Malawi 2024 (Project Africa) is a Berkshire Scouts international community project and global awareness programme. Put simply: young people supporting young people!
Click here for Bulletin 17 (December 2024) which explains our continuing work building on the strong legacy from the successful visit in the summer of 2024.
The Malawi 2024 JustGiving page is closed with the final total reaching £34,170 (including gift aid and offline donations) – thanks for all your support. A new Project Africa campaign page has been launched:
www.justgiving.com/campaign/projectafrica
Malawi 2024 videos
Video 1 provides an overview of the international community project (Malawi 2024) undertaken by Berkshire Scouts (Project Africa) . . .
Video 2 is provided by ‘Joshua in Malawi’ (our charity partner in Malawi) and shows the finished projects completed by Berkshire Scouts having worked alongside local builders and the local community . . .
Video 3 is provided by Edward Nyamz, Scouts Association Malawi (SAM), and reports on the impact of Berkshire Scouts and SAM joining together and introducing Scouting to the local communities . . .
Report Back
Click here for a pdf version of the slide deck used at the Malawi 2024 Report Back.
Malawi 2024 – an overview
Below is a brief report and photographs from the recent international community project in Malawi . . .
Camp life
Base camp was in the village community of Milo, approximately 30-45 minutes drive from the city of Blantyre. Joshua in Malawi (our partner charity) built a fenced compound and shelter which gave a safe and practical camping area. The compound was adjacent to the main project (new build community/care centre). Joshua also provided cooks to keep the Scouts and leaders well fed. Water was delivered by tanker every few days.
Projects
The main project was the new build community/care centre at Milo. The centre will be managed by the local community for pre-school and general community use. Joshua will complete and maintain the building. Scouts worked alongside local builders with new skills in bricklaying and rendering. A nearby and existing community/care centre was refurbished with murals under the watchful eye of Young (a local artist). Classrooms were repainted at the local secondary school as well as desk repairs and some painting at the local primary school.
Activities
Rest and recreation activities gave an opportunity to see Malawi and to get to know more about its rich and colourful culture. Activities included overnight stays Kutchire Lodge (Liwonde National Park) for two safari drives and at Cape Maclear for a boat trip on Lake Malawi. A highlight being the boat crew feeding the Fish Eagles. Day visits included walking to the waterfall at Mt Mulanje as well as a visit to the Treez Project in Zomba.
Berkshire/Malawi Scout days
The two Sundays were dedicated to joint activities with local Malawi Scouts. On each Sunday we welcomed approximately 30 Malawi Scouts to the base camp to share crafts, sports activities, stories, song and dance. Key leaders from the Malawi Scout Association also used the project period to start Scouting in the local communities. Berkshire Scouts have supported this with gifting 30 tents and some training/promotional equipment. New local Scout Groups in the area will be a tremendous legacy – in addition to the completed projects!
General
A few general photographs complete the gallaries. The photographs show the rough tracks leading to the base camp, shopping in Blantyre, working with local pre-school children, and the celebration ceremony to thank Berkshire Scouts for their work in the local community.
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi has an approximate population of 20 million people. The country is famed as the ‘warm heart of Africa’ for good reason: Malawi is known for its happy people, beautiful landscapes, and rich culture
Malawi stretches about 520 miles (840 km) from north to south and varies in width from 5 to 100 miles (10 to 160 km). Lake Malawi covers a fifth of the country.
Projects in Malawi are similar to those completed in the three previous visits to Uganda. The projects took place in villages approximately 30–45 minutes from the second city of Blantyre. The in-country partner supporting the projects is ‘Joshua’.
Joshua is a British charity working in the Blantyre area of Malawi. Established in 1998, the charity believes ‘in giving children the best possible start in life through Early Child Development work’.
Key resources, documents, and links
| General | |
| Travel Pack & Diary | click here |
| Project Africa logo (high res) | click here |
| Project Africa logo (low res / screen) | click here |
| Malawi 2024 logo (high res) | click here |
| Malawi 2024 logo (low res / screen) | click here |
| Joshua logo (high res) | click here |
| Joshua logo (low res / screen) | click here |
| Facebook page (Malawi 2024 public) | click here |
| Facebook page (Malawi 2024 group only) | click here |
| Facebook page (Project Africa) | click here |
| Project Africa journey (video) | click here |
| Bulletins | |
| Bulletin 1 (April 2023) | click here |
| Bulletin 2 (May 2023) | click here |
| Bulletin 3 (July 2023) | click here |
| Bulletin 4 (August 2023) – recce report | click here |
| Bulletin 5 (September 2023) – join-in programmes | click here |
| Bulletin 6 (October 2023) – top awards | click here |
| Bulletin 7 (October 2023) – flight special | click here |
| Bulletin 8 (November 2023) – youth shaped; insurance; online shop | click here |
| Bulletin 9 (December 2023) – Christmas edition | click here |
| Bulletin 10 (January 2024) – New year edition | click here |
| Bulletin 11 (February 2024) – Getting to know Malawi; FAQs; Welfare | click here |
| Bulletin 12 (March 2024) – March training weekend | click here |
| Bulletin 13 (April 2024) – Project sites and area | click here |
| Bulletin 14 (May 2024) – Location map; carbon offsetting projects | click here |
| Bulletin 15 (June 2024) – Final training weekend; codes of conduct | click here |
| Bulletin 16 (July 2024) – Final joining instructions | click here |
| Bulletin 17 (December 2024) – Project update | click here |
Project Africa journey
Malawi 2024 is similar in format to previous visits to Uganda and these can be seen by visiting Project Africa . . . the journey as well as seeing the linked Global Awareness Programme (including the Project Africa Challenge Badge). See also video below.
For further information or enquiries:
Contact: Simon Pickett, County Programme Team Leader