Case Story: Stella Mangasi - my dreams unfolding

Written by DAPP Malawi. Posted in Case Stories

On 18 October 2017 I arrived at Chimkwende primary school in Thunga zone, Thyolo district. I was nervous to go and face classroom full of learners, interact with fellow teachers and the community. I felt like giving up on the profession until I realized that I made it to the end of the week. 

With knowledge acquired from DAPP Amalika Teachers Training College, I managed to handle the learners, interacted with fellow teachers and community members. It reminded me of the time we travelled across countries as student teachers to learn during a study period known as Busing Our Continent which exposes students to people of different backgrounds, culture and beliefs.

A teacher delivering lessons in class

A vegetable garden established at a Primary School

Case Story: Stanley Kachidowo

Written by DAPP Malawi. Posted in Case Stories

Stanley Kachidowo is a primary school teacher at Mafosha School in Mafosha village, Traditional Authority Chakhadza in Dowa district. He was trained at DAPP Dowa Teachers Training College to work in rural Malawi primary school. In 2016 he was posted to work at Mafosha where he was assigned to be a standard 8 class teacher. During the 2016/2017 academic year there were 31 learners in Standard 8 and when they sat for the Malawi Nation Examination Board (MANEB) exams the pass rate was 100 percent with two learners selected to convention secondary schools and 17 got selected to a Community Day Secondary School.
Kachidowo said his class performed well because he uses learner centred methods of teaching. He said as a teacher who is also a member of the DAPP 400 Primary School (a network of DAPP graduated teachers that stick together to share knowledge and experiences on how to improve the environments around their schools), he believes in teaching and showing as such he uses TALULAR (Teaching and Learning Using Locally Available Resources), he introduced extracurricular lessons and encourages refreshing activities ( football, netball, dramas, dances and poems), sanitation and hygiene (through mounting of hand washing facilities) around the school toilets.

Kachidowo Explains About TALULAR

Learners From Mafosha Perform A Song During An Open Day

Case Story: Lydia Chilobwe

Written by DAPP Malawi. Posted in Case Stories

Lydia Chilobwe comes from Chinani Village, Group Village Headman Chinani in Traditional Authority Chiwalo in Phalombe district. She is 37 years old with 2 children. She was diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB) in June 2014 at Holy Family Hospital in Phalombe district. She started receiving treatment, but it was cut short since there were no drugs at Nambazo Health Centre where she was collecting her drugs. Due to financial constraints she could not manage to procure some for herself nor travel to the next health facilities for medication. For three years Lydia was still experiencing TB signs and Symptoms which included sweating at night, progressive coughing and she was only able to lie on one side and keep the same posture for comfort when sleeping.
Lydia’s mother insisted that she visits the hospital to seek medical help since her condition was deteriorating with each passing day but Lydia was refusing to go to the hospital. It wasn’t until early June in 2017 that she met Nixon, TIMS Peer Educator who lives in the same village with Lydia. She explained to Nixon about her condition who informed her about DAPP – TB in the Mining Sector (TIMS) Field Officers (FO) who were sensitizing people in the area to go for TB screening.

Lydia Right With Her Guardian

A Member Of The Trio In A Vegetable Garden

She narrates, “I asked Nixon to inform the FOs about my situation and they visited me the following day. I explained about the signs and symptoms and they gave me bottles to collect sputum which I took to Nambazo Health Centre the following day. After the lab tests at Nambazo they found out that I didn’t have TB. The DAPP – TIMS FOs insisted that I should go to Phalombe district hospital for further diagnosis with X-ray. I was diagnosed with TB but unfortunately the hospital did not have TB drugs as such I was referred to Holy Family, a mission hospital, where I received 7 bottles of TB drugs. I returned to the village to continue my treatment, and I was receiving injections for 60 days at Nambazo. Since I have been taking medicine, there has been significant improvement to my health and I will be finishing my treatment on 8 January 2018.”

During the course of receiving TB treatment, DAPP’s Field Officers for TB in the Mining Sector project, work with the TB clients and their guardians. A trio, a group of three people comprising the patient and two guardians, is formed to provide support to the patient. Members of the trio ensure that the patient is adhering to drugs, living in a clean place, using clean utensils, eating nutritious meals and practice safe preventive measures to the rest of the family. The trio is also taught how to prepare meals that contain all six food groups through cooking demonstrations which are organized by the same field officers. Additionally, the trio is required to establish a vegetable garden at the household and are taught on the importance of direct observed therapy to the patients on TB Treatment.
Lydia’s trio members, Emily Gilevulo and Chrissy James, have been providing support to the patient since she was diagnosed with TB. During her early stage of treatment, the two women moved into the house of the patient to ensure timely assistance and support is offered. However, the patient was sleeping alone in a separate room away from the rest of the household members to avoid transmission of the airborne disease. She was using her own utensils like plates and cups which were cleaned with boiled water after use. Children below the age of five from the household received isoniazid prophylaxis that protected them contracting TB.
Lydia is now fit and able to walk long distances on her own. Lung parenchyma are usually affected by TB disease per X-ray interpretation. She said she had lost hope but TB in the Mining Sector project has helped her to live again.

Case Story: Victoria Amidu

Written by DAPP Malawi. Posted in Case Stories

My name is Victoria Amidu, I am 22 years old and currently pursuing a Textile and Fashion Designing course at DAPP Mikolongwe Vocational School.
I am the first born in a family of 3, and I come from Nyakoko Village in Neno District. I completed my secondary school education when I was 16. I have always loved fashion and I used to save the pocket money I received from my family to pay for lessons which I was receiving from a local tailor.
I believed that if he taught me the basics, how to sew and join fabrics I would be set. However, my family did not see any future in tailoring as such I was sent to study business administration at the Polytechnic. My passion for fashion and designing grew while at the Polytechnic as I saw many unique designs both at the campus and when I moved around town. I began envisioning my life as a designer but didn’t really have a well planned strategy about how I would realize that dream.
My dreams become a reality when I was among the 30 youth selected for the three year Textile and Fashion Designing program by DAPP Mikolongwe Vocational School under the Sympany Sponsorship program. It has been an amazing experience being at the vocational school and learning so many things about the industry and realizing that it’s not just about sewing and joining fabrics as I had imagined when I was growing up.
I have always been a fan of Lily Alfonso, one of Malawi’s renowned fashion designers who has showcased her work on the international market. When she visited my school and gave a motivational speech and shared that she would like to work with one of us, I just hoped it would be me. And yes, she picked me as an intern. At her studio, I have learnt many things which include free hand cutting, cutting cloth without pattern, special designing, conducting market research, studying the markets, importance of teamwork, how to work with sequences, packaging  and customer care. I am truly privileged to have her as my mentor.
My vision is to become a professional designer who will also put Malawi on the map. Most importantly, I want to become a role model for fellow youth whether boys or girls and inspire others in the way that Lily Alfonso inspires me.
I would not have come this far if it were not for the sponsorship, the support and encouragement from my instructors at Mikolongwe Vocational School and my fellow sponsored students. I remain thankful to Sympany for granting me this life changing opportunity.
Victoria.