SFK Trip

In January 2010, I had the merit to volunteer for three weeks at the Home of Hope Orphanage in the Mchinji District of Malawi, Africa. While I was there, Success For Kids teacher, Ellestina Chimimba, invited me on a graduation field trip to the capital of Lilongwe for 60 students from the orphanage who had completed all three SFK levels. Since I have been an SFK facilitator for the past four years, I was very excited to accompany Ms. Chimimba and the children on this outing.

The bus arrived at the orphanage at 7:00 in the morning and the children turned out to see the bus (photo) and to see their companions off on their trip. Lucy Chipeta, Director of Home of Hope, said some of the children have never been out of the orphanage gates! After several songs and group photos, the kids boarded the bus and hit the road while the remaining children threw leaves as we drove by, sort of like tossing rice at a wedding (photo).

Soon after leaving, the bus broke down and do you know that there were no groans or comments from the bus passengers? After about an hour, while waiting for another bus, Ms. Chimimba reminded them of the Level 3 SFK lesson, under Chaos there is Order, and got a laugh from the students! The break-down was part of their exciting journey and they took the 2+ hour delay in stride.

We arrived in Lilongwe at noon and went to a local, outdoor restaurant. At the orphanage, the children eat porridge supplemented with Vitameal for breakfast and for lunch and dinner, they eat beans and nsima, which is the Malawi staple food made from maize flour and water. The restaurant lunch was a real treat for the students who ate rice, greens and chicken along with a soft drink. We then went to a nature center and saw several rescued animals, including a hyena, baboons, lion and a boa constricter. Afterward, the children went to the memorial of Malawi's first president, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, and to a monument erected in his honor.

By the end of the trip, it was around 5:00 with a long ride home. More sodas and bakery rolls made the return more enjoyable. The kids sang most of the way home and I don't mean the bus songs I usually hear, I mean four-part harmony with a pulsing African beat! It was impossible to stay still and I seat-danced for most of the way home. The villagers were on the sides of the road waving and singing as we neared the orphanage gates and when we entered the Home of Hope, all of the children who did not go were on both sides of the bus, waving, singing and yelling greetings. Such a nice "welcome-home"!

The children later made thank-you cards for Ms. Chimimba which were presented by four students, including Flora, Hannah and Francis. The children kneel to show respect (photo).

I feel priveleged to have been on the trip with these kids. They had many opportunities to use the lessons learned in their SFK classes and it was a pleasure to see them in action! The children's behavior also reminded me to use the SFK Rules to the Game of Life. The kids have so very little, some of them have no possessions at all, and yet they share EVERYTHING with each other. They are inspiring and it was a blessing to share their special day.

Success For Kids teaches children they have a voice, and a responsibility, in their lives. Raising Malawi brings awareness and aid to the (too) many orphans of Malawi. Make a difference in the World! Make a donatation at http://www.sfk.org/ and/or http://www.raisingmalawi.org/ and designate Home of Hope as the recipient.