Weekly Update from boNGO Malawi Program Director Justin Namizinga

[boNGO...@gmail.com]

Dear boNGO supporters and Partners,

Here is the next installment of our weekly updates from our Malawi
Program Director Justin Namizinga. I hope you all find in these
updates a quality reference to our operations and program activities,
and I'd like to personally thank my father for his quality feedback to
last week's report. Of course, all feedback, comments, and suggestions
are very welcome and help us keep the communication loops alive!

Wishing you all the best,

David Leflar
Managing Director
boNGO Worldwide
based on Need-driven Grassroots Ownership



boNGO MALAWI 2009

Quick update7



ECD Program

External monitoring & evaluation to two schools, namely Josamu and
Matope where some ideas of boNGO EDC are being implemented.

At both centers the attendance is impressing; matope had 29 & 47josamu
respectively.

They are trying to implement the ideas but need more encouragement and
frequent supervision for the implementation to be fine, though its
only one teacher trained out of three at josamu and one out of 10 from
matope.

There must be more teachers from these schools in the next initial
teachers training to be trained.

The environment at both schools is conducive and favourable, in terms
of having simple structure where children are learning from and happy
kids.

At both centers have effective committee which I met and discuss
issues of their schools, and were quiet open.

They have school garden where the maize is just good, garden materials
like fertilizer, seeds etc were given by the organization called World
Alive Ministries. Think you all know this NGO.

There is good community participation in all school activities and
good understanding within the members.



Challenges

1. Training the committee to enable them to undertake the school
management properly.

2. To increase the teachers in boNGO ECD program, hence be
trained to give quality care and education.

3. Food problem, now the committees and parents have tried to
contribute but their families also are hit by hunger, so it has been
and is still a problem. But have hope once they harvest, all will be
fine.

4. Still the dream to have better places/ structures for learning
in future, because for example, at Matope the structure is not
conducive to learn from during rains.



Besides all this, the committees of the two schools are happy to
partner with boNGO very much and they are looking to this as an
opportunity at a better time and have asked boNGO to be monitoring
them now and then. It was encouraging for boNGO being with the two
school committees and the children and teachers.

It was a good time for me too to interact with the two schools
committee and was very helpful and good experience too. They are both
organized and good enough to partner with boNGO. Well received



Umodzi-Mbame & Mango model monitoring and evaluation:

School activities are going on well and also feeding program.

There has been a school parents committee meeting last month at both
centers with the teachers, sharing challenges and also good things
happening at the centers and also updating.



Meetings:

Met kate and the friend from down fisherman’s rest, who came to get
how best they can come up with the pre-school supported by local
members and also kate friends family. Through our experiences and
challenges and how we are working with several schools, I shared a lot
with them in terms of sustainable development and the sense of
ownership which have to be from the community. Were very impressed and
will continue next Tuesday afternoon at umodzi and see the wayforward.

boNGO, sharing ideas like a consultancy firm.



Children’s corner.

1. The weekly activities are going on well, academic, library,
sports.

2. Need to get more materials for all the areas to enhance the
program.

3. Met Rickn from PSI and has promised to give some more books,
calendas, posters to the club and am likely meeting him next week to
collect the books.

4. There has been a football and netball training in preparations
for the game between the other childrens at Mbame primary school and
umodzi Children’s corner. The games will be prayed next weekend.



MDG’s Club/ Malawi Essays reach the world.

1. They have been working on this topic/ early marriages & early
pregnancies.

2. The idea was from the students, to which topic would they
like to start with. One can choose.

3. Most of the essays are ready and the teachers are looking at
them to come out with best essays.

4. This week all the good essays will be handed to boNGO as per
plan

5. The meetings are taking place very well and children are
participating fully, only that some times children may also be meeting
at Fig tree school.

6. Patrons have been given their February allowance as per our
agreement of K1000 each.





boNGO OPEN DEVELOPMENT FORUM

1. Fully conducted at Upile center though members were not as
many as we expected

2. Discussions were done on where is upile as far as permaculture
farming is concerned, where do they want to go? How do they get
there?. It was noted that they have done well in managing the existing
plants at the centre and is impressive to anybody who comes and see
how they have managing it. They would like to continue and plant more
local fruit trees accordingly during this rainy season. They have
asked boNGO to include them in the next meeting to be held at Glass
house on March 28th, inorder for them to appreciate what is happening
at pamthunzi in terms of permaculture farming.

3. The certificates were given to all participants present
including one for boNGO, for making the training successful.

4. Challenges, security, since people are realizing the important
plants planted and would like to steal, some members are not
participating, especially those who did not attend the training among
others. Next step is to encourage everyone to take part by explaining
how important it is to have these plants.

5. Discussed, the BAD impacts of foreign cultures (Europe/ USA
etc) to the development of the country Malwi or in our respective work
places. Most members felt, there is no bad impact whatsoever, they
always have good intentions. That’s how they see or their perception.
Thereafter, suggested people to go for research and next meeting,
which will be the topic of discussion.



NOTE: It did not work as planned for David meeting American Embassy
and suggested to send the form through posting as per requirement and
follow-up later.





NEXT PLAN.

1. boNGO weekly meeting

2. Umodzi- Mbame & Mango Monitoring & Evaluation

3. Children’s corner & MDG’s Club M & E

4. PSI meeting ( for books donation collection)

5. Meeting Kate& friend (possibility of establishing school at
Fisherman’s rest) how, when, who?

6. AOB.


FRIENDS: My father has been sick and was admitted once. Now the
situation is improving so much. It was malaria, abdominal pains & bit
of diarrhoea .





Am happy for all of you, the Directors & Partners