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Making Allowances

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” →

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Need the latest iPhone?

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.

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Lack of Communication

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” →

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A Day in the Life

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” →

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Opening Tiwale Centre

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.

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Joseph

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!

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Fainess

Fainess looked embarrassed when I asked her what she would like to do after completing secondary school. She took a long time to answer, apparently thinking about this question for the first time in her life. Finally she said she would like to work in an office. No particular office, it seems, just anyplace that gets her away from living the life of a subsistence farmer. Fainess’ father died when she was very young, and her mother does all that she can to support Fainess and the four other children who are still at home. She has just finished primary school, where her favorite subjects were English and math, and where she enjoyed playing netball during her free time. Fainess is now attending her first year of secondary school, with funding provided through Kindle

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Piles of Poop

When anyone starts learning Chichewa, one of the first phrases learned is “pang’ono pang’ono.” It means little by little. In the past week, I have heard this phrase when talking about my children adjusting to life back in Lilongwe, when discussing language learning, and when talking about the work that needs to be done on our house. It is a handy and encouraging phrase in Malawi where change occurs slowly. Continue reading “Piles of Poop” →

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Education at Kindle

Yesterday afternoon I had to do one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, turning away an orphaned boy with legitimate needs. It was heartbreaking to see the hope fade from his face as I explained that we weren’t able to help pay his school fees because of a lack of funds. Continue reading “Education at Kindle” →

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