooper has been working closely with this program and has been building relationships with the students, getting to know their individual situations and needs. Three of our students just took the 8th grade test that will get them into high school (Desiree has written a profile of two of these students, Martha and Violet, that you can read below). We are extremely excited about this and eager to hear the results when they are posted in late November. A big thank you to all our supporters for helping us get such a great and meaningful progam off the ground!

Adult Ed Profiles: Martha and Violet
By Desiree Cooper, Board Member

Martha and Violet are two students in Bola Moyo’s Adult Education program who took their Standard 8 (equivalent to 8th grade) exams in early September. In Malawi, every student must pass these exams before they are eligible for Secondary School. Martha and Violet attend classes at Bola Moyo every weekday afternoon in preparation for these exams. I adored seeing them both study so diligently, and I felt an immense sense of pride in Bola Moyo's work seeing them improve every day. They have built a strong friendship with each other and assist one another with their studies.

Violet, now aged 25, originally dropped out of Standard 8 back in 1999 because she fell ill and was too sick at that time to register and study for her exams. She married her husband in 2000 and now has two young children by him.

Martha, now aged 23, finished Standard 8 back in 2000; however, she never took the Standard 8 exams because her father died during the school year, and as often happens in Malawi, his relatives came to their home after he passed away and took all of their belongings. She then had no one to pay her exam fees. She married her husband in 2002, and like Violet, now has two young children. Her infant son, Limbani, comes with her every day to classes.

Both women began loyally attending Bola Moyo’s Adult Education classes back in mid-January, after they heard about the program from friends. They both badly wanted to continue their education, but they had never before had the time to attend regular school and didn't have the money for exam fees. Now they take classes in English, Science, Chichewa (Malawi's official language), Social Studies, and Mathematics. Martha's favorite subject is Social Studies and Violet's is Math.

After they receive the results of their Standard 8 exams and have found that they have passed, both women desire to go on to Secondary School. They both hope to obtain employment after completing Secondary School; specifically, Violet wants to be a secretary at a government institution and Violet plans to be a nurse.

All my best to Martha and Violet as they continue on this exciting journey!

Youth Centre Update

The Youth Centre continues to go strong. We’ve added new activities such as small-group lessons for guitar, keyboard, and drums. The youth are getting really excited about the upcoming year with its line-up of interesting and inspiring guest speakers and field trips. We’ve been receiving great news from the guardians of many of our youth as to how their children’s involvement with Bola Moyo is positively influencing their behaviors at home and performances in school. Because of our reputation within the district (which is sort of like a county) and the dedication of our youth, three girls from the Centre were chosen by the District Youth Office to go to the Capital City this next year to represent the District in what is called the National Youth Congress. Congratulations Chisomo, Grace, and Maria!

Our New Football (as in Soccer) and Netball Teams

This year, a group of boys from Bola Moyo, with the help of Mr. Ngumbi, a member of our youth staff, are forming a soccer team. Possibly, the girls will also be forming a netball team (netball is similar to basketball). They will play in leagues that include other youth clubs from throughout the District. These team sports offer a great way to spread the word about what Bola Moyo is doing in the town of Balaka while building an even stronger sense of belonging, teamwork, self-confidence and fair-play among the Bola Moyo youth. If you or anyone you know would like to donate money or resources to these teams (we will need more balls and uniforms), please contact Dustin at 1-503-508-8898.

At the Crossroads

Right now begins the time for registering participants in Malawi’s big annual music competition, Crossroads, which takes place in late November (the local competitions) and January (the final national competition). A handful of our youth (six of them, to be exact) are very excited about this because they are entering the competition as a band (three djembe drummers, a keyboardist, and two singers). A member of our Malawian staff, Isaac Liwotcha, who is himself a fairly well-known and adored musician here in Malawi, is helping them to compose and rehearse the song with which they will compete. Crossroads starts as a week-long series of workshops where each instrumentalist and vocalist will be able to improve their respective skills. At the end of this week, the first local competitions take place. The winners of these competitions compete with each other in the Nationals come January and the group that wins the Grand Prize will get to travel to Europe and the US to perform! Keep your fingers crossed for the young musicians of Bola Moyo!

Jubilee Act Met With Bi-Partisan support in Congress!

2008-05-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

Many of our volunteers and supporters are active in advocating for the cancellation of illegitimate and odious debts owed by the world's poorest countries to richer countries and financial institutions such as the IMF and World Bank. The Jubilee Act has recently passed through Congress and is headed to the Senate! Find out more about the Jubilee Act and the people that are helping to make this dream a reality at www.jubileeusa.org then contact your Senator and ask her/him to co-sponsor this bill.

Here is a press release in response to the bills passage through the House:

Churches, Development Advocates Praise Congress’ Passage of Legislation for Expanded International Debt Cancellation

Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation Passes House of Representatives with Bi-Partisan Support; Senate Panel to Consider Issue April 24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Contact: Eleiza Braun, Massey Media, 415-420-4059
Neil Watkins, Jubilee USA, 202-783-0129, 202-421-1023 (c)

WASHINGTON – Leaders of churches, development agencies, civil rights, labor, and human rights groups today praised the passage by the US House of Representatives by a vote of 285-132 of the Jubilee Act (HR 2634). The legislation calls the US Treasury Department to negotiate a multilateral agreement for debt cancellation for up to 24 additional poor countries that need cancellation to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Jubilee USA Network is an alliance of 80 organizations that has been leading the advocacy for the legislation. “We commend the US Congress for its bold step in passing the Jubilee Act and listening to the people of the impoverished nations who have borne the burden of unjust debt for far too long,” said Patricia Rumer, co-chair of the Board of Jubilee USA Network. “We hope that House passage will inspire the US Senate to move quickly to also pass the Jubilee Act and send it to the President for immediate action.”

“As Pope Benedict XVI makes his first Apostolic Visit to the United States, it is fitting that Congress show support for this important initiative that would help alleviate the debt burden of some of our poorest brothers and sisters around the world,” wrote Reverend Thomas G. Wenski, Bishop of Orlando and Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops in a letter to Congress.

The legislation was introduced by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Spencer Bachus (R-AL) in June 2007 and enjoyed the support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. A letter from leading Congressional supporters of the bill was circulated in Congress on Monday by Waters, Bachus, Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL). Jubilee USA is looking into the impact of an amendment that was attached to the bill in the final minutes of the floor debate which prohibits eligibility for countries with business interests in Iran.

In addition to authorizing broader debt cancellation, the bill seeks to reform current IMF/World Bank policies and other global lending practices by:

* Urging that more resources be devoted to grants for the world’s poorest countries;

* Requiring greater transparency at the IFIs, including a policy of maximum disclosure in project and loan documents;

* Urging the development of a binding framework for more responsible lending practices in the future;

* Limiting the conditions that may be required of countries going through the debt relief process to those ensuring that money released by debt relief is used transparently and accountably to address poverty; and

* Directing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to undertake an audit of “odious, onerous, or illegal” lending by the World Bank, IMF, and US government in specific countries.

Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate (S. 2166), where the bill enjoys strong bi-partisan support and 26 co-sponsors. A hearing on the Senate companion to the Jubilee Act will be held in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, April 24 at 2 p.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building Rm. 419. More information on debt and the legislation is available at www.jubileeusa.org.

Statements from Faith, Development, Civil Rights, Worker Rights, and Human Rights Leaders Following Passage of the Jubilee Act:

“We applaud the House of Representatives for its bi-partisan commitment to God’s children suffering from overwhelming debt burdens and extreme poverty by passing the Jubilee Act.” said Rev. Peter Rogness, Bishop of St. Paul, Minnesota and chair of the International Policy Committee of the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. “Too many suffer under crushing burdens of debt that bury them in poverty. The Biblical vision of Jubilee is one that brings hope for the future for all of God’s children. This legislation will help achieve that vision.”

"We congratulate the House of Representatives for passing this important bill today, and urge the Senate to follow suit. Debt relief for the world's poorest countries is an essential building block for sustainable, equitable, and democratic development -- and also for a global economy that works for working families, here and around the world," said John J. Sweeney, President of the AFL-CIO.

“The passage of the Jubilee Act by the House of Representatives is an important step towards building a world in which deadly poverty no longer stands in the way of the full flourishing of all God’s people,” said Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.)

"The NAACP was pleased and encouraged to see the Jubilee Act pass the House of Representatives with such strong bi-partisan support," said Hilary O. Shelton, the Director of the NAACP Washington Bureau. "The United States must work to help the poorest countries throughout the world eliminate debilitating debt which undermines their ability to provide basic human needs such food, housing, education, health care and infrastructure development for their people now more than ever. We must now work hard to see the Senate act as quickly and as positively as the House so that this legislation can soon become the law of the land."

"American Jewish World Service applauds the House for passing the Jubilee Act,” said Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service. “Funds going from poor countries to well-heeled financial institutions to service debt should instead be used to improve education, provide better healthcare for all people, and increase food security for the poorest. The House has spoken and the Senate must now take action to ensure that our prosperity is not a reward for exploiting developing nations."

“We have been hoping and praying that the Jubilee Act is passed by Congress,” said Jim Winkler, top executive of the United Methodist Church Board of Church and Society. “We’re excited they’ve recognized that we must to do more to relieve the unbelievable burden that is preventing struggling countries from advancing. It is a justice issue, pure and simple.”

“The passage of the Jubilee Act in the House of Representatives represents a major milestone in the movement for debt cancellation,” said Adam Taylor, Senior Political Director of Sojourners. “Thanks to the Jubilee campaign, debt cancellation has become a bipartisan cause and a moral imperative. Sojourners now calls on the Senate to provide the bold and immediate leadership necessary to pass the Jubilee Act so that we can move a major step closer to restoring right relationships and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.”

“The passage of the Jubilee Act is another great milestone in the effort to remove the burden of unpayable debt that’s slowing the pace of development in the world’s poorest countries. The Jubilee coalition continues to be an effective voice for poor people around the world,” said Rev. David Beckmann, President of Bread for the World.

“Passing the Jubilee Act is a leap forward for the U.S. in living up to its promises to fight global poverty,” said Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa Action. “For years, the chains of illegitimate debt have crippled the ability of African countries to provide healthcare and education for their citizens. I applaud the House of Representatives for passing this bill, and urge the Senate to demonstrate a similar commitment to smart, people-driven development policy.”

“Passage of the Jubilee Act in the U.S. House of Representatives is welcome news to the people of Haiti. Meanwhile, Haitians are drinking dangerous water, eating mud cakes and dying of easily treatable diseases as the Haitian government weekly sends more than $1 million to development banks, repaying loans made to corrupt regimes like the decades-long Duvalier dictatorship,” said Brian Concannon, director of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti. “The $71.7 million Haiti will send to the World Bank and the Inter-American Bank this year alone could be better spent feeding Haitian citizens and stimulating Haiti’s economy. IJDH strongly urges the Senate to pass the Jubilee Act and give Haiti’s troubled democracy a chance to work.”

“It is incumbent upon the Senate to pass the Jubilee Act if there is to be any chance of fulfilling the promises made in the Millennium Development Goals. Wipe out debt, wipe out poverty!” said Kim Nichols, co-Executive Director of New York-based African Services Committee.

“The Jubilee Act is essential to pave the path to debt cancellation for those poor countries that have not gotten debt relief and to help prevent countries that have already benefited from sliding back into further indebtedness and from being subjected to harmful conditionalities from the International Financial institutions,” said Katherine Hoyt, National Co-Coordinator, Nicaragua Network.

Look What's Happening at the New House of Many Stories! - Part II

2008-03-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are some more pictures and updates from Malawi. Most of these pictures were taken in January of this year.

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For a variety of reasons, economic and cultural (these will be described in more detail on our website soon), it is difficult for a girl in Malawi to pursue an education. As a result many young girls are left with no other option than early marriage and motherhood and older women often lack the knowledge (read: power) to improve their own or their families' situation. So, one of the most exciting things to happen so far this year is the birth of a brand new program that offers Adult Literacy and Continuing Education courses to the women of Balaka.

Rose Mbendera is heading up this new endeavor. We'll have a bio (her story is an inspiring one) on our website very soon.

The classes are only a few months old but they are growing by leaps and bounds. They began in what was the dining room of Bola Moyo's rented house in Balaka...

...and soon, we were persuaded to transform the living room into a classroom.

Here is one of Rose's less shy students demonstrating her English abilities.

Now, almost 4 months into it, the living room turned classroom is also no longer a suitable size for our adult students. We are currently trying to locate a larger, yet affordable and conveniently situated, space in which these activities can take place.

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As we also work to accomodate the growing number of youth attending the Center, here they are as they unload bricks that will be the floor of one of the new outdoor shelters (see previous post).

George, a member of Bola Moyo's staff, builds what will become the composting area for our Organic Learning Garden.

Some of the youth get to help start the first compost heap.

Can you see that good-looking corn peeking over the fence of the garden? It's almost harvest time.

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A few of our PRIDE kids (this is about half of our pilot group for the new PRIDE program) show off the PRIDE sign which is meant to symbolize 'togetherness'

Maria sings us a solo.

Mphatso tries his hand as a teacher.

Margaret tries teaching me how to carry large, heavy buckets of water on my head. I honestly don't know how they do this.

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A party would not be enough to show our staff and their families just how much we appreciate the work they do and how much we love working with them but in late January, we threw one anyway!

And stay tuned for more...

Look What's Happening at the New House of Many Stories! - Part I

2008-03-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

Wow, so much has happened since our last blog posting! We apologize that our updates have been few and far between. I guess we get so busy and so excited with what's going on in Malawi, that we often forget to let you in on all of the latest.

Cara and I (Dustin) returned from Malawi at the end of January. We were there for two months and we were honored and pleased to have my father with us for the month of December. This blog post is part I of a photo-logue of some of the latest happenings for Bola Moyo. Part II will be posted in a few days.

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In December, on our arrival in Balaka, we were welcomed, as is often the case, with an afternoon full of original skits and celebratory songs and dances.

Kwatha showing us her moves!

Some of our PRIDE kids have discovered an interest in acrobatics.

These costumes are modeled after those worn in the Gule Wamkulu or "Great Dance" - a group of dances performed by an elite and masked society of men, chosen and known only by tribal chiefs, at initiation ceremonies, funerals, and the celebrations of Malawi's Chewa tribe.

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In previous postings, you might have seen some pictures of the building in which our youth clubs were meeting. At the end of last year, we lost the use of that building as it was going to be rented out to another business at a much higher rate than we could pay. The activities of our youth center, along with the library, were then moved to the house that we've been renting, and using as living space, for ourselves, Margaret (our Malawian Program Coordinator), and other visitors. This is a temporary situation but, so far, has worked out really well.

The house is nicely situated in the center of the neighborhood from which most of our youth come. We also now have more space for games and sports and other activities that need to occur out of doors.

The only true downside to this new setting is the lack of indoor space. Bola Moyo's Malawian staff, however, in their incredible resourcefulness, solved this problem by constructing a couple outdoor structures that would act as protection from the elements. Here are some pictures of the beautiful thatched-roof shelters that were built to accomodate our rowdy group of youngsters. This smaller structure is called "The Summer Hut." The reason for this name is that many households will construct similar huts for the purpose of providing shade in the hottest season.

This larger structure is referred to merely as "The Shade." Margaret's nephew, Madalitso, is the one you see doing the construction. I'm sure I've not met a harder worker than this young man.

Our library in what used to be the dining room:

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At the end of December, the staff and youth of The House of Many Stories invited their parents and other members of the community to an Open House at which the activities and opportunities of the youth center as well as the skills and talents of the youth were on display. The Open House took place at the local Baptist Church.

Here are Margaret and some of the youth as they prepare for the Open House.

Margaret and Isaac show some parents some of the things their children have accomplished at the Youth Center.

The program for the day included a Christmas-themed play that the youth and my father, with his dramatic expertise, wrote and put together.

Of course, no celebration in Malawi is complete without snacks and lots and lots of dancing.

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It's not often that we get to join our Malawian staff in welcoming other visitors from America (Malawi's not exactly the easiest country to get to). Recently, however, we've been happy to have many such visits:

...my father, John Pattison, who we've mentioned already,

...our good friend Liz Reilly (and Bola Moyo's board presdient) was with us for the Open House festivities,

...our former intern and American staff member, Desiree, took a break from a stay in Kenya to come and visit us for a couple of weeks,

... and Kim and Pandy Pinto, now living in Portland, stopped by too. Pandy is a Malawian. Kim and Pandy met when Kim was serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi. After some years, they finally got a chance to return to Malawi to visit Pandy's family and allow their son, Denzel, to see, for the first time, where his father grew up.

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Here are some more pictures taken in December of '07 at the new House of Many Stories Youth Centre.

Experiencing Technical Difficulties

2007-11-19T14:51:00.000-08:00

Trying to learn more about us? Can't access our website, www.bolamoyo.org? Having trouble contacting us, maybe?

This is because we're experiencing technical difficulties, which is to say we're experiencing tremendous headaches, technology-related as so many headaches are.

For now, you can check us out at www.bolamoyo.com and, if you want to get a hold of us, you can reach me at: dustinpattison[at]gmail.com or (503)508-8898.

Thanks so much,
Dustin Pattison
Executive Director, Bola Moyo

A Program to be Proud of

2007-09-11T17:28:00.000-07:00

Yeah, yeah, we know, "Pride comes before the fall."

But let's think for a bit of the good sorts of pride. For example, the pride that comes from a job well done… or the pride of being a part of something bigger than yourself, something great… or the pride that comes from knowing that the healthy, positive decisions you're making now will result in a healthy, positive future full of hope and promise. These are the sorts of pride Bola Moyo's staff will be striving to instill in the youth of Balaka, Malawi as we move forward with our new, and so aptly named, program: PRIDE.

If you've ever been involved with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Woodcraft Folk, or 4H, you'll probably be familiar with how PRIDE will work. Pride is a multi-year, multi-tier program broken into small, localized groups that gather weekly. The groups are facilitated by older youth and adults. These leaders focus their attention on the needs and potential of each individual member and encourage them to develop an active interest and concern for their family, community, country, and culture.

So many of the young people with whom we work have lost parents, guardians, teachers, and other mentors to AIDS. This is why, through a variety of arts, crafts, games, and other activities, Bola Moyo's Malawian partners teach and model valuable life and leadership skills to youth. Their goal is to widen each young person's perspective, hone their abilities to think critically and make informed and wise decisions, and expand their curiosity of all aspects of the world around them.
The structure and purpose of the new PRIDE program come directly from Bola Moyo's Malawian staff, volunteers, and youth leaders, as well as other members of the Balaka community including parents and teachers. PRIDE is set up to both supplement and compliment the incredibly positive work that is already in progress at the House of Many Stories Youth Centre.

You can tell by now, I'm sure, that PRIDE is a program we're extremely proud of. As we proceed with this exciting new endeavor, we look forward to keeping you up to date on all the latest challenges and success stories and ask for your continued support.

Zikomo kwambiri ndi tsalani bwino! Thanks very much and stay well!
Dustin

It's Party Time!

2007-09-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

...Almost. Remember the great time we had at last fall's "Djembes & Jambalaya" dinner at Screen Door? Well, it was such a success, we're doing it again, with a new twist! Be looking for an event announcement soon. We're hoping to hold the event on Monday, November 5th. If you have any interest in volunteering to plan or set up this event, please contact Bola Moyo's Director, Dustin Pattison, at dustin@bolamoyo.org, or call 503-508-8898.

Be a Doll, Buy a Doll!

2007-09-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

Bola Moyo is selling hand-made dolls created by members of the Chifundo Artisan's Network based in Balaka, Malawi. The dolls are available for purchase at $36 each, which includes shipping. These dolls make a unique and meaningful gift for birthdays and holidays for friends and relatives of all ages. You can order one through our website: www.bolamoyo.org/gift_shop or by contacting Dustin Pattison at dustin@bolamoyo.org. You can also order one using the enclosed giving card, just check the appropriate box. Thanks for your interest and support! (Limited quantities available.)

Travel Update: We Return to Malawi

2007-09-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

We have quite a troupe coming to Malawi this year! Dustin and Cara will fly to Malawi on November 29th to work with our Malawian staff on the upcoming PRIDE program. Dustin's father, John Pattison will be joining them, to meet the community and facilitate some music and drama classes. Later in the month, our new board President, Elizabeth Reilly, will join the team to see the projects. And last, but not, least, Bola Moyo's former intern Desirée will make a side trip from Kenya. It's going to be a very full house! Cara and John return on Dec.26, and Dustin returns Jan 22nd.

Making Way for a New Executive Director

2007-09-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that the "From the Director" letter came from Dustin alone. Bola Moyo is growing and changing in many ways, one of which includes Cara stepping down as the Executive Director. Our Board rolled Dustin's part-time position as Program Director into the full-time Executive Director's responsibilities. Cara will still be greatly involved in the organization, including serving on the board, engaging with supporters, and creating newsletters and other materials.

She is seeking full-time work in the Portland area in the field of marketing and communications.This shift in roles is much needed to enhance personal health and wellness, and will naturally benefit the organization. Already this restructuring has been beneficial as it has helped to improve the organization's transparency and accountability. Dustin, who served as President of the board, has moved out of that position and Elizabeth Reilly has accepted the role! You will still see and hear quite a bit from Cara, but expect to see more communication from Dustin in the coming months.

Our First Board Retreat!

2007-09-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

What better place to take care of business than Oregon's high desert? This is where our first Board Retreat was held in July, and take care of business we did–in between hikes up volcanic mountains and strolls through beautiful downtown Bend, that is. Many thanks to Ann and Arnold Pickar for donating the use of their cabin for the weekend.

The retreat was chock full of lively discussion and decision-making regarding the future of Bola Moyo and its Board of Directors. Among other things, we welcomed Ron Knapp to our board and voted Elizabeth Reilly, President. You can meet all of our board members and read their bios on our website: www.bolamoyo.org.

Youth Leader Spotlight: Meet Grace, our Librarian

2007-09-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

The House of Many Stories' library has grown immensely (from 20 to almost 400 books) and we are happy to report that our long-time Youth Centre member, Grace, has filled the new role of Volunteer Librarian. At fourteen, Grace is a young woman of great enthusiasm and dedication. She trains other youth in treating and handling the books, keeps track of books checked out, and collects dues owed to the library. Grace is a freshman in high school this year. She is also a Youth Leader at the House of Many Stories, and can be frequently found teaching young children to read (in English and Chichewa) at the Youth Centre. Her many hobbies include knitting, singing, and dancing.

A Fond Farewell and a Warm Welcome

2007-09-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

A Fond Farewell...

Our 2006-2007 interns, Patty & Desirée, completed their internships with Bola Moyo in May after Dustin and Cara returned from three months in Malawi. One could not have asked for better interns than these two. They have been a tremendous help to Bola Moyo this last year. Patty, though first considering the Peace Corps, has just been offered a job in Nicaragua with Witness for Peace. Desirée spent part of the summer working for Bola Moyo in the capacity of Executive Assistant. She will be spending six months teaching at a community center in rural Kenya beginning this October after a move to the UK with her husband in August. She is planning on visiting us in Balaka, Malawi this December to meet the youth and see the projects she has been helping with. We thank both Patty and Desirée profusely, we bid them farewell, and we wish them success in all that they do. We are starting our search for a new intern from one of the local Portland universities. Let us know if you're interested.

...And a Warm Welcome

Please join us in welcoming Ron Knapp, treasurer and newest member of the Bola Moyo Board of Directors. Ron joined the board during our Board Retreat in July. He brings to the organization significant financial expertise as well as a passion for the people of Africa and the work that Bola Moyo does. Ron is an Executive V.P. at Toyon Associates, Inc. (21 years), a healthcare financial consulting firm located in Northern California working with over 50 non-profit and governmental hospitals. Ron helps manage Toyon's staff of 36 and is involved with practice development. He has been actively involved in his local church having been on the Pastoral Team, Leadership Board, and as a Pastor to High School students during his 14 years there. Ron is a graduate of CSU, Chico and has a BS in Business Administration with an Accounting concentration. We are so happy to have Ron with us and all the more excited to see what the future holds for Bola Moyo.

Julio, Rest in Peace

2007-07-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

We just learned some sad news yesterday.

Margaret e-mailed to say that our little friend Julio passed away a few days ago. He was about 7 or 8 years old, and was born with HIV. He had grown increasingly ill these past few years and, with heavy hearts, we recognized that this was coming.

Julio’s mother passed away a few years ago, and his father is currently struggling with the same disease. He was in and out of the hospital on our last trip, and Margaret says he is back in again.

Julio passed away on July 23rd, and was buried on July 24th.

Here are some of the last pictures we took of Julio and his family. The stuffed animals Julio and his sister Mphatso hold are gifts from a child here in Portland. Thank you for thinking of and remembering our friends in this trying time.

~ Cara Pattison

An update from the intern

2007-07-31T11:11:00.000-07:00

Hey all, this is Desirée, Bola Moyo's former intern/office guru and current executive assistant. Bola Moyo is in the midst of an exciting summer, appropos for an exciting year. Since it's been nearly two months, I decided that I would take the bull by the horns, to let all our wonderful supporters in on the latest happenings.

Last you heard, La Crescenta Presbyterian Church had put on a fabulous benefit for Bola Moyo. Cara Pattison finished out her fundraising tour throughout California in early June, followed by a conference in Chicago for Jubilee USA, then a stop in Nebraska on the way back to Oregon.

In July we had our board retreat on the outskirts of Bend in eastern Oregon, which was quite eventful. We brought on new board members as well as a new Executive Director. Cara Pattison served as Bola Moyo's ED since its inception in November 2004 until July of this year, when Dustin Pattison took over the position. He is enthusiastic and invigorated to fill his new role, and as I work alongside him each day I grow more and more excited to see what he comes up with next.

And a little about me, to give you some context... I was Bola Moyo's intern from September 2006 through May 2007, and helped hold down the fort while Dustin and Cara were in Malawi from January through April of this year. BM's founders decided I was crazy enough that they would hire me for the summer to fill an entirely new position, that of Executive Assistant.

Thus far I have helped them move their office, created a new filing/organizational system, update their website, and am currently working on writing the latest e-newsletter (look for it sometime in August!), and a shiny new intern handbook. We're also stepping into the preliminary planning stages for our second annual fall event, which will take place again in early November.

I will (sadly!) be moving away from Portland in two weeks, to spend six months interning and teaching in rural coastal Kenya. During a 5-week break in December, I may be able to visit Dustin and Cara during their end-of-year trip to Malawi, since it will just be a hop-skip-and-a-jump-away... (well, at least relatively!) It would be wonderful to finally visit with the kids at the House of Many Stories Youth Centre after everything I have heard in the past 11 months.

Mainly, I cannot fully express to you all what an absolute honor it has been to volunteer and work with Bola Moyo this past year. Dustin and Cara Pattison are some of the most committed, dedicated, and vibrant people I have met in the African Community Development field (and no, they did not bribe me to type that! They don't even know I'm typing this at all right now...). The communications I've seen from the staff and the children at the House of Many Stories Youth Centre indicate a growing, vibrant community there in Balaka town. Bola Moyo's committment to grassroots community development is really paying off.

And I am so honored to have taken on the small role that I have, in this project which is so much greater than us all. Thanks to the Pattisons, to Bola Moyo's supporters, and to all the amazing children there in Balaka that have allowed me to be a part of it.

Thanks La Crescenta!

2007-06-01T10:27:00.001-07:00

Wednesday night, the youth of La Crescenta Presbyterian Church (in Southern California) held their second annual talent show and dinner in honor of Bola Moyo. Some talent highlights included virtuosos on the cello, bazouki (spelling?), and mouth trumpet. Other favorites included the "overhead projector changer" who showcased her talent changing overhead slides with a steady hand, and TEAM EAT who ate watermellons with their hands behind their backs. What a talent!

I flew down from Portland to attend this event, and was very glad I did. It was a riot. Plus, it was fun connecting with this community of people who really seem like a big family. I was warmly welcomed and can't thank La Crescenta and youth pastor Darren enough.

While in Southern California, I'm taking time to meet with other partners and supporters of Bola Moyo and share our latest photos and video from Malawi. On Monday, I'm flying to the Bay Area to do the same. Then on to Chicago for the Jubilee Grassroots Conference before swinging through Nebraska to connect with some of Dustin's midwest family friends. I'll finally be back in Portland on June 25th, just in time to start a summer class at Portland State University that afternoon.

I hope you're all doing well. Please note these key events in the Bay Area:

Friday, June 8th - Bola Moyo Party in Brentwood, 6pm (address to be announced)
Sunday, June 10th - Partner Potluck in Antioch, 6 pm (604 Iglesia Ct, Antioch, CA 94509

Hope to see you soon!

~Cara

We're Home

2007-05-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

After a fruitful three months in Malawi, Dustin and I have returned home to Portland. And after many empty promises, I am finally able to upload some photos of our time there.

Here's our Program Coordinator Margaret Nandoli.

This is Grace, wearing a shirt donated by Portland friend Shannon Brown (she got them from the Multnomah County Library). Grace is Bola Moyo's volunteer youth librarian.

We used the other donated t-shirts as prizes for a writing contest. To be eligible to win, the students had to write a short essay discussing cultural aspects of their tribe. The assignment included interviewing a parent about the ways of the past. Young students were allowed to have parental assistance in composing their stories. Out of 30 entries, our staff chose 6 winners (3 for each age group - younger and older) and read each winning entry aloud. I wish you could have heard the gasp when we unveiled these bright, beautiful blue shirts as prizes!

Here is our growing library! Thank you to all who donated books.

Here, Dustin is training Grace to be our librarian. Look at that concentration. She is very much up to the challenge.

Before children use the books, they must first wash their hands. We don't have running water at the centre, but we improvise.

The kids also must go through a "book borrower's training" before they use and check out the books. Here, Grace is going over the guidelines, i.e. washing hands, turning pages gently, using bookmarks, placing books on the shelf correctly, and avoiding late and missing book fees, etc. Before a child can borrow a book, he or she must first complete the training and be tested on the material. Children are also required to have a parent or guardian "co-sign," accepting responsibility for the books his or her children check out.

While the book training may sound very simple, most of these concepts are new to many of the kids, most of whom have never owned a book. For example, Malawian kids (and adults) often grab the middle of a page to turn it, instead of using the edge or corner, and thus wear books out quickly. Though there's quite a learning curve, most of our kids are catching on successfully.

Here, our staff member Isaac is reading with some of the early readers during our English study day.

The students are also learning crafts. Here, Margaret is teaching the girls to sew. They are each making a square to join into a large quilt.

And of course, in Africa it would be impossible to not have dance on the menu of activities.

Drums are a new addition to the centre, and quite a welcomed one!

Several days a week, the kids start out the afternoon with games. One team is VERY excited to win.

This is Alinafe. (Her name means "God is with us.") I had to include her picture, simply because she's adorable.

And here we have some of the regulars at The House of Many Stories Youth Centre. The centre is becoming locally known as "the club." So far, we serve a slightly higher proportion of girls than boys.

Well that's it for the first round of pictures. Little by little, we'll add more stories and pics. Thanks for reading!

Tima

2007-03-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

Hello! I’m desperately trying to upload some photos for you all. This server is just plugging along.

In the meantime, I’ll tell you some good news. At the start of last year, we were sponsoring a girl named Tima. She became pregnant and was kicked out of school. We tried to advocate on her behalf, but the school was adamant that she stay away for one year, as punishment for becoming pregnant. (The father, of course, had no such punishment.) We thought this was the end of Tima’s schooling.

We were surprised last week when Tima found us and said that she was ready to return to school. Her relatives will care for the baby during the day while she is at school. We always knew Tima was very strong-willed, but still we are surprised at her ability to overcome culture and ideas about mothers, and do what she feels is best for her and her baby. We are happy to support her during this time.

Well, it looks like the server is unwilling. And the internet place is just about ready to lock up for the day. I promise photos are coming. It’s just a matter of when.

Tsalani bwino. Stay well!

Moving Right Along

2007-03-13T02:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of photos. The server is moving incredibly slowly, AND this internet joint is run by Italians who have all of their websites set to read in Italian. It's possible that I pushed the wrong buttons to upload my photos... I'll try again soon. In the meantime, here's what we've been up to:

Life here in Malawi is good. We moved into a new Volunteer House about a week ago. We enjoy being closer to town and the market etc. We were hoping our new home would be rat-free, but Dustin learned the hard way that it isn’t.

Our new house is much closer to our partner Margaret’s home. This means we can finally have her and other friends over for dinner. (Living on the other side of town made it impossible to entertain, as Malawians don’t like walking much at night – due to crime and witchcraft.) Margaret came over the other night and we showed her a video we made of Portland. She enjoyed seeing the sights.

Program-wise things are going well. The kids are loving the new library books we brought. There is one book in particular that features lively drawings of African animals, which just drives the kids wild. As our staff has recognized more of the children’s needs, the youth centre has shifted from being just about themes and creative learning activities, to all sorts of educational activities. Kids are learning to write their names and read in both Chichewa and English. They are practicing conversational English and gaining new confidence in the language. (This is important here as secondary school is conducted almost entirely in English).

We’ve had some parent meetings, and are happy to have so much community support for the youth centre. Parents have raved about how much more kids are learning through our program than even through the schools. (Though we appreciate the compliment, it’s frightening how poor the schools are.) We discussed with them some of the challenges of the educational system and the types of skills they desire to see their children possess. Some of their complaints about primary school? Large class sizes. Kids just play the whole time. Teachers who don’t care. Teachers who don’t show up or show up drunk. Poor teaching of math and language studies. And a lack of focus on trade skills.

We are working closely with our staff to incorporate parents' requests into our lessons and activities. One grandmother approached us about our library and how she wanted her children to be able to check books out. Thus, Dustin has been training our youth leader Grace to be a volunteer librarian. She in turn is training the students on proper book handling, rules etc. We're very proud about this new development! Our first pilot group of book borrowers begins this week.

That's all for now. We'll try to write more soon. Take care.

Finally, Another Blog

2007-02-25T23:14:00.000-08:00

Sorry it’s been a little while since we last wrote. The internet place closes at 4:30 pm and is on the opposite side of town as our youth project. Plus, we’ve had many recent days without power – including the first part of today. I’ll try to make up for this, and do a little recap of the last two weeks.

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Two weekends ago, we had a great opportunity to visit the family of Wallace Salanje, one of our youth leaders at the centre. Wallace grew up in Mukuta village, about a 1.5-hour bike ride from Balaka town. The morning of our journey, we woke early to a divided sky – sun before us, foreboding clouds behind us. We met at Margaret’s place to get our bike taxis and started off toward the now shrinking patch of blue sky. Only 30 minutes into our journey the clouds caught up to us. The rains were torrential and within minutes we were soaked through and freezing cold (not a good day to wear a white shirt). Our bike taxis pressed on for another hour, through the mud and the muck until we FINALLY arrived at Wallace Salanje’s village.

We caught the Salanjes off guard, as there was no way to communicate with them as to when we were coming to visit. Even so, they prepared a nice meal of rice for us and made us feel at home. They even gave us their clothes to wear so ours could dry. After visiting for a few hours (and doing a family photo shoot), the rains had subsided enough for us to journey home. It was a long, exhausting, and ever memorable day. Wallace’s parents were so happy to hear that their boy was a good and respectful student. Wallace boards at a secondary school in Balaka town, so they don’t get to see him often. Our visit showed them how thankful we are for his help at the centre, and really boosted their confidence in their hard-working son.

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Last week we spent a lot of time with our youth centre staff. Margaret led a session on personality types. The Eneagram is a popular personality tool here in Balaka (it originated in Italy) and Margaret really enjoyed teaching on how we are all parts of one body. Some people are the hands, others the feet etc. We learned that I’m a number ONE – the perfectionist. Margaret is a number TWO – the helper/servant. Dustin’s a number NINE – the dreamer. We’re still working on Mr. Ngumbi and Isaac.

We had some sessions on various topics related to the youth center. One was HIV, and an effective integration of messages into our activities. We had observed that some of the dramas and songs the youth perform about AIDS focus only on the woman’s role – often a demonized role of woman as prostitute. We talked about the danger of focusing so heavily on this area, and not on men’s responsibility to their wives and families. We discussed why HIV is so prevalent here and used these answers to branch into a talk on holistic approaches to HIV.

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This week we have been meeting with Wallace and Grace, our two strongest youth leaders, to discuss a new segment of our youth program. While the youth centre is going strong, we see so much potential for learning in even smaller groups. In the States we were researching programs like the Boy and Girl Scouts etc, and trying to find equivalents that might be relevant to Africa. We failed to find anything close to what we were looking for. As such, we’re working on our own sort of curriculum. This will be keeping us very busy in the coming weeks.

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On another note, we now have new cell phones (the others were stolen). Our numbers are 08764420 and 08764421. If you want to call us you can find decent calling cards at www.callingcards.com. Just remember when you call to dial 011 + 265 before our number. You will also likely need to remove the first ‘zero’ of our number (just start with eight).

Also, we are moving into a new house by March 1. Our current landlord is raising the rent and we don’t feel like the place is worth the price. We’ll now be staying in Majiga One (that’s the name of the neighborhood), which is closer to the youth centre and the market etc. We think it will be a good move. It’s also a better place to house future volunteers!

Gotta go! Hope life is treating you well.

Progress at The Youth Centre

2007-02-07T06:36:00.000-08:00

On Monday, Tuesday, and today we visited with Margaret, Mr. Ngumbi, and Issac to see how things have been going at the youth centre. We are very impressed by the progress they have made. They have been teaching the children all sorts of skills like basketry and pottery. They have placed a strong emphasis on learning and practicing English. And our kids’ drama skills are said to be the best in town.

The staff files monthly reports with the Balaka Social Welfare Office, which oversees all social programs in the area. The Office has been very impressed by the quality of learning and activities taking place at the centre, and have commended The House of Many Stories as being Balaka’s best place for youth. The government has also asked our centre to represent the entire district of Balaka at a national computer-training course in Blantyre (the big city). This government program will train 3 youth from each district on how to use computers and how to teach others to use computers. At the end of the training, the government will donate three free computers to our program. Everyone is very excited by this development!

We have also started talking to the parents and guardians of the youth attending the centre, and have gained a lot of positive feedback. One woman had encouraged her grandchild to come to our program to enhance his English language skills. He had been failing this subject at school. After weeks of coming and interacting with the staff, he is now the #1 English pupil.

We are spending the rest of this week (and some of next) evaluating how the last 6 months have gone. We’re working with the staff, the children, the parents, and local educators. The heat here in Balaka is heavy, making the walk from one side of town to another a challenge. But we’re adjusting as best we can, and are making the most of our days here. Will write more soon.

Termites and Roaches and Rats, Oh My

2007-02-07T06:34:00.000-08:00

“Oh, rats.”
“Your room looks like a rat’s nest.”
“I smell a rat.”

These sayings now have new meaning for us. Upon arriving in Balaka, we spent a day and a half cleaning up after a 6-month vermin party. Thankfully, Margaret had forewarned us that our home had other inhabitants while we’ve been in the States. “So, you say there are MANY rats, Margaret. Just how many does MANY mean? More than twenty or thirty?” “Oh, yes. At least that many.”

The rats moved into our boxes, our clothes, our furniture, and even (please don’t be mad, mother) our old classical guitar. They chewed their way through the soft-shell case and made a cozy, smelly little nest in the body of the guitar. I’ll never forget the sight of our watchman swinging the guitar around trying to shake one last resident out.

They ate our clothes, our cushions, our books (fortunately, they don’t have great taste), our spices, and even our plastic cutting board. They also gnawed through sealed containers – like our powdered milk and our sunscreen.

We have since washed our clothes and the floors (rat smell still lingers), but the little buggers haven’t taken the hint. They’re still crawling around the rafters at night, squeaking their rodent songs and looking for a tomato or two to sink their pointy little teeth into. If they’re not out soon, we may have to buy some rat poison (sorry animal lovers, but you’d probably do it to). J

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On another note, our bus to Balaka broke down after only traveling three kilometers. In four hours, we hadn’t even gone 2 miles. The Shire bus is known for its breakdowns. We’ve had decent luck in the past, and usually opt for this type of transport when we have a lot of luggage (as there’s more room for bags etc). Our bus broke down in the most inconvenient place. All buses and minibuses passing by this point are already full of passengers and are on their way out of town. We tried flagging down passing motorists, calling a taxi company etc, but in the end Dustin had to take a minibus back into town (the opposite direction), and bring back another minibus with empty seats for me, Margaret, and our luggage (we had to pay for their space too). As there’s no such thing as a refund in Malawi, we lost out on having to pay for two buses. But I felt incredibly sorry for the other passengers who don’t have the luxury of having an extra $5 or $10. They had to sit and wait for the bus company to send out another bus, which (if it came) would take upwards of 8 hours, and may not have come until morning.

We're in Malawi

2007-02-02T03:20:00.000-08:00

It’s morning in Malawi. We arrived in Lilongwe at 1 am, after an 11 hour bus ride from Lusaka. I think Zambia may be one of the most beautiful, least touched places on earth. Roughly 13 million people populate both Zambia and Malawi. Malawi’s 13 million are densely packed into an area the size of the state of Pennsylvania, while Zambia has at least three times that land mass. Nearly 90% of Malawians live in rural areas, while many more Zambians stay in the cities. All of this said, Malawi is almost completely deforested, while most of Zambia remains untouched forest.

It rained throughout our journey, and rainbows abounded. The “luxury coach” leaved a bit to be desired. Some beetle/roach-like insects decided to make the bus their home (no wonder, the way our neighbor kept throwing chicken scraps at our feet), which made us somewhat uncomfortable. Our ride in Lilongwe was unable to meet us, so we had to wedge 10 pieces of luggage (as well as ourselves) into a tiny taxi before going to Margaret’s relatives’ house to sleep.

We are well rested now, and will be leaving tomorrow morning for Balaka – about a 4-5 hour journey by Shire bus (this is the slow one, but it will accommodate our many bags). We look forward to checking on the progress of our sponsored students as well as the youth centre. From here on out, our internet access gets a little sketchy. We’ll try to write as often as we can.

Off to Zambia

2007-01-27T23:49:00.000-08:00

Wednesday was our last full day in Kenya. We spent the afternoon in a session with other debt activists, drafting a strong statement on debt and discussing local actions and how we could join together. Above is Neil, the Director of Jubile USA, and Lydie of the Philippines. They led us in this session.

All around the stadium (where the forum took place) venders were selling their wares.

Some were teaching about new technologies, like solar cookers. We bought one for $10, to try out in Malawi. It takes considerably longer to cook with the sun, but this method saves money and trees (a great need in heavily deforested Malawi).

People were tying red ribbons on this makeshift tree in memory of people who had died of AIDS.

On Thursday morning, we flew from Nairobi to Lusaka, Zambia. After checking into our hotel, we went to an informational session with Jubilee Zambia and the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction. They introduced us to issues of Zambian economics and the proposed VAT (value added tax - recommended by the Internation Monetary Fund) of 18% on all food and printed goods (a very contentious issue for the poor).

Margaret, our partner from Malawi, met us here in Zambia. She lived here until her late teens, when she returned to her native country. (Margaret is the one on the far left.) She and her niece Dorothy accompanied us on Friday to a rural health clinic in Siavonga - a back breaking three hour ride away. We toured the facility, witnessed the dwindling drug supply, and talked with hard-working, poorly paid nurses and a doctor about the needs of the community.

Below are some of the ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs for AIDS patients) used throughout the region. Nevirapine is given to HIV+ pregnant mothers to prevent the transmission of the disease to their unborn children. In Malawi, pregnant women are encouraged to be tested for HIV so they can use this very important drug. Many, however, are unwilling to be tested. In some cases, they need their husbands' permission. Husbands may consider their wives' desire to be tested as an admission to unfaithful behavior. Or the husbands may feel it as an accusation towards their behavior. In either case, it is very difficult for a woman to get an HIV test of her own accord. As such, many babies are still being born with HIV.

On Saturday, we visited the Kalingalinga AIDS Hospice in Lusaka. This project is run by the Franciscans. It houses 32 terminally ill patients, giving them the utmost quality of care in their final days. It was a very moving experience to meet with these patients, especially when we have seen so many people in the late stages of AIDS who have nothing but a thin grass mat to lie on.

After our visit to the hospice, we met with several Zambian MPs (Ministers of Parliament) to discuss the country's debt issue. Currently, all of the countries loans are only approved through the Cabinet. The MPs are working to create a bill that would require the MPs to be involved in this process - which would create more transparency and accountability in the government. We talked about the proposed 18% Value Added Tax, which they oppose for several reasons: (1) there is already a high income tax (2) these goods are already being taxed during importation, (3) these taxes would harm poor local people and keep them from participating in the formal economic system.

One MP left us with a powerful thought: "Forcing Zambians to pay this tax is like squeezing a stone to get juice." The money is not with the poor. It is with the international corporations that use the country's resources. International corporations here have a five year "tax holiday" in which they are exempt from paying taxes. After five years, they usually transfer ownership to a crony or change business names to qualify for another five year exemption. Meanwhile, the working class are shelling out over 30% of their salaries to the government. Something is definitely wrong. And that "something" lies with creditors like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, who "encourage" this type of economic development at the expense of the poor.

Kibera

2007-01-23T07:35:00.000-08:00

Today, we visited Kibera - the largest slum in all of Africa. The entire city of Nairobi has about 3 million people (according to our Kenyan friend), and 800,000 to one million of these folks live in the Kibera slum. We went to Kibera to visit a project our friends from "Watoto Wa Dunia" support. Below are some of the pictures of our time there.

A wall surrounds Kibera. On one side: a million people compressed into tiny squares of land, without water and without electricity. The other: The former president's mansion and the golf course you see below. Never have I seen such a great dichotomy.

We visited the small school Watoto Wa Dunia supports. The children recited beautiful poetry and performed some traditional dances. Below are a few abstract shots.

Wangari Maathai on Debt

2007-01-22T20:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday (Monday), we had the unique opportunity to hear Professor Wangari Maathai deliver an address on debt. Deliver is perhaps too weak a word. She took the stage in a beautiful fury of controlled passion and deep outrage at the West’s lack of moral response to the needs of the poor. “How could the most powerful, the most influential bank – the bank with the best minds” lend so irresponsibly and recklessly, she asked. Maathai rightly linked the debt of Southern nations to every other pressing issue: healthcare, education, the environment etc. She challenged us: How can God do his work from heaven, she questioned. He put us here on Earth. We are the ones to do his work. “We are the agents of the Lord.” We are the ones to fight the IMF and World Bank, and the oppression of the West.

“We have the numbers,” Maathai said. “We have the voice. But we don’t use that voice… raising our voices might compromise our own safety and comfort.”

I was so stunned by her presence that I kept forgetting to take notes. I do know, however, that she closed with a story about a hummingbird. There was a huge fire that broke out in a forest. All of the animals were abandoning their homes, running from the flames. But a small hummingbird saw what was happening and decided he wanted to do something. He flew fast as he could to the river, and drew a small drop of water in his beak and placed it on the fire. He continued, flying to the river, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, at a speed you can’t even explain. The other animals sat in safety and disbelief. How can this small bird even try to put out this enormous fire? The hummingbird explained, “I’m doing the best I can,” and continued down to the river.

[For those of you who don't know, Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Prize last year for her enviromental work with The Green Belt Movement - an effort to combat deforestation in Kenya, her homeland.]

Some Things I’m Learning About Debt

2007-01-22T20:41:00.000-08:00

Firstly, there’s an incredibly strong Jubilee South movement. The South refers somewhat to countries in the Southern Hemisphere, traditionally the poorer countries. But this reference is also symbolic of countries that have been traditionally oppressed, pushed down by wealthier nations. Jubilee refers to the year (described in the Old Testament) in which all debts are cancelled.

I’m learning about the co-responsibility of borrowers and creditors. For example, in the case of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loaned billions of dollars to the then dictator, Mobutu. IMF officials became aware that this leader was siphoning the funds into his pockets. Though private banks/lenders REFUSED to lend to the Congo, the IMF still lent another $4 billion, knowing it would be misspent! This is an example of irresponsible lending.

I’m learning that the UK, France, and Belgium received World Bank funds for their colonization of African nations. When the Africans achieved independence, this European burden of debt was transferred to the very Africans enslaved by these funds.

In Kenya, loans were used for the Rural Electrification Project – intended to bring power to the rural reaches of Kenya. Those involved in this project forged local people’s signatures, saying that they indeed had power, when truly the majority of the project funds had been misspent.

I’m just beginning to learn about the notion of historical, social, and ecological debts. I’m hoping to attend a session later today that will shed more light on this issue. Jubilee also has a number of sessions around debt audits, and what these could look like. All of this new knowledge is exciting, but just a little bit exhausting.

Quick Recap

2007-01-22T20:39:00.000-08:00

Dustin and I are part of a Jubilee USA delegation to the World Social Forum (WSF) in Nairobi, Kenya. The forum consists of several daily workshops and programs focused on issues affecting the poor and marginalized around the world. There are people here from EVERYWHERE: Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Haiti, Canada, Liberia, DRC, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Benin, Philippines, Bangladesh… This has truly been an opportunity to dialogue with all sorts of people around all sorts of issues. Our primary topic (as part of the Jubilee delegation) has been debt.

Here’s a quick recap of our last few days:
FRIDAY: arrived in Nairobi after midnight (our luggage did not)

SATURDAY: Breakfast meeting with Jubilee USA & Jubilee UK, Ecumenical service led by Desmond Tutu, WSF registration

SUNDAY: First Session: Illegitimacy of Debt: Responsible/Alternative Financing; Debt & Conditionalities. Second Session: The World Bank, A Never-Ending Coup d’Etat

MONDAY: First Session: Kenya’s Debt & Kenya’s Actions. Second Session:The Illegitimate Debt Dialogue with Professor Wangari Maathai. Third Session: Arts Education in Uganda

TUESDAY: Today, we’re going to visit Kibera, the largest slum in all of Africa. Then, we’ll rush back to the Forum for more sessions.

We've arrived

2007-01-22T20:31:00.000-08:00

Jambo! Greetings from Kenya. Our delegation converged on Nairobi last night (Friday), from Portland, Seattle, D.C., and London, etc. After a late night check-in at the 680 Hotel, we woke (groggily) to bustling streets, streaming sunshine, and a beautiful 70 degree breeze.

Our Portland group (we are five) met the rest of the team this morning over a buffet breakfast, where we made plans for the day. First stop: An Ecumenical Service at a nearby basilica. Special Guest: none other than Desmond Tutu.

Tutu, a small but mighty man, nonchalantly made his way through the growing crowds of World Social Forum participants. After a beautiful introduction in which a woman recited Isaiah’s prophetic words of “proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor” (the Jubilee Year!), Tutu took the stage.

He called for “togetherness.” He said we cannot be human if we separate ourselves from human beings or humanity. We are a family, he said. Tutu reminded us of Jesus’ roots – a family fleeing to Africa. He reminded us of Jesus’ death, and that it was an African carrying his cross, not someone from the West. He drew connections to the early church and Africa, and the many great leaders who emerged from this place. Africans overcame slavery, he said. Overcame colonialism. Overcame apartheid. And created Nelson Mandela.

He reminded us that the West created the Holocaust, communism, fascism, weapons of mass destruction. He reminded us, begged us (in fact) to be more modest. Don’t be so “hoity-toity” West, he said. He called Africans to appreciate their heritage and resources. To stand tall. He called for strong African leadership – leaders FOR the land and it’s people. And he reminded us that we, the wealthy, have a responsibility to help those in need. Among things, Tutu asked the West to CANCEL THE DEBT!

The sun was powerful. We squinted to see. We opened our ears as Tutu spoke heatedly, and strained to hear when he closed in a whisper. Terrorism will always exist when poverty exists. When inequality exists. But… God smiles when we’re together.

We, the Portland 5, have been enjoying our time together. Tomorrow will kick off the beginning of the World Social Forum. We have a full day of workshops and sessions. Debt is one of the strong issues at the forum, so there is much to choose from. We’ll report more tomorrow, once the forum begins!

Stay well!

P@rtY!

2007-01-15T12:04:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who came out to our Dessert Party on Saturday night! We had a great time, and we collected all sorts of goods for The House of Many Stories Youth Centre in Malawi.

You brought pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, play-doh, yarn and needles, embroidery thread, cameras, puzzles, activity books, picture books — the list goes on. We know the kids will be VERY excited to see these new additions to the centre (yes, we spell "centre" the European way... after much deliberation). Thank you all for your generous contributions. I (Cara) was personally thrilled to think of all the time and energy you put into shopping for our kids. We hope you had fun doing so, and hope you know how significant your gifts truly are.

We're packing our bags at this very moment, and it looks like we can successfully fit all of the donated items into our suitcases. As you know, we'll be travelling first to Kenya and Zambia, so it will be quite a feat to lug nearly 200 pounds of gear around three African countries. Keep your fingers crossed that everything arrives safely (and timely).

We fly out Thursday, January 18th (Portland > Chicago > New York > London > Nairobi). We have much to do before we go, but we can't wait to get on that plane. Again, thanks for your donations. We'll post more pics (if our internet connection allows) of your gifts getting good use in Malawi. We arrive in Malawi at the start of February. Take care!

If anyone wants to send more supplies to the youth centre, you can use this PO Box:

Margaret Nandoli
PO Box 196
Balaka
Malawi
Central Africa

*Write "for donation only" on the box (in several places), otherwise we'll have to pay a hefty fee on the Malawi side of things. Packages can arrive in as short as 2 months or up to a year. Ah, Africa.

The Return of the Blog!

2006-12-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

So, it's been almost a year since our last post.

We had every intention of keeping you more regularly up to date on our last trip to Malawi (January to June '06). Usually, believe it or not, the town of Balaka, where we stay, has an internet cafe with a pretty decent connection. Unfortunately, however, their service provider (I think in Germany) was doing maintenance and sent, by mail, the new logon info to Balaka. It was over 2 months before they received it.

Needless to say, a lot has happened in the last year. As you probably have seen already we've redone the website. If you've looked around on the website, I imagine that you have read about the House of Many Stories, the new youth center in Balaka, Malawi that Bola Moyo has helped to initiate. You've probably gathered how excited we are to be a part of this project and a part of the lives of these young people who, already, have shown both a tremendous ability and desire to be leaders within their communities and families.

A lot has been unfolding on this side of the world as well. In September, Bola Moyo moved into an office in downtown Portland. Also in September, two very talented students from Portland State University, Patty and Desiree, came to intern with us and have just been tremendous assets to Bola Moyo. They have shown an amazing amount of commitment to what Bola Moyo is doing and they will be continuing on as interns, even while Cara and I are in Malawi. Another happening this year that we're proud of is the benefit dinner that we threw in November. It was at a new restaurant in Southeast Portland called the Screen Door (great southern soul food!). Over 80 guests joined us for some amazing African music and stories as well as a silent auction. We got to reconnect with good friends and meet so many new ones.

With the introduction of the new Bola Moyo site, we are reviving the blog. We will try to be as regular in our posts as we possibly can. Bola Moyo and the communities with wich we work are on the verge of some great things and we look forward to keeping you abreast of all that happens. We encourage you to continue being a part of what we're doing and to keep checking back here, we guarantee that it will be worth your time and effort.

Thanks and, in case we don't hear from you before then, Merry Christmas!
Dustin Pattison
Co-founder and Program Director, Bola Moyo

2006-02-02T09:59:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that it has already been a week and a half since I set off for Malawi.

I arrived safely in Balaka last Wednesday and was met by our partner Margaret. Since then, I've been busy going from school to school paying tuition fees for the children that are being sponsored. We will be meeting with these kids on a regular basis to receive their progress and attendance reports and to make sure that they are staying healthy and fed, and have basic necessities such as notebooks, pens, school uniforms, mosquito nets, and soap.

On Thursday, Margaret and I went to the community garden that we helped to start in November. It was doing rather well considering that Margaret has not had much help in its cultivation. The corn is healthy in all areas of the garden except for a few patches in which too much water has gathered (if you haven't heard yet, Malawi spent the last three years with not enough rain, and this year, the rain has been so abundant that it is destroying much of the crops). Next week, we will be planting some mango and papaya trees as well as tomatoes and sweet potatoes in the garden.

It is a difficult time to be in Malawi. It is in the midst of what is
called "the hunger season." It is the season in which last year's harvest has run out and Malawians are struggling to get by until the next harvest arrives. It is, on one hand, exciting to think that we can make a difference in the lives of some of these people but, on the other, overwhelming to realize that we can only help some.

For those of you (mainly family) who are concerned for my personal health and safety, I can assure that I am in great hands. One, I think, cannot find a people more hospitable (and peace-loving) than the people of Malawi. I am constantly welcomed into people's homes and being treated like a king. Not because I am an Mzungu (a white man) nor because I am a foreigner but because I am a guest in their home and, in Malawi, to merely to welcome a guest is a great honor.

All is well and moving right along. I am missing Cara and can't wait for her to join me here in March. We are both eager to see what the next 5 months has in store for the two of us, for Bola Moyo, and for the communities of which we have become a part. We look forward to keeping you up to date as it all unfolds.

Take Care and Tsalani Bwino (Stay Well),
Dustin

P.S. If anyone feels like sending any kind of letter or package to us in Malawi, our address here is:

Dustin and Cara Pattison
P.O. Box 196
Balaka, Malawi, Central Africa.

Please make sure to write "For Donation Only" in big letters on the package. This will deter tampering and prevent us from having to pay customs fees.
Thanks.

safe and sound

2006-01-24T11:23:00.000-08:00

After traveling for 48+ hours, Dustin has arrived in Lilongwe, Malawi safe and sound. Our partner Margaret's family greeted him at the airport, whisked him away to register at the American Embassy, took him cell phone shopping, and filled him with Malawian food.

He'll be boarding a "Shire" bus - a cheap, long, cramped ride to Balaka, where he'll settle in at a motel for a few nights before finding permanent housing.

Though he's completely exhausted from the flights, and isn't too keen on the humidity, Dustin's in great spirits. He'll start posting his experiences on this blog after he arrives in Balaka.

~Cara

getting ready to go

2006-01-19T10:02:00.000-08:00

These last few weeks have been both incredibly exhausting and rewarding. Before heading out to Malawi, Dustin and I have been sitting down with individuals in the Bay Area to personally share the stories of our Malawian friends affected by HIV. Growing numbers of people here in America are realizing how widespread HIV is, and its devastating effects on families (including babies), communities, and entire economies. Though it's hard to daily recount the stories of our friends' suffering, we feel blessed to encourage both understanding and compassion towards the people of Africa.

And the results of our meetings have been incredibly fruitful. Upon hearing the needs of Malawian people, and in turn - our organization's goals to meet these needs - 15 new families (so far) have chosen to give on a monthly basis to Bola Moyo's programs, resulting in over 30 families strongly dedicated to our work.

These next two days, we'll be busy packing (one small suitcase and a guitar, of course) and getting Dustin ready to board that plane to Malawi. The flight will be long and grueling (San Fran to New York to Johannesburg, South Africa to Malawi - including one 16 hour layover and a few smaller ones) before Dustin meets our partner Margaret in Lilongwe.

Dustin's first "order of business" is to accompany our 16 sponsored students to their respective secondary schools to meet the head masters and pay their school fees. Next, it'll be off to the community garden to see how things have been going and how we can improve the project.

I'll be heading back to Portland shortly to wrap up some paperwork and train our friend and volunteer, Dave Johnson, on how to handle the office while we are away. Then on March 1st, I'll join Dustin in Malawi - where we'll stay through the end of June, further developing our micro-loan and creative education programs.

We look forward to keeping you posted via this blog! We'll try and post from Malawi at least once a week (if/when the internet works). :) Thanks for reading and feel free to keep in touch with us through e-mails and blog comments. Take care.

~Cara Pattison