If variety is the spice of life, then this last week has certainly been of red-hot chilli proportions.

Monday – helped draft a funding proposal to the World Bank, aimed at combatting teacher absenteeism in rural schools. A surprisingly large problem in Malawi, it can prove seriously detrimental to students’ education; the official government teacher/student ratio is 1:60, but in reality it is often 1:100 or even 1:200. If teachers are skiving, then lessons remain untaught and the students remain in ignorance. We hope that, if funding is obtained, measures can be put in place to tackle this issue.

Tues/Weds/Thursday – visited various primary schools in Mchinji district. Primary schools have 8 years (or ‘standards’). Primary education is free, but many pupils cannot attend as they cannot afford the materials or are required to work on their families’ farms. It is not uncommon to meet pupils in the higher standards who are in their late teens or even early twenties, who have had to repeat years or start their education late. Aside from teaching on health issues (particularly relating to water, sanitation and personal hygiene), we have given lessons on geography, history and maths. All the pupils are enthusiastic and eager to learn, and are especially interested in hearing about life in England. They keenly appreciate the difference that education can make to their lives, and it has been humbling to talk to some of them and find out their future aspirations.

Friday – helped construct pit latrines in a local school. We helped prepare the foundations, collate building materials and make cement. It’s amazing how energy-draining it can be, to work under a blazing sun doing manual work. But what was more amazing were the huge crowds of pupils who gathered to watch our every move; they even formed a long line to pass bricks along to us. These latrines may look primitive, but they are surprisingly effective.

Saturday – day off! After a relaxed morning, we travelled to a local hotel to take advantage of its pool and sauna facilities. Basically a health spa, Malawian style, all for just the equivalent of £2.

Sunday – church started at 7:30AM and lasted for the best part of 3 hours. An impassioned speaker from Cameroon gave the sermon. In the afternoon, we played basketball with some local lads, on a court that was covered with puddles and wet mud. The slippery surface definitely livened up the match; I ended up on my backside at least once! Add to that a ball in the face and an elbow to the jaw, and I almost felt like I’d been playing rugby by the time we finished.

This week we’re off to the Salima District, near Lake Malawi. Stay tuned for more updates…