From Lilongwe to Blantyre

The recession is making an impact on organizations like Malawi Against Physical Disabilities (MAP) Full orders but no materials to make the equipment

We stayed at the SOS children's village in Lilongwe. They do an amazing work. The Malawi Social services alert them to children that have been orphaned. Their Social Affairs Officer visits the children (anywhere in the country), meets any family members and spends a lot of time getting to know the background as well as the children. Then the child/children will be placed in a house of about 10 children with their new mother. Lots of support is given and the children always keep links with their homes. So they live in a new family, have a chance of education even to u niversity for those who are capable. Some of the children have now left the SOS village and married looking after their own families

Benjamin, son of Lamack who works at SOS. He attends the SOS School

Moving on towards Blantyre.

We went to Nkotakots first and landed up going by minibus loaded to the gunnels and then 2 huge matresses were tied on the outside over the back windscreen!

Photo of fast food available - chips take-away through the window of the bus

After a long minibus trip from Nkotakota we arrived in Blantyre in the dark. Lesley fell off a step and fractured her wrist. So we have got to know the inside of Hospitals going for X-ray and ECG and finally today she was in the wonderful Cure Hospital, having the fracture manipulated under anisthetic. Wonderful care - all is well.

Lyn helping Lesley tend to the broken arm

In Malawi!

Our first day in Malawi consisted of meetings, meetings and more meetings. These were really interesting as they were with people from Malawi Government Ministries interested in the training on cerebral palsy - hopefully CPA can contribute in helping children through the training given to Malawian therapists technicians and other means. We also visited Malawi Council for the Handicapped (above)

Lameck Saka showing Lesley the gaiters and arm wraps that are made at the SOS Children's village in Lilongwe.

SOS kindly allowed us to use a room at their school for the training.

Training for Trainers Workshop Participants

The Lilongwe group, comprising of therapists, Rehabilitation workers and equipment makers. All had done a CPA course before and have had the two day training in order to pass on their skills more effectively. They all taught on a subject of their choice for 5 minutes each. By the huge varitey of topics and intersting presentations they will certainly be training others well.

Over the last week Lesley (Education speicalistMalawi