Finding Ways to Reach People

Perhaps one of the greatest qualities needed to succeed, or even just survive, in Malawi is the need to be flexible.  The Grassroot Soccer intervention curriculum that is the center of what we do is designed to be that way and our coaches who take participants through the curriculum must be that way too.

This probably comes as a surprise to most people, but almost none of the Grassroot Soccer curriculum involves playing actual soccer.  There are soccer based activities like breakaway in which we show that just like it’s difficult to outrun a defender while dribbling multiple soccer balls, it’s also difficult to avoid HIV while having sex with multiple partners.  There’s also cut and cover in which we show that just like it’s easier to save a penalty kick if there’s a smaller goal or there are 7 people guarding it, it’s easier to avoid HIV if men are circumcised and use condoms.  But much of the Grassroot Soccer curriculum is designed to need as little materials as possible.  It’s just as much about using soccer based terms to introduce important and potentially tough conversations to participants to get them comfortable talking about HIV/AIDS both within the program and just as importantly outside it.

The program doesn’t require green grass, or lined fields, classrooms or auditoriums, goal posts or computers.  It just requires an energetic, resourceful coach and teenagers trying to better themselves and their communities.  It can take place under the shade of a tree, outside a building under construction, in an unused classroom, or at a health center.

Discussing the GRS Contract outside an unused building by the school

Participants role playing different scenarios under the shade of a tree

Doing GRS activity "Find the Ball" in an unused classroom

GRS session at the local health center

This past week we’ve finished another round of GRS interventions (5 weeks, 10 practices) and are graduating another class of GRS participants.  The graduations are always encouraging and moving as participants will teach GRS activites, perform skits, and share stories, music, and poems.  These all do an incredible job of demonstrating the knowledge they’ve learned.  The participants have all gotten there because our coaches and staff have worked hard to get around obstacles ranging from school starting 3 weeks late because last year’s exam results weren’t out, to over half the students been chased out of school because they haven’t been able to afford the school fees.  These are just a couple of the hurdles I would’ve never thought of, but what I’ve learned is that to keep the program going we have to stay flexible and to continue to find ways to reach people.

Adjustments to New Surroundings

I never thought for a moment that my living situation in Malawi would resemble my apartment in New York, but some of the arrangements I’ve found myself in I honestly would’ve never thought about in my pre-Africa life.  The following is a brief list of some of the more “interesting” adjustments I’ve become accustomed to in my time here so far.

1.       Nets equal security.  I don’t think I’ve spent more than a night without sleeping under the oddly comforting umbrella of a mosquito net.  (note they also protect from rats, cockroaches, moths, giant winged ants, and spiders…but I’ll get to that).

The mosquito net is a necessity...furniture is not

2.       Furniture is so “Western.”  I spent a week living in a house without furniture brandishing my room with a mosquito net and sleeping bag.

3.       Electricity is a privilege.  Power outages have become increasingly frequent making a large stockpile of candles a necessity.  Luckily we’ve amassed enough wine bottles to create proper candle stick holders.  Eating dinner by candle light isn’t romantic it’s just Wednesday.

Frequent power outages require innovation - example: wine bottle candle stick holder

4.       Hot Water is even more of a privilege.  Cold showers aren’t so bad (yes they are).

5.       There is life without a refrigerator.  It just involves a lot less meat, cheese, and cold beverages.  Cheers to cereal with warm long-lasting milk.  Our new house only has a fridge as a prop since it doesn’t work and we don’t have the money to replace it.  It does look nice though.

6.       Insects are everywhere.  And in Malawi they’re big enough to see…and probably hurt you.  We’ve encountered a stunning array of bug life in our new home ranging from giant wall crawling spiders to cell phone sized cockroaches, to moths, and swarms of mosquitos.  What we’ve learned:  There is not enough Doom Spray in the world to save us all.

I don't even know what that is, but it lives in our kitchen.

Gross.

Momma spider, luckily most of the spiders are much smaller...for now

On the left: Regular size bug.  On the right: Giant Moth.

7.       Water doesn’t always come from a tap.  Sometimes you have to pump it from the ground and carry it home on a bucket on your head.

8.       Hand washing clothes is ridiculously hard.  No wonder the women here are so strong.  Not having a laundry machine is my new gym…it also accounts for like 12 hours a week of work.

9.       I can eat a chicken I saw killed.  That pretty much speaks for itself.

Our lunch about 2 hours before we ate

10.   Petrol shortages suck.  We’ve been running on empty for two days now and I can’t do half my job since no one has seen a gas station in Lilongwe with Petrol in the last week.  On the plus side traffic has gone down dramatically.  On the negative we’re about 10 km away from not have an operational vehicle.

Fuel line: Cars parked on the side of the road waiting for fuel