Hello Folks!
Orbit here, greetings from Ekwendeni, Malawi!
I’m spending 9 months living and working in Northern Malawi through an internship with Presbyterian World Services and Development and International Ministries of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. I am working with the Livingstonia Synod AIDS Program (LISAP).
LISAP has been mandated to coordinate the HIV&AIDS interventions in the northern region of Malawi. They focus on the underlying issues that facilitate the transmission of HIV such as nutrition, economic empowerment, stigma & discrimination, child marriages, sexual reproductive health and the vertical transmission from mother to child. LISAP implements sustainable initiatives that involve church and community leaders. My job is to monitor and evaluate the projects that have been implemented. I conduct focus groups to determine the successes, challenges, propose recommendations and lessons learnt.
There was a massive culture shock when I first arrived – a new language, new customs, new climate, it took me a while to find my groove here. But my time here is not all work. I’ve been able to go on some excursions since I arrived. I’ve been to Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve to see elephants and hippos and to South Luangwa National Park in Zambia to go on a safari. It was absolutely incredible to see so many animals in their natural environment. We are also frequent visitors to the beach on Lake Malawi, absolutely gorgeous!
Here is a link to my blog for those of you who are interested!
https://9monthsinmalawi.wordpress.com/
Tiwonanenge!
