Kasungu

5/16/13

                Today we spent the day in Kasungu. It was about an hour away from SAFI and we went around this weird shaped hill. We went there to observe the Lead Farmer Training. SAFI is working with a program called the Brighter Future Initiative (BFI). BFI is a program set up by Nuskin Japan and works with BYU and Bunda College. What they do is help the local people teach each other to be self-reliant. I’m still figuring out exactly how it works but there are AEDOs who I think are selected by the government. The AEDOs train the Lead Farmers. There are three modules. The first is rotational gardens and nutrition. The second is crop science and the third is livestock. Today the Lead farmers were learning module one. After learning a module, the Lead Farmers work under the direction of the AEDOs to teach their neighbors in their village using examples and such. Then they go back to learn the next module.

                We spent the whole day in Kasungu which was fun but I thought it was a little difficult to pay attention and for some reason I was really tired so I fell asleep for a little bit. We didn’t sit in on all the lessons because they went from about 8 to about 3. We got there at 9:30ish and just stayed in the dining hall after lunch just to talk. We did watch them do the practical stuff though. They build a garden and they have these hoes that are kind of interesting. They’re like a mix between a shovel, hoe and club. The basic shape is like a hoe but the blade is really big and curvy like a shovel and it pokes out of the stick that had a knobby part on the end they use like a club to break up dirt clods.

                On the way to Kasungu, I rode in the back of the truck because there wasn’t enough room in the cab. It was fun because we got to see lots of people and wave to all of them. I also got some good pictures while sitting back there. Everybody calls us azungu which means white people. It makes me laugh. They don’t mean it in a derogatory way; they’re just excited to see us. At first I thought it was a little strange that everybody was so friendly to us, liked us and trusted us without even knowing our names but after thinking about it. I’m sure the only white people that come here are the ones that are trying to help. I don’t think there’s really anything here to take advantage of and cause the Malawians to distrust us. The people here are really great. They are genuine and are really trying their best to learn to take care of their families and help their neighbors.

                I rode in the cab on the way back because my back was starting to get tired which turned out to be a good thing because we ended up picking up a few more people on the way home. I think there ended up being 8 people in the back and the bed wasn’t even a full sized pick up bed. I tried to get a picture of that too but it was really hard because I didn’t have much room to move. If you’re worried about me hauling around in the back of a truck all summer, don’t. BFI just bought a van and as soon as it’s registered and it has seats in the back, we can use it so that will be a little safer and more comfortable. Nuskin really doesn’t like having us ride in the back of trucks either.

                With so much going on I haven’t had much time to get on the internet so that’s why my posts are irregular. Tomorrow afternoon we are going to Lilongwe which should be fun. We have a meeting with either Thomas or Gibson on Sunday. I don’t remember which one but they are both with BFI. 

                I forgot to download my pictures so I'll post some more here after I download them.