Malawi Bangwe 2016 project involves 10 volunteers conducting workshops, assisting with student projects, and working with organizations to promote gender equality, empower youth with disabilities, support orphan care centers, and promote cultural exchange. Previous SVA projects have achieved building a school, securing monthly donations for orphan centers, donating books and funding an HIV testing clinic. The 7-week volunteer project is based in Bangwe, Malawi and includes a training week and opportunities for traveling around Malawi and surrounding countries on weekends and before/after the project. The project aims to raise £6,000 to cover costs through individual and group fundraising events.

1. Malawi Bangwe 2016!

2. Malawi
• Affectionately known as the ‘Warm heart of Africa’
• Population size of 16.36 million
• Located in the South East of Africa, sharing borders
with Mozambique and Zambia.
• The spoken language is mainly
Chichewa, but a lot of people also
speak English.

3. Project Aims 2016
1. To conduct workshops in ECOYA (youth organisation) involving debates, computer
tutorials, journalism pieces etc. enabling individuals to challenge themselves and acquire
new ideas and skills.
2. To help with student run projects alongside SSEP (Students for Students
Empowerment Programme) intended to inspire and motivate students to continue with
their education and provide opportunities for them to do so.
3. To work alongside CECOWDA (women's empowerment organisation) to promote
gender equality and empowerment.
4. To improve the livelihoods of youths with disabilities at FDYD (Forum for the
Development of Youth with Disability) using creative and physical stimulation.
5. To develop sustainable and long term solutions to aid local orphan care centers
(securing donations from local businesses/ setting up IGA’s).
6. To promote cultural exchange within the local community.
3

4. SVA history in Bangwe
Achievements
• Funded school built for FDYD
• Donations for Tithandizane orphan care centre,
including of £150 every month covering the entire
food budget for the centre.
• £250 raised through fundraising in Bangwe for
Tithandizane and Bhasi orphan care centres
• Monthly donation of 50kg of rice and an increase in
egg donations for Bhasi
• 150+ books donated to the Umunthu Library
• Funded ART clinic for HIV treatment

5. Umunthu Foundation
• The NGO who works alongside the volunteers whilst
in Bangwe
• Voluntary counseling and HIV testing clinic (VCT)
• Free testing to the residents of Bangwe
• Work in partnership with UK aid charity AVERT.
• Through funding from AVERT the Umunthu
Foundation are now owners of a CD4 count machine
which enables efficient testing for those suffering
from HIV

7. Project information
• The project lasts 7 weeks,
including a training week
• Involves 10 volunteers
• Volunteers can travel
before or after project
• You will stay in a Guest
house (right)
DA CRIB! (and Calihari the cat)

9. Project costs
• The project aims to raise a total of £6,000
• £3,000 raised through individual events i.e £300 per volunteer
• £3,000 raised within group events
Volunteers will also be expected to pay for their own flights, visas,
insurance and vaccinations
In the past volunteers have spent roughly £1000 whilst project. The
amount spent is entirely up to the individual and the activities that they
wish to take part in.

10. Travelling
• Every weekend volunteers will have the opportunity to travel around Malawi, exploring all the
cultural sights that it has to offer. In the past volunteers have visited:
Cape Maclear (Lake Malawi)
Nkhata bay (Lake Malawi)
Liwonde for safari
Mount Mulanje etc
• Volunteers are also able to organise travel for before and/or after project, with chances to travel
to the like of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania (Zanzibar).
Previous activities volunteers have taken part in include:
Bungee jumping over the Zambezi River
Rafting in the Zambezi
Kayaking across Lake Malawi
Visiting Victoria Falls
Boat and Land Safaris in each of the countries
Whilst travelling you will get to meet many like minded individuals who will only enhance your time
out there. Many opportunities to exchange those travelling tales!

12. Highlights of the project!
• Insight into sustainable projects overseas
• The opportunity to travel in a stunning
country/continent
• Great experience in immersing yourself in a new
culture/community
• Growth as a person
• Looks great on your CV!