Living
at Mwaya Beach
How
do I get to Mwaya Beach?
You will find complete instructions entitled Getting
to Mwaya Beach in the PDFs/Videos
section.
How much does it
cost to live at Mwaya?
There is a guide to typical costs in the Extra
Costs, Flights, etc. section.
What
clothing do I need to bring?
Please read the What
to Bring section.
Can I drink the
water at Mwaya Beach?
Yes, you can drink the water as it comes from a borehole. There is no
need to bring water purifying tablets.
Where do I buy
my food?
Normally, the volunteers have a "kitty" and most basic food
can be bought locally, i.e. fruit, vegetables, bread, drinks. There
is a supermarket in Chintheche (25km away) where you can buy bacon,
breakfast cereals, etc. Your ‘big shop’ will be in Mzuzu
where there are a variety of different food shops, pharmacies, etc.
Can I swim in the
lake?
The short answer is ‘yes’. People are often worried about
bilharzia (schistosomiasis) and, although this is present in most African
freshwater lakes, it is normally found where there are reeds, water
snails, slow-moving water and people. At Mwaya, there are no reeds and
there is good wave action and, to our knowledge, none of our volunteers
have contracted bilharzia. There are crocodiles in some of the rivers
and these occasionally wash into the lake during the rainy season (some
were seen off the beach at Mwaya in April and December 2008). We do
advise volunteers not to swim between 6pm and 6am because crocodiles
are at their most active at night.
How many volunteers
will be staying at Mwaya Beach, and what ages and gender?
Normally there will be up to 10-12 volunteers staying at any one time,
although there may be up to 14 volunteers at Mwaya Beach for short periods
when volunteer placements overlap. Our volunteers are normally graduates,
but we recruit various people who are dedicated to helping the local
community and who we feel have suitable abilities. To date, the youngest
volunteer has been 20 years old and the oldest has been 60. The normal
age for volunteers is between 23 and 35 years old. The majority of our
volunteers are female but the number of male volunteers is increasing,
and we have also had some couples.
What is the accommodation
like and is it shared?
There are five chalets which are large (7m by 5m), light, airy and comfortable.
Each one can sleep up to three or four people. Beds, bed linen (pillowcases
and sheets), pillows, blankets, and mosquito nets are provided. Normally,
you will either have a chalet to yourself or share with one other person.
However, at busy times there may be three people to a chalet. There
is a toilet and shower block with two showers and three flushing toilets,
a kitchen and storeroom, complete with a solar fridge, and a large covered
meeting area and deck overlooking the lake.
Do tourists stay
at Mwaya Beach as well?
Very occasionally tourists may stay at Mwaya Beach, either in the chalets
if there’s room or camping. We now have two chalets for short
stays and guests in addition to the volunteers' chalets. We charge US$10
per person per night for accommodation in the chalets (if available)
and for camping, and this is payable to our managers at the end of their
stay. We also charge US$5 per person per night as a contribution to
the volunteer "kitty" for food and drinks, and this is payable
to the volunteer in charge of the kitty. We are not actively trying
to attract tourists – our main focus is to provide a good base
for our volunteers.
Can my family and
friends stay at Mwaya Beach?
Yes, they can as long as there is enough room (see paragraph above).
The charges are the same as detailed in the paragraph above. All money
from guests is paid into the RIPPLE Africa running expenses fund.
Who runs Mwaya
Beach?
Joey (Manager at Mwaya and Building Projects Manager) and Morton (Volunteer
Projects Manager) manage all the staff and deal with day-to-day issues.
What is the climate
like?
Please read The Seasons
section.
How safe is it
in Malawi and at Mwaya?
Malawi is pretty safe and its people are some of the friendliest you
are likely to meet in Africa. Our volunteers say that they haven't been
worried about walking around locally after dark and, because of the
work RIPPLE Africa and the volunteers are doing for the community, the
locals seem to be very protective of those staying at Mwaya Beach. However,
as with any country in the world, the cities and towns in Malawi have
their fair share of con artists and thieves, and our advice is to be
sensible about carrying money and valuables, as you would be in cities
in the West. It is important to bear in mind that Malawi is in the top
ten of the world’s poorest countries and, although US$1 is not
a fortune to us, it is the average daily wage for a Malawian —
if they're lucky enough to have a job. This being said, we've never
felt threatened by anyone in Mzuzu or Lilongwe — there's just
the annoyance of people coming up and trying to sell you anything from
carvings to windscreen wipers!
Is there electricity
at Mwaya Beach?
There is no electricity at Mwaya Beach. We use paraffin lanterns at
night, cook on a wood-burning stove, and there is a solar fridge. There
is electricity at Kande, which is 7km away. If you do have any electrical
appliances, for example a charger unit, the plugs in Malawi are either
rectangular three-pin UK 240 volt or round three-pin South African 240
volt.
Will I have any
free or leisure time?
Yes, you will have plenty of free time, and you can enjoy the beach,
swimming, reading, playing games with the children, and other simple
pastimes. There are some wonderful walks in the area, and you can visit
Kande Beach where you can mix with overland tourists and have a beer.
Personal
Health
What are the major
health risks?
The most significant health risk is malaria. It is essential
that all volunteers take malaria prophylaxes — please speak to
your doctor about this. We recommend that every late afternoon, you
spray on an insect repellent and/or wear long trousers, long-sleeved
shirts, etc. All of the beds have mosquito nets which are treated with
an insecticide twice a year. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis), which is easily
treatable, is present in Lake Malawi, but none of our previous volunteers
who have swum regularly in the lake have contracted the disease. We
have been asked about rabies, which is present in Malawi, but this poses
a low risk, and we are not aware of any cases locally.
Is there a hospital
nearby?
There are health centres at Kachere (7km to the south) and Kande (7km
to the north), but it is unlikely that they would be able to help in
an emergency. We recommend our volunteers are taken to Matiki hospital
which is on the Illovo sugar estate at Dwangwa, about 100km south of
Mwaya (about an hour's drive) or to St John's Hospital in Mzuzu. They
are both well equipped facilities with qualified doctors, clinical officers,
and trained nurses. Although you will have to pay for any tests or treatments,
the sums involved are very reasonable compared to private hospitals
in the West.
What medicines
would you recommend me to take to Malawi?
As previously mentioned, definitely your malaria prophylaxis. We have
found that taking a broad spectrum antibiotic, like ciprofloxacin, is
also very useful for treating serious diarrhoea and vomiting. It is
wise to have some rehydration salts — these are essential should
you have an upset stomach. Tincture of iodine or an iodine-based antiseptic
cream (e.g. Betadine ointment) is invaluable for treating wounds and
sores, plus an antibiotic cream. Take wound dressings, and it’s
always useful to have your own First Aid kit. There is a pharmacy in
Mzuzu and several in Lilongwe where you can buy most medicines that
you are likely to require. However, we strongly advise you to consult
your doctor before travelling.
Money
What money should
I take with me?
We would recommend that you take American dollars (and British pounds
if you are comng from the UK) as these are easily exchanged at any Forex
bureau or Bank. Take US$50 notes and some US$10 notes — these
can always be used for paying for safaris and any other Lodge accommodation.
Do not take US$100 notes as no-one will change them because there are
so many fake notes circulating in Africa. Travellers’ Cheques
can be taken but not all Banks will accept them, and there is sometimes
a limit to the amount that can be changed at one time. Please
note that you will be required to produce the original copy of your
receipt when cashing Travellers’ Cheques at a Bank. We
recommend you use Forex bureaux to change your money as their exchange
rates are generally higher than at the Banks. There are Forex bureaux
in Lilongwe and Mzuzu.
Can I obtain cash
with my credit card?
Yes, there are ATMs in Lilongwe and Mzuzu.
Can I change money
on arrival?
As the Malawi kwacha is not a tradeable currency, you will not be able
to obtain any kwacha outside of the country, but you can change money
at the airport, and there are often moneychangers at the border crossings.
It is a good idea to be aware of the exchange rate before you get to
Malawi.
The
Charity, Deposits, and Donations
Is the charity
registered?
Yes, RIPPLE Africa is registered with the Charity
Commission of England and Wales, and the registration number is
1103256.
How should deposits
and donations be paid?
Deposits and donations can be paid either online via our area on the
Justgiving
website (recommended for UK tax payers) or by using PayPal
(recommended for non UK residents). Deposits and donations can also
be paid by Bank Giro Credit or transfer directly into our Bank account,
and RIPPLE Africa's Bank account details can be found on the Donation
Form. Payments by cheque (made payable to ‘RIPPLE Africa’)
can be made by prior arrangement. Please note that we have to pay Bank
charges of approximately £5-8 per payment for all foreign cheques
and transfers, so ideally if you are fundraising it is best to bank
the money yourself and pay us the full amount using Justgiving
or PayPal.
What is the deposit
for and when should it be paid?
We have a non-refundable deposit which has to be paid to secure your
place on the programme. It is designed to establish commitment from
the volunteer. All of this money goes to the RIPPLE Africa projects
(see next question below). The balance of your payment is payable at
least four weeks before your arrival at Mwaya Beach. Unfortunately,
we cannot accept requests for delayed payment. For full details of the
cost of the programme, click here.
What does RIPPLE
Africa do with the money?
All of the money donated to RIPPLE Africa is used carefully. We keep
our UK administration costs a low as possible so that the amount of
money available for the projects in Malawi is maximised. The money is
spent on primary school costs, health centre costs, secondary school
sponsorship programme, environmental projects, staff costs at Mwaya
Beach, etc.
Can I bring books
for the children?
Your weight allowance will limit what you can bring. However, the children
love learning about their country and Africa in general so any fiction
where the central characters are Africans will be a great hit. There
are some bookshops in Mzuzu and Lilongwe which sell books like this,
so it may be best to bring some money with you and buy the books in
Malawi. Although many people have collected lots of things for the commmunity
at Mwaya, the difficult part is to deliver them because it is incredibly
expensive and not very reliable. Our best advice is that the most useful
contribution you can make would be to provide cash to help with all
the projects we are constantly becoming involved with, for example constructing
school buildings, developing the environmental projects, etc.
Can I bring prizes
and gifts for the children?
Everyone at Mwaya has so little that singling out certain people, adults
or children, to give things to is very difficult. It is sometimes useful
to bring things that can be used by groups of people, for example a
football. Sometimes the students that are keen and come for extra lessons
at Mwaya Beach may be given a small item, for example a pen. If you
gave gifts out at school, you would probably be mobbed. The best thing
you can give the children is your time, energy and enthusiasm.
Personal
Stuff
What
should I bring?
Please check out the list in the What
to Bring section.
Communications
Where can I e-mail/telephone
from?
There is a satellite internet connection at Kande
Beach. There is an internet cafe in Chintheche and about two or
three in Mzuzu (100km away), and there are also a number of internet
cafes in Lilongwe. There are telephones in Mzuzu and Lilongwe, but the
closest telephone for you to use is at Kande
Beach which is about 10km away, although this doesn't always work.
Because we now have full mobile (cell) phone reception at Mwaya Beach,
we strongly advise you to bring your own mobile (cell) phone with you
(make sure it is “unlocked” and can be used on any network)
and buy a Zain SIM card in Lilongwe when you arrive. Top up vouchers
are available to buy locally in Matete, Kande and Kachere.
Can I send and
receive letters at Mwaya?
Letters can be sent and collected from the Post Office in Chintheche
(25km away) where we have a PO Box. There is also a small Post Office
in Kande if you are just sending letters. Family and friends sending
letters to you need to be addressed as follows:
Your
Name
c/o RIPPLE Africa
P O Box 75
Chintheche
Nkhata Bay District
Northern Region
Malawi
However,
please be aware that letters and parcels can take between two weeks
and three months to arrive!
How do I travel
around in Malawi?
You will walk or possibly cycle locally, but should you wish to travel
further afield there are either buses, minibuses or matolas (matolas
are pickups crammed full of people, luggage, chickens, etc.). It costs
about US$10 to travel to Mzuzu and back. There is a pickup kept at Mwaya
Beach, and it makes monthly trips to Mzuzu to collect supplies.
Mwaya
Primary School
What are the ages
of the children at the school?
The school has eight forms, called Standards. The children start in
Standard 1 at six years old and progress through the school to Standard
8, where they should be aged 12 to 13 years old. However, they do not
progress automatically each year because they have to re-take the year
if they do not pass their end-of-year exams. Consequently, some pupils
can be 17 or 18 years old in Standards 6, 7 or 8. Please read the document
called Mwaya
Primary School: Information for Teaching Volunteers for more details.
Who will I teach?
Our volunteers normally teach Standards 5 to 8. All lessons are taught
in English from Standard 5 upwards, although the children are not fluent.
Please read the document called Mwaya
Primary School: Information for Teaching Volunteers for more details.
What will I teach?
You will be expected to teach English and maths, and possibly science
and social studies. The curriculum is set by the Malawi government and
the teachers stick to it fairly rigidly, but it might be an idea to
bring a few books with you as extra resource material. Please read the
document called Mwaya
Primary School: Information for Teaching Volunteers for more details.
What size are the
classes?
The primary school has in excess of 850 children, and there are usually
between 70 and 120 children per class. However, not everybody attends
school every day, and a normal size class will be 60 to 80 pupils. Now
that RIPPLE Africa pays for eight additional Malawian trainee teachers,
the headmaster has been able to split each year into two classes which
has reduced the number of pupils in each class. Please read the document
called Mwaya
Primary School: Information for Teaching Volunteers for more details.
Can volunteers
become involved in other areas?
We have had volunteers who have gone out to work in the primary school
and have found they are better suited to assisting at the health centre.
We have also had healthcare assistants who have also taught at the school.
The important thing is for both the community and the volunteers to
benefit from the experience.
Kachere
Health Centre
Can I bring medical
supplies with me for the health centre?
Yes, you can but we would suggest bringing a fairly small quantity which
you can include within your weight allowance. However, please remember
that, with potentially 18,000 patients served by Kachere Health Centre,
anything you bring with you will be a drop in the ocean. Please read
the document called
Information for Healthcare Volunteers for more details.
What will I be
doing at the health centre?
This depends on whether you are a doctor, nurse or medical student.
We suggest that you read the document called Information
for Healthcare Volunteers for more details.
Is there a translator
at the health centre?
Yes, there will be someone to help with translation. Please ask for
this service when you arrive at the health centre.
General
Questions
What is the local
attitude to women?
In Africa, society is generally very male dominated, and women are generally
regarded as second-class citizens. Most of the important business is
conducted by the men, while women tend to work very hard cooking, working
in the fields and bringing up the family. However, some women do hold
quite senior positions, but they are in the minority. When we are at
Mwaya, most people want to see Geoff and only consult Liz as a last
resort! But, locally, the educated men do understand that our volunteers
come from a different culture where women are considered more equal
to men, and generally treat them accordingly. As a foreigner, or ‘mzungu’,
you will be treated with respect by everyone, but it is much easier
for men to accept instructions from a man.
What is the local
attitude towards Americans?
We have been asked this question by a number of American applicants.
Our American volunteers haven't, to date, experienced any anti-American
feeling, although one of our American volunteers did say he was Canadian!
However, we have found no animosity towards Americans or any other nationality
for that matter. There are quite a number of Muslims in the country
(about 20% of the population), but they don't seem to be fanatical about
their faith and live in harmony with the majority Christian population.
Malawi really is the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’, and you’ll
see why once you get there.
Do I need to get
a visa before I arrive in Malawi?
No, you will get a 30-day tourist visa upon arrival which is free. This
can easily be extended for a further 60 days at the Immigration Office
in Nkhata Bay at a cost of MK5,000 (about GB£23). Before this
extension expires, you will need to leave the country for at least 24
hours, and then you can return and start the process again. Once you
have completed this process for the second time (i.e. after six months),
you can apply for a temporary residents’ visa which costs MK30,000
(about GB£140) and is valid for a further six months.
What
things can I bring for the school, health centre, projects, etc?
The things you can bring will be limited by your weight allowance. A
previous volunteer has suggested that you should bring some of the money
you have raised so you can buy materials for any project you become
involved with. For example, you can buy footballs in Lilongwe, you can
buy paper and pens in Mzuzu, you may wish to buy blackboard paint, etc.
Should I bring
a mobile phone (cell) phone with me?
Please see the question about e-mails and phones
above. We recommend you bring a mobile (cell) phone with you but make
sure it is "unlocked" and can be used with any network. There
is full Zain reception at Mwaya Beach, and SIM cards are available to
buy in most towns and villages throughout Malawi or you can buy a SIM
card at the airport or in Lilongwe when you arrive. Top up vouchers
are available to buy locally in Matete, Kande and Kachere. Although
we have solar power at Mwaya Beach, we would prefer it if you could
bring your own solar charger for your phone, or charge it up when you
are in Kande or Kachere where there's electricity.
How can my family
contact me in an emergency?
We advise you to bring your own mobile (cell) phone with you (see
above) and, once you've bought your SIM card, send your phone number
to your family and friends so that they can contact you directly.
What is the normal
weight allowance on flights to Africa?
The weight allowance for hold baggage on a flight to Lilongwe with Kenya
Airways is a total of 46kg (two bags weighing a maximum of 23kg each)
per person plus 10kg cabin baggage. With South African Airways, it is
20kg per person if you are flying from outside Africa or 32kg (a maximum
of 23kg in one bag) if you are flying within Africa, plus 10kg for cabin
luggage. With Ethiopian Airways, it is 45kg for hold baggage. However,
we recommend you check with the airline beforehand. Please be careful
not to exceed this as airlines do make punitive charges for excess baggage.
Should I send a
letter of introduction and/or photo of myself to Mwaya Beach, the school
or the health centre?
Yes, this is a good idea. If you e-mail these to us in good time, we
can forward these to someone at Mwaya Beach who will make sure they
go to the right people.
Can I travel to
other countries whilst volunteering?
When you are in Malawi, you want to make the most of it. Many of our
volunteers travel during the school holidays, and a number have been
on organised safaris with Kiboko
Safaris, a safari company based in Lilongwe who run good, reasonably
priced trips, where they have visited South Luangwa National Park and
Victoria Falls in Zambia. There is also a new safari company called
The
Responsible Safari Company, based in Blantyre and run by a couple
called Dom and Kate. They will be offsetting their clients' carbon footprints
with RIPPLE Africa to help us plant more trees.
Do I need insurance
cover?
Yes, most definitely. You will need full insurance cover for medical
expenses (including repatriation), personal accident and personal possessions.
How
do I get to Malawi?
Please read the Getting
to Malawi section.
Also, you can download a leaflet entitled Getting
to Mwaya Beach from the PDFs/Videos
section. |
