EDUCATION
A new term begins at The Australian Primary School at Msema...and there it's a red letter day when you get issued with new exercise books, pens and pencils!
But although they're living in rural Malawi...a long way from any regional centre...and also without electricity.....we've managed to help them to watch TV at school...with the help of car batteries and inverters.
|
Despite the earlier flooding rains which had brought death, injury, property damage and the loss of many local maize crops, the Msema community battled on bravely...completing the construction of the 3 extra houses and facilties for the additional teachers assigned to the Australian Primary School there. The third house has just been completed, with some interior work to be finished.These extra buildings...vital infrastructure... were funded by AusAID under a special grant to enable the school to become a Full Primary School his year.
Sixty 3-seater desks have already been made for the almost 200 extra students, and these are being stored in a nearby hall.
The two school vegetable gardens produced a small maize crop.
In addition to hundreds of new text books, nine large cartons of books from Sydney have also been welcomed and added to the school library.
Materials for the new 2-classroom block have also been bought in preparation for that construction.
|
News Update - December
2007/January 2008 |
Great Christmas/ New Year news!
The Australian government's overseas development agency,
AusAID, has advised that our funding application for further
assistance, in hand with the Searchlight Orphan Care organisation
in Msema, has been successful.
We're just received the news from AusAID's office in Mozambique.
This additional Australian government funding, together
with further financial assistance from The Australian AIDS
Fund Incorporated, will now enable The Australian Primary
School at Msema to be expanded to the status of a Full Primary
School...with extra classrooms and more onsite housing forextra
teachers.
The school will now be able to increase its student enrolment
from 470 to 650. A huge forward step!
We've already ordered the production of 60 three-seater
desks, text books and additional school uniforms for the
newcomers.
The great bonus is that all of its students will be able
to complete their full primary schooling at the one location,
instead of enrolling at another school further afield once
they've completed Grade 4.
New houses and facilities for two extra teachers were built by mid-January despite constant rain..and working through the nights with the help of car headlights....and the third will be completed by month's end. The builders also took the opportunity to build a small water storage reservoir while they were at it!
Just a few weeks ago The Australian AIDS Fund received an
SOS from Msema....vicious winds had torn off the school's
roofing iron! Fortunately no one was injured and repairs
were quickly put in hand, with a stronger gauge metal used
as a replacement.
The wind had not only torn off the roofing sheets off but
also the toof timbers!
|
News Update - August,
2007 |
The Ceremonial Opening Day of the Australian
Primary School at Msema
Malawi describes itself as "The Warm Heart of Africa"
and so it proved to be on Tuesday, August 7, 2007,...a sun-filled
day of great celebration as anyone who was anyone in the
rural Msema region and far beyond streamed into the village
to be part and parcel of the colourful ceremonies to officially
mark the school's Ceremonial Opening Day.
The Mozambique-based Australian High Commissioner to Malawi,
His Excellency, Jonathan Sheppard, flew into Malawi for
the occasion, accompanied by Stacey Walker, the Maputo Program
Manager for AusAID, Australia's overseas development agency
which helped finance the school's construction.
The High Commissioner delighted his audience with his news
about the Australian government's assistance to Malawi and
other countries in southern Africa. He was welcomed and
introduced by Pastor Duncan Nyozani, the Director of the
Searchlight Orphan Care organisation (SOC), which had partnered
The Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated in the overall assistance
project of which the school is the centrepiece.
CLICK HERE for High
Commissioner's speech.
The flag-draped table was also resplendent with a blaze
of colourful blooms, that contrasted with the red and whites
of the school uniformed children and the host of visitors
and sightseers. They included Village Headmen, chiefs,teachers
from other schools, government officials and even a television
crew from Malawi television in Blantyre, along with other
media.
There were speeches too from Msema's own Village Headman,
the Chairman of the School Committee, the District Commissioner
and the District Education Manager.
A highlight was the ceremonial cutting of a ribbon across
the door of the Staffroom, marked by shouted applause and
praises. A sea of faces filled every available space.
All pronounced themselves very pleased with the project
and duly added their remarks in the Visitors Book.
Earlier, on their way to Msema, the High Commissioner and
Stacey Walker also drove through the nearby village of Kambona
where they also viewed the Australian Junior Secondary School.
|
Update: Mid-May 2007. Planning
for Ceremonial Opening Day at our Msema School |
Planning is now underway for a formal ceremonial opening Day
for the Australian Primary School at Msema...with August tipped
for the great day. It'll be a day of great excitement involving
hundreds of visitors and distinguished guests.
The school's already bursting with some 475 exuberant youngsters....and
it now has its 5th teacher...and the building his specially built
home and facilities are about to be completed.
Here are the latest photos from the playground and the school
kitchen area!
The Msema school boasts two vegetable plots...which goes towards
supplying produce for the school kitchen.
And here's the fruit of the children's efforts in that regard.As
the saying goes, a picture's worth a thousand words!
A lot of work has gone into the development of the sports fields
at Msema...and if you wanted any proof of its popularity..and
value...here it is!
SCHOOL's
In !!!
Monday, January the 22nd., 2007, was the day that
the children streamed into The Australian Primary School
in their hundreds. Three hundred were to be enrolled....but
at the end of the day, staggeringly, that had soared to
464. Henceforth, January 22 will be a Msema school holiday..Foundation
Day,or their birthday!
The tide of children was such that the Education
Department quickly decided to assign a 5th teacher to the
school and there are hopes that might extend to a 6th.
Monday was too wet for photos,so these photos were
taken on Wednesday...the one day of the week the youngsters
leave their uniforms at home to be washed and "come as you
are" Notice how they prize their biros and books! |
 |
 |
 |
Marisa, the Headmistress,
with two of her teachers. A fourth was scouting the district
in search of extra text books!
|
 |
 |
| Perfectly
timed was the decision to stage a week-long Education
Seminar in Msema to coincide with the opening of the new school.It
was attended by the freshly- appointed 12 member School Committee,
2 members of the Msema Village District Council (VDC), 6 Village
Headmen, 2 local church representatives, and 2 advisors from
thr Education Department. The Australian AIDS Fund met the
costs of the Seminar. |
 |
| |
Through its then Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs,
Bruce Billson (now Veterans Affairs Minister), the Australian
federal government provided the project with a vital lifeline
donation of some $30,000 through its overseas aid agency, AusAID.This
agency plays an important international role in helping those
in need around the world and helping communities achieve their
potential. "It's an upbeat project", Mr Billson said.
Some of that money paid for the construction of the four strikingly
smart teachers houses that are now complete........as are their
own individual toilets, bathing rooms and kitchens.
The classrooms are also ready for their young pupils.....strongly
made brick buildings, built to withstand all weathers, and each
individually decorated..
There are more than 14 toilets on the school site as well as 3
large, well built urinary rooms to cater for the girls, boys and
staff.
There's also a special school kitchen there to meet the needs
of those who might not otherwise be able to travel between school
and home without having a meal provided. It has its own waist-high
bench..and might also pass as a Spanish style chapel, with its
white-painted arches and exposed ceiling timbers!
The Australian Primary School will also have its own Vegetable
Garden which the children themselves will tend. A special plot
has been bought and they'll be provided with hoes, watering cans
and seeds along with a weather-proof brick shelter in which to
store their tools.
The school has also got its own designated Clinic to help meet
the children's needs....
It also has a combined Staff Office and Resource Centre...that's
been fitted out with colour television, radio, videotapes, and
a mini library that can also provide reading glasses for those
with some eyesight difficulties.Books are valued as great treasure
in Malawi..and we seek to continually add to this.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Mr Bruce Billson M.P. - now Veteran Affairs
Minister in the Australian government (2006) - meeting to
discuss the Malawi Project with Brian Haill, President of
The Australian AIDS Fund Inc.,accompanied by Brian's grandchildren
- James (far left),Corinne and William Deagan (right). |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
