Getting Stuck In

After having the craic yesterday, this morning Jamie, Jack and I made our first steps in the volunteer work we have come here to do. We hope to improve the operations of the computer centre aspect of Ungweru. We have guidelines on how we can do this from an analysis on Ungweru carried out by a recent volunteer, James Judge.

James’ report covers the history and objectives of the learning centre, and highlights the path forward. Jack will be focussing on the mzuzu.org project – a proposed initiative to set up a web design business which will raise funds for Ungweru – whereas Jamie and I are going to analyse the Lusekelo School of Computing. These will be our primary projects, but we hope to have time also to tidy up the computers, and the network that links them, as well as installing a printer.

The Lusekelo School of Computing makes courses in basic computing skills available to members of the local community at affordable prices. Here students can take courses in Introduction to Computers, Typing Skills and the use of Microsoft Office products, Word, Excel, etc. At present 2 teachers use 10 computers to give 30 hour courses to some 25 students per month.

The general operation of the school requires attention, with a view to improving its efficiency. It will be our task to analyse the classes offered, how they are run, how much each course costs and how many classes are included in each package. In addition, we hope to take measures to overcome some recent difficulties encountered by the school such as damage to key equipment caused by a lightening storm, and the high turnover rate in teachers.

This morning we met with Kelvin, one of the teachers at Lusekelo, who gave us an overview of the school. Our plan from here is as follows:
- Jack to meet Macneil Mhango who is most familiar with the proposed mzuzu.org project
- Speak to John about installing the new equipment we brought with us from Ireland
- Meet with some of the students attending the school
- Meet Vickness, the second teacher at the school
- Ask Patrick about the possibility of obtaining insurance for the centre and protecting the equipment from lightening damage

The morning was fairly successful, and we agreed to work towards our meeting with JohnPaul, the tomorrow evening. This afternoon we attended a drama production by the St Augustine’s Drama Group, who write and perform plays with strong social messages. Today they were condemning the traditional practice of inheritance which is synonymous with polygamy, whereby the brother of a man who dies inherits the widow and her children. This has exacerbated the spread of AIDS.

At the play we were introduced to members of the local home based care group, who are adult volunteers from the community who dedicate their time to supporting orphans, widows, and the ill. They provide practical to these people who cannot support themselves. They clean the houses of the ill and provide them with blankets and sometimes food. They give clothes to orphans and pay their school fees.