Why Malawi?

This is a tough question to answer.  I’m not sure I chose Malawi, rather that it chose me! When a VSO assignment was looking unlikely, I started to job hunt and this was the first job I spotted. 

As a first time, nervous, single traveller an opportunity to live and work in Malawi seemed ideal. Lot of boxes were ticked

1.  I’d been to Malawi before even if only for a week
   
2.  English is the business language – wonderful as my French and Spanish are so rusty I should give back my A level certificates!
   
3. 85% of the population are Christian which is great for me personally and also means I don’t need to worry about keeping my head and arms covered
   
4. Malawi is considered to be the friendly face of Africa and a safe country to live and work in.

Then the more I told people I was Malawi bound, the more I heard stories along the lines of “how funny, my mum/dad/sister/……. has been there/lives there/knows someone /…….” . 

You know me, I love coincidences so here are just a few

Ann M has a friend who works with Build a School – Look at their work

Ann M has another friend who runs Starfish Malawi

Alison’s Mum volunteered at the Olympics with … you’ve guessed it, the team from Malawi (two women, one man - great for the girls!) Malawi at London 2012. Sadly there was no paralympic team

Audrey has a friend who’d lived in Malawi for 17 years and gave me lots of good advice on what to expect when I arrived