SERVAS MALAWI
NEWSLETTER 16.
“Welcome to our Sixteenth Servas Malawi Newsletter – can you believe it?”
June 2007 This newsletter is 'YOURS', send ideas/stories to Editor: Demelza Benbow, P.O.Box 211, Blantyre.:
LOCAL MALAWI SERVAS NEWS & a ‘WELCOME’ to NEW MEMBERS
ê ê ê ê ê ê
Report by: Demelza LEWIS
n Mary BOLOWEZA Mary recently left Malawi for HIV training in South Africa – we wish her success! She is now Youth Support co-ordinator – see youth events.
n Charles + Chimwemwe DZAMALALA. Birth - ‘Junior’ in July 2006. CONGRATS!
n John & Prima MBALALE join!
John & Prima ( have Primas sister daughters living with them – Tapiwa, Martha & Pizga); they like Basket Ball, Chess & Films. John works at 1st Merchant on cell:08-505886 Email:jtmbalale@ yahoo.co.uk and Prima’s at Stanbic on P:08-866765; Email:
n Deborah SIKOYA joins Servas!
Deborah works as chief chef at Mount Soche give her a ring and welcome her to the Servas Malawi family on 01-820588. Cell: 08-362027 Email:
SOUTHERN AFRICA REGION +
ü WORLD SERVAS NEWS ü
ê ê ê ê ê ê
SERVAS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH & FAMILY EVENT
Following the Servas International Conference in Latina in April 2006. The Youth committee directed by Pablo in Argentina and Ann in Great Britain are on the move! The Next Youth Event is to be held in the UK in place called the Dalesbridge Centre, near Settle YORKSHIRE ’07: July 28th – August 4th ‘07 Would you like to go? Are you 18-30yrs old?
· Are you unable to afford to go?
· 90% travel grants are available for those who have been 1. active in Servas Malawi e.g. hosted/travelled; 2. in the age category 3. have not recently travelled abroad 4. involved with Servas Malawi Youth. (You are not? So get joining! î See Saulo Youth Report.) 5. Have the support of your National Sec; National group.
IF YOU FEEL YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR THIS TRAVEL GRANT? CONTACT DEMELZA, MARY OR SAULO OR YOU COULD DIRECTLY APPLY TO Ann Greenhough dasher1949@aol .com or Pablo Chufeni Pablo chufeni@yahoo .com.ar and CC a copy to me for National Secretary support. Email: .
ACCOMMODATION: To be in bunkhouses/camping.
COSTS: Kept at a minimum - so as to allow as many as possible to be able to afford to attend.
SOUTHERN AFRICA REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Sheldon WEEKS – our Regional Coordinator based in Botswana is calling Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi; Mauritius, Reunion, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda Servas groups to attend the December 2007 meeting. To be held in Livingstone – Zambia. î See the minutes .
(Cartoon drawn by hand.)
Q HOSTING/ACTIVITY/NEWS
n Demelza and her family visited Honoratus Kadyapakeni who is a public Health inspector at Nkhotakota District Hospital. See all about it in a later newsletter from 2 year old Sichella
n Demelza hosted friend+ Israeli traveller Amir LEVI – F See Marys report.
n Charles Dzamalala+family Chantelle French Traveller.
n John hosted – Amir Traveller from Israel.
n Demelza hosted Sylvia+Alan Boyle from S. Canada friends from the Latina conference.
(See page 21 of NO48 for comments by Sylvia)
NEXT MEETING
Day: Saturday 23rd June
Time: 1500 prompt!
Demelza’s in Blantyre
01-8821520 09-48298
v¯UP COMING SOCIALS ®
n MICHIRU HIKE-UP TO CROSS
DAY: Sunday 12th November 2006 1400pm met Petroda gas station for pick-up. Hat, water, snacks and a big smile J. An easy walk up a very wide path and the views are to die for!
n HARROGATE HOUSE 2006
Facepaint/film afternoon December 4TH
Sunday afternoon 1500. Bring snacks for the kids. Demelza will meet us there at Open Arms Infant care home. Harrogate house cares for 2-6 year old and is an extension to Open Arms.
The plan is to paint the children as reindeers (if they want) and let them watch a Xmas film.
Interested? Contact Demelza or just turn up.
(Open Arms is next to Makys and along from 7th Day Adventist Hospital in central Blantyre.)
W WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LAST SOCIAL X
n MICHIRU V HIKE-UP by Ramona.
So this was not-week-day social meeting but on a weekend as everyone asked for! To me it was a bit daunting (I am not known for climbing mountains with enthusiasm!) But it was quite easy. The path is wide and steps have been cut out of the mud and at the start concreted over.
As we walked up, there were lots of ‘stations of the cross’ every 100 meters to STOP look at and chat at. It took us 30 mins to walk up and the views at the top were quite stunning.
I was quite shocked at how lovely they were. It really is a hidden-gem and I wonder why it isn’t highlighted more as a tourist ‘should-see’ site.
Hat, water and snacks were needed on route and it was a bit more arduous than Demelza had made out; but if A 4 year old can do it giggling as she runs past a toddling 1 year old - then there is NO REASON anyone can’t do it – I did!
PHOTO: At the top of Michiru & proud of it!
ê ê
YOUTH GROUP ACTIVITY REPORT
Report by Saulo PHIRI
OK move aside you oldies it’s the youth who are the future – we are here!
Mary Boloweza has been in contact with Pablo in Argentina about getting youth involved in Servas.
Pablo is co-ordinating the international Youth Servas movement with support from Anne Greenhough in the UK. They have had international meetings, exchanges and are putting a newsletter together + a music CD compilation.
Saulo and Mary tried to call the 1st meeting on the morning of Saturday 4th November. They agreed to take the positions of: Youth Coordinator – Saulo
Youth support – Mary.
We then planned future activities like a face painting and some sport activities.
SO If YOU are aged 18-30 years and interested in joining this new Servas Malawi Youth Group then please contact Saulo on: or 09-931857 or Mary on: Email:maryjboloweza2002 @yahoo.com. Get your children to join!
- We would like youth help on a new logo for Servas - Youth and articles for the youth website and any
- Original music for an international youth CD.
NEW T-SHIRTS
We have lots of large new Servas – all colours and sizes from mouse-small to rhino-traditional-large!
Written &!edited by Demelza (all alone!)
Spelling mistakes are on purpose – try to spot them!
PAST SERVAS MEETINGS/AGMS
12th SERVAS
MALAWI MEETING
Thanks so very much to everyone.
We had a varied meeting on 3pm Saturday 11th November even though rain was torrential; with good attendance x + kids! BIG THANKS to Rita for minute taking; to everyone who came! But especially Ramona with her Chibuku!
ATTENDING: (*All took S.I.Newsletter No 48.)
Malawi members: *Ramona BOWLER (& her Chibouk!!), *Glenda Shotguns, *Calribet (Betty) MAKAMO, *Exton MTANDE, *Demelza BENBOW +3 kids, *Saulo PHIRI, *Marcel+Caroline CHISI, *Mary BOLOWEZA, *Chris MISUKU, *Rita Latif, *Deborah SIKOYA. Left Early: Exton & Calribet
Visitors: Sisters of Marcel x2.
APOLOGIES: Ethel, Mavis, Marco & Edith, Silverado & Jane, Cecilia.
DNA’s (Said ‘yes we’ll be come’…..but didn’t!)
Clara, Tayanie, Charles, John & Prima, Clara.
(We were all so L sad we didn’t see you!)
(chibuku å ä å chibuku)
AGENDA (Chair – DJAL)
èSecretary: Rita
LAST MEETING MINUTES – DJAL
üMinutes proposed, accepted by Rita & seconded by Ramona as an accurate account of the last meeting in 11th March 2006.
MATTERS ARISING
wNew T-shirts now bought – all sizes & colours especially large and X-larges as requested.
wLilongwe –no new host members; we still need them there. Could George, Marcel and Calribet please go seek some out, introduce+interview!
HOST LIST UPDATE AND CHECK.
*New Host list to go with this newsletter.*
In an effort to prevent errors – members actually corrected their own host entries on Demelza laptop – modern technology strikes!
Great controversy over putting actual age/date of birth down by Ramona & Glenda – who everyone knows have only just past 21 anyway…..what was all the fuss about?? Glenda to write an article. Editors note: Latest International Newsletter No 48 has a column all about the ‘what is a youth?’
MEMBER NEWS
The meeting was informed with great sadness about the unexpected death of Zybion in Dedza.
The news was heard with much disappointment and a letter of condolence was signed to be sent to Cecilia with apologies for our lack of attendance at his funeral (we did not know about it until after it had taken place). Rita requested that a newsletter be sent to Cecilia mentioning this. î Demelza to highlight it in the next 16th newsletter minutes she sends out.
SOUTHERN AFRICA AREA METTING
December 2007 Servas Area Meeting
This will take place in Zambia & there may be some help with travel expenses. Note its Dec.
Rita and Ramona may attend and represent Malawi. Would you like to go to? Contact Ramona on 08-202800; or Rita on DHL Blantye. 01- 820688 Cell:09-441224. ; or Deputy Mary Boloweza on Ph:08-879648 Email:maryjboloweza.
For further information on costs, venue, food arrangements, agenda, activities contact our area coordinator in Botswanna – Mr Sheldon WEEKS on .
YOUTH GROUP INITIATIVE - Mary
Prompted by contact with Pablo in Argentina Mary and Saulo have started up a youth initiative in Malawi. Getting everyone together for a meeting is proving hard going. Each will be contacting YOU soon if your have any children living with you 14 years and above or contact them directly on Mary Boloweza on Ph:08-879648 Email:maryjboloweza. Mary Boloweza on Ph:08-879648 Email:mary jboloweza. or Saulo Phiri on 09-931857 or .
It would be great if we could send a youth member to attend the July youth meeting in the UK and there is a possibility of funding!! So get involved and get active!
ANYONE INTERESTED IN HELPING CONTACT MARY OR DEMELZA
MEMBERSHIP FEE DISCUSSION.
After much deliberation it was decided that:-
a) a joining fee be taken from new members which covers them for þ a new t-shirt, þ badge & þ laminated joining card; þ Servas organisation info, þ hosting do’s & don’ts, þ last newsletter and a þ welcome letter. Set (as of 2006) at MK1000.
b) An annual fee be requested from members (as of 2006) MK500, which is a token amount towards:
Membership fee covers:
lPrinting of Malawi newsletter 2-3x a year.
lServas International Newsletter 2x a year.
lPostage of above; lInternet use answering 10-15emails each week.
lServas phone calls to members – meeting reminders; lLeaflet photocopies.
lTransport for those with limited means;
lComputer/printing/very costly ink use;
lHosting meetings, food & drink.
lProducing and laminating Servas Splodges;
lDeveloping photo’s & film of Servas meetings
lProducing/printing/posting Servas host list;
lOne-off special payments e.g. Funeral.
$$$ Payment is by 1) cash direct to National secretary or deputy or 2) into The First Merchant Bank; Blantyre Branch; SERVAS MALAWI; SAVINGS ACCOUNT NO. 0005200405007.
So – members outside of Blantyre can now pay!
Please send pay-in slip to Demelza; P.O.Box211, Blantyre - so I know you’ve put money into the acc.
SAULO – PRESENTATION ON ISRAEL VISIT AS A SERVAS TRAVELLER.
Saulo gave a talk with photos boards which initiated a lot of discussion about how he funded the visit and how much the country cost to travel around in and how he was received by the Servas Hosts there. The fact it was the Holy Land was particularly interesting to many members. He reported it to be the best part of his entire gap year and many were surprised at that as the country is often not seen as safe+stable.
î See his enclosed reports on Ireland & Israel.
FORTHCOMING SOCIAL EVENT
n Film Afternoon at Harrogate House - Contact Demelza or Ramona they do these add hoc – just call and ask when you can join the next one or initiate it yourself!
n Michiru Way of the cross hike/walk.
Sunday after this national meeting.
S.MALAWI COMMUNITY PROJECT LINK; NAMASIMBA REPORT:
The Namasimba Day Care Centre was recently the lucky recipients of substantial NGO Aid. To date we have not arranged a visit, though we have a bag of clothing for them. Contact Demelza if you would like to go with her on her next visit to distribute the clothes or just visit the project. 01-821520
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1) Meetings: General feelings was meetings should be held 4x a year & not 2x a year – Demelza said it was hard enough to get everyone to attend twice.
NEW INTERNATIONALIST NEWS NO.48 Now enclosed or given to you if you attended the last meeting in person. See page 5!
YOUR ...... VOICE
(SERVAS MEMBERS SPEAK)
ê ê ê ê ê ê
REPORT ON DAY TRIP FROM BLANTYRE
by Mary Christmas – Day Host
I Mary, Amir (Servas Traveller:Israel), a friend called David, Chantelle (Servas Traveller:France)+ the Benbow family all left Blantyre for a day trip to Nyala Park down at Sucoma. It was easy to find, though hot! We saw lots of different animals like giraffe, zebras, nyala, buffalo & had fun driving around trying to find them hiding behind trees. We were lucky because we got real close up to some of them and they didn’t kill us! I don’t regret being a day-host and so far its worked out well – although having a working cell phone and checking your email is an expenditure. I liked our time because these guests got so excited to see ‘animals in the wild’ (I did too!). We had a picnic with a birthday cake (Davids) and gobbled chimanga (which we bought at the cross border) like monkeys!! We got the chance to stop and help nuns change a burst tyre on the way down the escarpment and so I hope that good deed smoothes our way to heaven!