Bishop Ziyaye visits Andiamo

Posted on 21/03/2012 by admin

Archbishop Tarcisius Ziyaye of Blantyre Archdiocese took time to visit Andiamo campus on Thursday, 21 March.

Archbishop Ziyaye (L) and Coss Chiwalo during the his visit

During the visit the Archbishop met the founding Trustee Fr.Mario Pacifici and later  met Alleluya Band members who are preparing for 2012 trip to Italy. Speaking to the music group, Ziyaye encouraged the band members to continue showing their good behavior wherever they go and preach the Gospel of Christ. He also wished them all the best as they are preparing for the trip.

Andrew Galeta (L) with Archbishop (C) and Human Resource Manage George Matache at one of the section of AYCT

The Archbishop thanked Fr. Mario for his passion on the youth in the district and for implementing different projects in which more youths are being involved. He then blessed the group. Later he visited several sections of AYCT.

Alleluya Band is expected to live for Italy in May this year and is expected to return in July.

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Marandimo contractors in a big project

Posted on 20/03/2012 by admin

All is set now. The foundation stone was laid on Sunday 18 March 2012. Marandimo Building Contractors of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust (AYCT) are the contractors to build a secondary school at Lisanjala Parish of Zomba Diocese.

Andrew Galeta (in blue shirt) with Benedictine sisters at the construction site

According to Jula Mailosi Mbewe, Operations Director of Marandimo, the project will be done in four phases.

The first phase will involve the building of the class blocks, the staffroom, library, head teacher’s office and one teacher’s house.

The second, third and fourth phases will involve the construction of the hostels, brick wall fence and teachers houses respectively.

Speaking during the function, Andrew Galeta who doubles as Managing Director of the constructions company and the Executive Director of AYCT asked the community to take total responsibility of the project. He bemoaned the tendency of some people who steal materials for projects like this one.

“This school will benefit the community a lot as the nearest Secondary School is 7 kilometres away,” said Galeta.

Benedictine sisters are the owners of the school and the contractors have promised to finish the first phase by June this year.

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Tinyadire Moyo meets the youth

Posted on 20/03/2012 by admin

Tinyadire Moyo Project met the youth of Wadi and Kanyoza villages on 18 March, 2012 at a football match organised deliberately to have a chance of talking with them. The match took place at Wadi village and attracted more than 300 spectators from both villages.

A football match between wadi and Kanyoza boys

Taking this opportunity, Jack Edward talked to the gathered youth on the dangers of HIV/AIDS. He also shared with them his life story before and after he was tested HIV positive and how he is taking care of himself and his family.

He said that youths in the villages are highly affected with the pandemic and something must be done so that the new generation should be saved.

Jack cited lack of information about the virus as a big threat. He also added that there is need to form HIV support groups in rural areas so that they can be working hand in hand with the Project in sensitizing people about the dangers of HIV.

Group village headmen Wadi and Kanyoza who were present during the match, said that they have welcomed the project in their respective villages and they hope that all the villagers will give the project the support it needs. They also thanked Jack and the entire project team for organizing the meeting.

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Be Exemplary, Fr Mario tells AEI teaching staff

Posted on 19/03/2012 by admin

Fr Mario Pacifici who is also the founding trustee of Andiamo Cooperative Trust has asked the AEI teaching staff to be exemplary to the students or else risked being fired. Fr. Mario was speaking this during the Sunday mass, which was the last since students will leave this Thursday for Easter holidays.

Students: advised to be patient

“I want you to be exemplary to these students even outside the classrooms,” said Fr. Mario.

During the same mass, students’ representative Triza Kananji read out their statement in which they thanked Fr. Mario and promised to be good students wherever they are going.

Among the congregation, was Mayi Petro, an old lady who according to Fr. Mario, has worked with him since he arrived in Malawi to the extent that she is the lady who donated a piece of land where Andiamo was built.

When she was given a chance to speak to the students, she left all the students in laughter as she used proverbs that made sense then and continue to do so now. She advised them to be patient.

Students leave Thursday 22 March and are expected to be back on 15 April.

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Early Easter Gift

Posted on 19/03/2012 by admin

Fr. Mario, Franco and some of the girls of AEI

Students of Andiamo Education Institutions will go for Easter Holidays, knowing that they have a big Easter gift.

Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust with the help an association called Seconda Linea Missionaria from Ostia in Rome has built a two-block girls hostel that will be fully functional this September.

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Tinyadire Moyo receives big support

Posted on 16/03/2012 by admin

Following the visit of Tinyadire Moyo to Petro village, a new group called Petro HIV Support Group has been formed. This group comprises people living with the virus.

Jack Edward: We expect more support

According to the chairman of the group, Leonard Lyson, the group aims to conduct awareness campaign in surrounding villages together with Tinyadire Moyo Project.

The chairman said that before Tinyadire Moyo’s visit to the area, people were shy to come in the open to reveal their status. He feels that by revealing one’s status, many lives would be saved.

The list of the names of Petro HIV Support Group was submitted to Tinyadire Moyo Project on Wednesday 14 March. Jack Edward, who received  the document on behalf of the Coordinator, said that he is expecting big support from other areas which will be visited soon.

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Alleluya Band 2012 tour Calendar

Posted on 15/03/2012 by admin

Alleluya Band: ready for the Italy 2012 tour

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Chichewa Pills

Posted on 14/03/2012 by admin

Greetings mean a lot to Malawians. Those who have had a chance of being here for a while have surely noticed how people greet each other. Even if you meet a Malawian person for the first time you’ll be sure that she or he is going to greet you with a big smile. This is one of the precious part of Malawian culture. We would like to share some of the key Chichewa vocabulary that might be interesting and useful  next time you come to Malawi.

Muli Bwanji?                                     How are you?

Ndili bwino kaya inu?                       I’m fine and you?

Zikomo                                               Thank you

Tionana                                              See you

Tsiku labwino                                    Have a good day

Mwadzuka bwanji?  Good morning! (the same as ‘How are you?’ but in the morning time)

Ndadzuka bwino kaya inu? I’m fine and you? (in the morning time)

Mwaswera bwino?    Good afternoon! (the same as ‘How are you?’ but in the afternoon)

Ndaswera bwino kaya inu?  I’m fine and you? (in the afternoon)

Usiku wabwino                                  Good night                 

Dzina lanu ndani?                             What’s your name?    

Dzina langa ndi Patrick                    My name is Patrick

Don’t be afraid of the pronunciations, they have just to be pronounced as you read them and they allow you to establich relations with Malawians easily. Other “Chichewa pills” posts will be published soon!

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Andrea: A Genius Machine Operator

Posted on 14/03/2012 by admin

Andrea at work

His size can cheat you. He is not big. Yet he operates big machines. He able to work on maize mill shafts, threads, straighten motor vehicle heads and propellers.

Andrea Mulowa, just 23, is a son of Bazilio Mulowa, the Coordinator of Andiamo Nursery schools. His story is amazing!

He is a school drop out. He left school when he was doing his third year in secondary school. He did this not because of lack of support, no. He says he his appetite for technical works was greater than what he was learning in secondary school. True to his passion, he is the only one working in General Lift Machine Section at Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust.

His hardworking spirit and a heart to achieve his dreams, made Andrea learn all the 9 machines available at Andiamo under the supervision of Chimwemwe Chiwere who left the Cooperative for another company before one of the volunteers, Augustino Trusardi came in.

Andrea told us that it has taken him 2 years to be able to operate all the machines.

“Although am able to do all the job alone, I still think of going back in class if chance will present itself,” reveals Andrea.

Andrea is proud of his job as he says he is able to support himself with the basic needs.

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Interview with Luca Pozzoni & Alessandro Maggi

Posted on 13/03/2012 by admin

Luca Pozzoni and Alessandro Maggi are from Bergamo City in Italy and have been in Balaka, Malawi  for 6 months. In these Interviews Alessandro and Luca share their experience during their stay in the country.

Alessandro (centre) and Luca (far right) in front of the house they were staying in Kapandatsitsi

Q: Tell us a gift of your friend
Luca: Ale has a big capacity in terms of involving people in what he believes! For example look at how many people he was able to involve in the Yoga course.
Ale: Luca has a big trust in the future.

Q: Tell us a defect
Luca: He is untidy.
Ale: He makes mistakes in using English verbs.

Q: One beautiful thing of Malawi
Luca: Friendly people.
Ale: The human warmth.

Q: One “Not so beautiful” thing of Malawi
Luca: Once I was not told the truth by a Malawian guy.
Ale: The gossip.

Q: A word about the Volunteer house
Luca: A great community.
Ale: A big Heart

Q: A word about Andiamo Youth Cooperative
Luca: I would like it to be the pulsating heart of the solidarity in Balaka. To give motivation for people to do even more.
Ale: An adolescent utopia.

Q: What did you give to Malawi?
Luca: My life style.
Ale: Too little, a bit of antics.

Q: What did you receive from Malawi?
Luca: A lot of forbearance. When things are not working we should still be positive.
Ale: I think I’ll discover it later.

Q: How do you feel now that you are leaving Malawi?
Luca: I’m not thinking much about leaving Malawi but rather I’m planning how to keep relations with the people I met here.
Ale: I cannot leave a piece of my heart here because I’ll need it in my future, but I think something of it will remain here. I’ll come to get it back sometime in future.

Q: Will you come again in Malawi?
Luca: For sure. Though it is not easy … so I cannot plan when.
Ale: I don’t know all I can say is … maybe!

Q: What will you never forget about Malawi?
Luca: Everything, especially its people.
Ale: I’ll never forget this interview.

Q: Dulcis in fundo … a piece of poetry!
Luca: In the world we are all different. The solidarity is understanding the differences and teaches us to feel more similar.
Ale: I give the words of Arthur Schopenhauer: “Revival starts from disillusion”

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