Mphatso Group Today and Leaving Tomorrow

I realize that many of the adjectives that I have been using to describe this trip often do not come close to the actuality of my experience.  Pictures help, of course, but believe me when I say this has been an amazing trip for me.  And a very successful one for Knit Around the World. 

It's quite different coming to a new country, not for vacation, but to connect and try to better the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS.  With Kelly as my guide, I learned more about knitting and crocheting patterns, marketing ideas for both Malawi and the US, and being patient with bureaucracies (this I knew already from the States but in foreign countries, there's always a new wrinkle or two).  I learned to board, be cramped, and disembark a minibus.  I learned that you can actually ride on the cushioned back of a bicycle and live to tell the tale.  I learned that you can capture mosquitoes inside your mosquito net, much to your annoyance.  I learned (again!) how to say no to the various sellers on the street and in the markets.  And, finally, I learned how warm the people of Malawi are and how you never stop smiling here. 

Today we visited the Mphatso group.  As you know, Kelly brings new pattern and item ideas to all the groups.  The Mphatso group was the first group to solve the bowl made from plastic wrappers.  Here's a picture of the bowl that Kelly purchased in the US from Darn Good Yarn and is made by Indian women.

And here's the Mphatso version (note - there are some of Kelly's Kit-Kat wrappers in here):

I am so impressed with these women and their ability to look at a pattern and then replicate it.  They are also working on a version that will be a tray.  We cannot wait to see it!

Once again Kelly was our model for new products.  A hat that the group had originally made in a infant size, in an adult size.  And a tie made from VHS tapes.  The group also makes bags, hats and small purses from VHS tapes.

And, then it was time to go.  One final group picture with Kelly as we waited for the driver.  They are holding the orange bags full of items that we bought for sale in the US.

The work of Knit Around the World is making a direct impact on these lives.  Your donation is doubled in the month of May and no donation is too small.  Please consider donating at Knit Around the World.  


It's been an honor and a blessing to have had the opportunity to meet these groups.  And many thanks to the best daughter-in-law for inviting me and bringing me here. 

Leaving tomorrow morning!  Goodbye to Malawi!

Visiting Area 50 - We are gifted!

It's becoming real these days that we are leaving here soon.  Last visits and lots of goodbyes!  Today's visit was with Area 50.  Due to last week's holiday, this was only our second visit with them.  You may remember that this is the group that I danced (or tried to dance) with in the first week.

As you can see, they had been hard at work.  When we got there, they had already arranged all the goods and put pricing signs on the piles.  So organized!  When we buy, the process is like this: we have a budget for purchasing and we select items that we know or think will sell in the US,  then we tally the total and reassess if we're over or under.  The group is very quiet watching these deliberations as they don't know what the amount is and they don't know which items will be selected.  Sometimes, we have feedback for them about colors, or sizes.  

Once we're done, there's a palpable sense of relief and joy.  It's quite a sizable amount of money by Malawi standards and it helps to sustain the circle of production and sales.  After we selected the purchases for Knit Around the World, I purchased a child's hat that I just loved.  And, of course, Kelly had to model it.

As we got up to leave and wait outside for the driver to return, the group presented up with gifts!  They had asked us what our favorite colors were at our first meeting and said they wanted to give us something.  I had forgotten this so I was a little surprised.  They presented us with chitenje - a traditional wrap that Malawian women wrap around their waist over their skirt or pants.  Kelly's is orange (of course!) and mine is blue.  Here we are modeling them.  You can tell I am not very good at the wrapping thing, haha.

And here is one of my favorite views of Kelly.  As we were waiting for the driver, we all sit down and the women and Kelly start knitting and doing other work.  It's quite the serene picture.

Out last visit is tomorrow!  And a bit more souvenir shopping and on the long way home on Saturday!

We are "Invited Guests!"

We started very early today - Tasha (one of the district coordinators for NAPHAM and our main contact) picked us up at 7:30am.  We were going to attend the launch of the SMS Real-Time treatment monitoring facility for Malawi and Tasha needed to get there early to help set up.  One of the mobile companies, Airtel, has joined a partnership with the Ministry of Health of Malawi, UNAIDS, NAC, NAPHAM, MANET+ and others to enhance information and communication via cell phone messaging.  The texting is free and it allows information to be gathered in a timely and easy manner, so that problems can be solved and data can be collected.  The ED (executive director) of NAPHAM, Master Mphande, had invited us during our meeting earlier this week.

What we didn't realize was that we were going to be on the stage with the dignitaries.  What an opportunity to promote Knit Around the World!  Here's a picture of the dignitaries arriving. Among them: the Director of HIV and AIDS, Ministry of Health, Dr. Frank Chimbwadira, UNAIDS Country Coordinator, Ms. Amakobe Sande, and Executive Director, NAC (National AIDS Commission), Mr. Davie Kalomba.  As you can tell, I am making sure I am spelling the titles and names correctly here.

Kelly handed out business cards to the three of them and Ms. Sande was kind enough to inquire further about Knit Around the World.  It was a great experience.  In between speeches, there were singing, dancing, and drama group performances. 

Then, straight from there to visit the Chigwirizano group.  This was our last visit with them on this trip and that always means it's time to buy items to sell back home.  They are a new group for us, so we also had a sign made for them to help promote the group and their merchandise.  Here's the lovely Jane, posing with the sign and the group.  Kelly always makes me look good!

They have taken Kelly's ideas for new patterns and items and have been working hard.  We bought 20 knitted bracelets...

20 small purses, 11 headbands and 1 tie.

The money that they make now will go to buying more yarn, as well as supporting the group as a whole - with food, transport and other things as decided by the group.  Two more groups to visit before we leave on Saturday! 

Tikane and Chisomo groups!

We are on our last week here in Malawi and now we are visiting groups for the last time on this trip.  One of the HBC (Home Based Care) team members, Joseph, had invited us to meet his group, Tikane.  They primarily make beads from paper and then make jewelry with the beads.  Joseph had shown us pictures of their beautiful work to whet our interest.  The Tikane group did not disappoint! 

Here they are cutting very thin and long triangles from an old UNICEF calendar - the bright blue will make stunning beads.  Kelly and I both bought necklaces, bracelets and earrings.  And we ordered 2 bracelets and 1 pair of earrings using the new blue beads.  Here's Kelly wearing earrings and a necklace.

Back to the house for lunch before going to visit the Chisomo group.  Kelly had ordered two sweaters for herself - I've already posted about the orange one but her green one was almost done.  It was just a matter of sewing on buttons and making buttonholes.

  In the meantime, I interviewed Amos who is both a regional volunteer/coordinator and a member of the group.  Here's Kelly helping him tie one of the new patterned ties to wear for the interview.  Helping him look his best!

The Chisomo group already knew that yellow was my favorite color, so they insisted that I get a yellow sweater.  It's quite bright and Kelly says that it will be good to wear at night.  It's also very warm, but I modeled it anyway, lol.

Looks smashing with my blue shirt, no?  Another busy day tomorrow - read all about it here!

Crazy Day!

The start to our last week in Malawi was very hectic. Some appointments got moved and some cancelled then uncancelled. We took the morning to buy groceries and for Jane to get some souvineers. While eating lunch I got a call for a meeting and we raced out of the house. 

Our meeting with NAPHAM went well and we were even invited to an event this Wednesday for the launch of a new project. We are looking forward to attending and schmoozing with individuals from UNAIDS, WHO and government officials in Malawi. 

From NAPHAM we traveled to Heifer International. It was quite an adventure and the most terrifying thing I'd ever done. I have plenty of experience riding on minibuses and even more now with chickens but today Jane and I rode on the back of bicycles. We were going to take pictures but as soon as we got to Heifer I jumped off. Thank goodness I was wearing leggings under my skirt, I had to pull up the skirt and stretch to get on the bike (it was a little tall for me). I'm also a stickler about safety and we had no protection or helmets which is scary enough. We rode up and down a hill along side with cars where the pavement would mix with dirt causing the roadside to be uneven. I gripped the handlebars so tightly that my arms hurt and all my blood drained from my hands in fright. As my bicyclist flew past Jane and Moses my face was scrunched up and I was whimpering in fear. Again, the scariest thing I'd ever done, I had to concentrate on keeping my body balanced and couldn't see much of where we were going. I felt like any moment we'd hit a rock and I'd go flying over the handlebars. I did survive though!

We had a wonderful meeting with the Country Director at Heifer International, Petronella. Our meeting was to start an conversation between our organizations about yarn producing animals and fibers that we can make into a co-op to have yarn made in Malawi. We have discussed many things and both organizations have a lot of research to do but it is a great start. 

Tomorrow is a very busy day visiting Chisomo!

Wild day with the animals!

Jane and I made my annual trip to visit the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust which is an animal sanctuary here in Malawi. I have been many times and it was great to take Jane. We have less than a week left an we are excited to see what the groups have been up to over the past week.  Here are pictures of our tour of the LWT. 

Crocodiles

Monkeys

Baboons.

Bella the Lion.

Day Off in Malawi, Sorta

As it is the weekend we don't have any meeting planned for today or tomorrow so we are using the downtime to catch up on sleep and time out of the sun. Many of you know that one of the reasons I started Knit Around the World is because I love to knit so much. Even in my down time here in Malawi I've been knitting to give and I have already finished one blanket. 

It is incredibly soft and I'm giving it to World Camp for them to decide who has the most need.

Besides knitting we picked up the sing for the Chigwirizano group and exchanged money to prepare us for the week ahead. Tomorrow we might venture into the more touristy areas of Lilongwe so Jane can see a little more our busy week and having to leave.

Don't forget that in May a donor will be able to double their impact with a matching donation up to $2,000 in honor of our anniversary.