Gap Year in Malawi

Class of 2017 leavers Anna Shepherd and Catherine Gallagher are currently on a gap year at an orphanage in Malawi.  

Prior to leaving BRGS, the girls asked the sixth form and staff to bring in any toys they had at home that could be sent ahead of them to Malawi to be used as Christmas presents.  The photo shows the delight on a child's face on receiving the gifts on Christmas Day.  Further photos are available by clicking here. The sign 'zikomo' in the photos translates as 'thank you'.  It was a Christmas Day with a difference for Anna and Catherine with the traditional meal as a treat on the day being goat and rice.  The usual diet is nsima which is a maize based substance eaten with kidney beans.

Post-Christmas, the girls have begun to set up a netball team and they are also starting to have a more active role in the children's schooling, focusing on maths and English (the language spoken by the children is Chichewa).  They are also busy organising the library at the orphanage and most importantly, spending time playing with the children outside.  

The actual orphanage is situated in a village called Bangula, about two hours from the country's commerical captial of Blantyre.  The orphanage has been open for over 10 years with a primary schools that also accommodates over 100 local students.  It was set up and is still is run by Will and Pam Phillips.  Will is from Canada and Pam is from Ameria.  When they first arrived they lived in tents for several months and have helped the community especially by providing maize for those stranded after horrific floods in Bangula two years ago which left 200 people dead and over a thousand people homeless.