{"id":9128,"title":"Malawi Memories","description":"Malawi memories","content":"

Malawi Memories
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As you may already know - the meaning behind ROFL is Reach Out For Life. Named after a Malawian organisation and the purpose behind the store. There is a story behind Reach Out For Life and how I became involved; so if you are curious, by all means read on.<\/p>

I will need to take you back to 2007. You will find me as a young teenager filled with adventurous spirit, about to embark on my 'gap year' in Malawi. Plucked fresh from life in rural Scotland I landed in rural Malawi, deep green and beautiful. I spent 8 wonderful months in a village volunteering in the primary school. It is an experience that will stay with me forever. The local people embraced me as if I were family. If you have never had the pleasure of meeting a Malawian then let me assure you they are extremely friendly people. They are also full of lively music, laughter and strength.<\/p>

Malawi had so much to offer. I don't know if I managed to teach very well while I was there but I learned alot. My heart and mind were thirsty and I drank in Malawi. I learnt how to walk, eat, dress, talk, dance and sing like a Malawian. Or at least I tried to. The key to walking like a Malawian is to imagine that you are never running late for the bus, the bus is always late for you, so there is no need to hurry. (As it happens this is the truth of catching a bus in Malawi). Nsima is the food eaten most days, there is a knack to rolling it with one hand and making it just the right shape to scoop up the sauce. I dressed in a chitenje; I danced the manganje (which feels very similar to a Ceilidh); a sang in a choir - my small voice drowned out by the powerful African harmonies. I carried water from the well in a blue bucket on my head, holding it steady with both hands while young girls passed me with their much larger buckets, sometimes not even holding on. My ability to balance things on my head is an impressive trick here at home, but the truth is my skills are nothing in Malawi. I witnessed the strength of people as individuals and in a community as every day they battled those problems that plague third world countries. For the memories, music, laughter and strength Malawi shared with me I will be forever in its debt.<\/p>

And what is the point of me telling you all this? (Which barely scratches the surface.) The point is - the idea that Malawi has nothing and we have everything is not true. We both have things to offer each other.<\/p>

The story is not finished because I still haven't explained where the T-shirts come in. Fast forward ten longs years to 2017 and I was back in Malawi for a short visit, accompanied by my Dad. During this visit I reconnected with a former student I had taught all those years ago in the village primary school. His name is Itcan Mpithi. (The picture at the top is of Itcan and I visiting our old classroom). He was all grown up and working hard on a project to help his fellow Malawians. Itcan had received an education through a UK charity. Inspired and grateful for what they had given him he was determined to do the same for others. This is how I became involved in Reach Out For Life, the organisation Itcan had started in 2014.<\/p>

My Dad and I saw the work Itcan and his team were doing first hand. Their focus is on helping communities with education, health, youth engagement and empowering girls. Every year since they started they have been growing. During this Covid 19 pandemic they have used their position in the community to raise awareness of the virus and provide practical support.<\/p>

The ROFL store is one of several ideas to find financial support for Reach Out For Life outside of donations alone. But it is more than that. I hope that it will be a space where Scottish and Malawian artists can express their talent and earn from it.<\/p>

Thank-you for your interest (Zikomo kwambiri)<\/p>

Mairi<\/p>

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