Today was the first day of a teacher training class in Montessori methods. 21 men and women are enrolled. About 10 of them will be employed at Namitembo Montessori Nursery School. All graduates of the two week course are nearly assured of finding jobs in nearby nursery schools. The instructor, Mary, is the co-founder of an organization called Ubwino Wa Amayi. Check the website here. Mary is staying here at Namitembo this week, so we have had a thorough introduction to her work. The focus of this organization is the empowerment of women by encouraging girls to be educated. It was found that many Malawian girls leave school when they have babies and never return, either because they cannot afford it or because there is no child care for their babies. Ubwino has paid school fees for 50 secondary level girls and 25 female trade school students. Now they are addressing the child care issue by launching a nursery school here. The building is nearly completed and teachers are being trained. Donations of supplies are being sought in nearby Blantyre. The opening of the school is scheduled for mid-February. Chet is working with the woodworking shop to produce furniture for the nursery.
I am attending the training classes and helping with some background tasks.
Just before dinner we went for a walk. I wanted to take pictures of some of the free-range chickens that are running around here. These muscular birds turn out to be a bit tough when they reach the table! They are very pretty, and many different colors. "Kokoliko," says the rooster (in Chichewa).
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