Work Hard, Play Hard

Living and working in Mzuzu has so far felt very similar to living and working in the UK. Although we are only here for 10 weeks it really does feel that we have taken up job contracts and residence here. The working week, which is filled with project development, creating budgets, fundraising, teaching and working as a team would be almost exactly the same if we were working in a UK organisation. There are a few stark differences though and the most pronounced and serious of these is putting a halt to all of the good work Young Voices has managed to do over the last six weeks. 

Corruption, embezzlement or the misuse of money is, of course, a problem faced in business and the third sector in the UK. However, I have never personally had to work in the face of such problems. Having planned, budgeted for and almost completed the Young Voices health programme it is frustrating to say the least when we are faced with a complete lack of funds (and therefore essential resources needed to complete the project) because of corruption at an organisational level. Our Lattitude team leaders have been helpful in addressing the issue and attempting to resolve it but the fact remains that, whilst the corrupted people are still in charge of the NGO, it will be impossible to create sustainable projects that will run year round with or without the help of Lattitude volunteers. On a personal level I feel disillusioned and really angry that the hard-working, dedicated, passionate Malawian volunteers who work for Young Voices every day are being let down by their project manager. 

These issues have not diminished my opinion of the truly important work that we and the other Lattitude teams in Mzuzu have done since we got here. In fact, it makes me prouder of our whole team and more determined to finish our project to a really high standard. 

There's nothing more satisfying than walking past one of the primary schools that we have taught in and seeing children washing their hands properly. We will have targeting a staggering number of young children, roughly 15,000, since we arrived. Young Voices operates with an active team of three national volunteers and so, with our Lattitude team of three, we are a six strong team of young volunteers presenting to each class in eight primary schools in the local area. Each class has about 80-100 students!

My opinion of all of the amazing Malawian volunteers, project leaders, families and children I have met could never be dented by the actions of one corrupted individual. Living in Mzuzu has taught me that Malawians are the most welcoming, generous, warm-hearted people I have ever had the pleasure to meet.

With only four weeks until we fly back to the UK I am starting to think of everything I will miss about this place but the list is too long and upsetting to type out now! By next week the health programme will be finished and we will be on the home straights of the whole Lattitude project. At some point I will have to come to terms with leaving the family and friends I have made here but, for now, there is still time to work hard and play hard!