It’s been a wonderful week spent with our friends from Queen Elizabeth School, Kirkby Lonsdale, who arrived with us on Thursday last week.
It didn’t take long for the 20 students to settle into life at Open Arms, with games being played with the Foster Children and the boys getting to know each other through the ‘international language of football’... which always helps things along.
Sam, Agnes, Chikondi, Elton and Henry from Tsekwe House, along with their House Mother, Anna, enjoyed a day out with the QES group to the Illovo Sugar Estate in Nchalo.
Despite the fact that the day started off cold and drizzly, the children were all smiles, and soon the excitement began to build about the day ahead. Pete Weston, the trip leader, who taught in Malawi some years ago and who has been bringing a group from QES on an annual basis for some years now, commented on how well the children were interacting on the bus out to the estate, chattering and sharing stories about their day-to-day lives.
Once they arrived, they were taken on a tour of the sugar factory, to observe the manufacturing process from ‘cane to grains’, after which they enjoyed lunch at the club house on the estate, then the afternoon ended with a visit to Nyala Park conservation park.
It is thanks to the continual efforts of Queen Elizabeth School fundraising on our behalf, that the children of Open Arms can enjoy educational trips such as these, so we are very grateful to our friends for their support.
As well as spending time at our Blantyre home, where the toddlers quickly charmed their way into the arms of several of the girls, the students also spent a day in Namalo village, where they visited Makokezi School, the Namalo Nursery and Feeding Station, as well as the birthing clinic there. A traditional meal of nsima and relish was arranged and cooked for them, and the children enjoyed the chance to experience traditional Malawian village life.
Our few days together came to an end all too quickly and sadly it was soon time to say goodbye. We wish the students all the best for the remainder of their trip, and a very safe journey home.
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