The International Journal of STD & AIDS has published a paper on research done at the free HIV clinic at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Penny’s role on the research team was to prepare the nurses for the study, establish protocols, and supervise the nurses. These are some of our findings: Continue reading “Publication on Cervical Cancer”
Cynthia is one of the secondary students supported by Kindle. This interview was done by Steve Cook of Equitas.
My parents were here for two weeks last month. Mostly they came to see us (more specifically our kids), but they also helped us to get re-started on vocational training at Kindle. Continue reading “Vocational Training”
As director of Kindle Orphan Outreach, I rely heavily on the rest of the management team for how we should respond to various situations. We often spend much time talking through issues to reach a consensus. And many times I have decided that they know better than I do, or else that this is another example of cultural preferences, and I just go along with the others.
But there is an issue that has continued to trouble me through many hours of discussion over the past three years. Continue reading “Making Allowances”
Yes, this Kindle staff member’s phone still works even though all but one of the number keys has fallen off!
Almost everyone in Malawi has a cell phone, but many are falling apart like this one.
There is no monthly service bill. Instead, you buy “air time” cards, putting anything from 12¢ to $2.50 worth of credit on your phone. Then you can send texts for 5¢ each or make calls for about 15¢ per minute.
We have both had communication difficulties this month:
Penny told Dyna, our former language teacher, that Dean was buying sand, and Dyna asked why he needed it. Penny replied, “Aku panga chimbudzi.” With a hint of a smile, Dyna asked, “Aku manga chimbudzi?” A couple of hours later Penny suddenly burst out laughing, realizing what she had said. “Manga” and “panga” both mean “make,” but in a different sense. Aku manga chimbudzi means, “He is building a toilet,” while aku panga chimbudzi is, well, something that you do in the toilet. Continue reading “Lack of Communication”
I woke up late this morning, almost 6:00, to hear one of my neighbors calling “Odi” outside of my house. That’s how you call attention to the fact that you’ve arrived. No doorbells. And knocking would be rude, used only as a last resort. You stand in the yard outside the house calling “Odi…..Odi-odi…..Odi!…..ODI!” until somebody answers. Continue reading “A Day in the Life”
We’ve completed Phase 1 of construction on “Tiwale Centre,” a meeting hall and vocational training school. This photo shows some Kindle workers in Tiwale Centre teaching guardians of orphans about farming techniques to increase their harvest.
Joseph is the fifth of six children in his family, and is just starting his first year of secondary school. He will be leaving his home in Jelabi village where he has been living with his mother and a younger sister, because his new school is so far from his home. He did so well in primary school that he was invited to attend two different schools, including Chipoka Secondary School, one of the best schools in the district. He was able to start going to Chipoka thanks to support provided through Kindle. His dream job after completing secondary school is to be a policeman “if it is at all possible.” If he does as well at secondary school as he did at primary school, then surely it will be possible! And there’s no reason that a boy who prefers reading to football should not do well at school if given the chance!
The Stockers' Stories 