July 15th, 2010 | 
Author: 
Mr Ian Crittenden is the founder and president of the Malawi Pangaea Project Council in Furnace Brook Middle School Marshfield, Massachusetts. 2010 honor roll student
When one throws a stone into a pond, it doesn’t affect just the spot it touches; it expands its reach beyond itself in ever-widening circles. Mr. Isa Ebowe is just such a stone. In 2008, he dropped himself into our world at Furnace Brook Middle School. Two short years later, he’s managed to expand his circles of hope and touch hundreds of lives.
Mr. Ebowe’s story about the Malawian children affected by HIV/AIDS had a profound effect on me. It compelled me to become another of Mr. Ebowe’s rings. The ripples of the Malawi Pangaea Project continue to expand. The first year, the main goal of the students at my school, or so we thought, was to raise money and supplies for the orphaned children of Malawi. But really it was to connect with the children, to reconnect the continents of Africa and America as they were once united in the ancient super-continent of Pangaea.
We did raise money and educational materials, but the truly remarkable and most rewarding part was the video-conference. To see the children whom we were helping and the hope and joy in their faces was an inexplicable feeling. They inspired me, they gave me hope.
My goal in life is to change the world positively. In America, it’s hard to contemplate the kind of suffering and hopelessness that is so common elsewhere. But I have learned that in facing these hard realities, and working to address them, there are in fact rewards.
Next year I’m heading off to the high school. I plan to bring the Malawi Pangaea Project with me. I intend to do the same when I go to college and on and on for the rest of my life.
Most ever-widening circles disperse, but these ones won’t.
While flying home over Tanzania, our pilot pointed out that we could see Mt Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa and Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest inland fishery.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, is an inactive stratovolcano.
Lake Victoria is divided between three African countries, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
This dance is called “Gule Wamkulu” (The Big Dance). It is mainly performed by the Chew tribe in the central region of Malawi. It is both a secret cult and ritual dance performed at initiation ceremonies and even political events.
- “Gule Wamkulu” (The Big Dance)
I have eaten may different things in my life, living in Africa and Central America, but even I would not eat this “delicacy” of the Chewa people of Malawi. Yes, that really is roasted field mice shish kabob! In all fairness it takes them an entire day to catch these rodents. First, they harvest the corn, then they set the fields ablaze and the mice run out to be caught by hand. It is a whole days work. They report that this is delicious so let me know if yo want to try it and I will FedEx some back to the US.
Proudly displaying his catch of roasted field mice. This is one protein I would not eat.
We are continuing to identify orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in need of uniforms. As we continue to learn more about the Malawian villages where we work, we are realizing how important a school uniform can be to a child. First, the uniform has an important role in shaping the identity of the child as a student. Second, the uniform is a source of pride and commitment to education. Third, teachers and village leaders will not allow students without uniforms to represent the school district when we plan events for the students outside of the village. With local Malawians making school uniforms we have negotiated the price to 475 kwacha which is less than $3.00 USD for boys and 775 kwacha or $5.00 for girls. This program is one we wish to expand to as many OVC as possible in the future.
Teachers selected students that will attend our educational field trip. Attendance was strictly based on whether the students had a school uniform, as a result many could not go.
Two orphans from the village one with school uniform, one without. This year we will have a uniform made for him.
Last year we met with two orphans named Philip and Asnet. They welcomed us into their homes and allowed us to video them to show to the American students. This year, I went back to reconnect with these kids to see what became of them since we left them exactly a year ago. Meeting with Philip and Asnet was encouraging both have stayed in school and improved their grades.
Today, Philip has stayed in school, he took 4th place in is his final exams in a class of 120 students and has been promoted to second grade
Philip in front of his home in 2009
Philip's new family home, thanks to another NGO's work, far bigger than where he lived with his siblings when we met him last year.
Philip is always smiling, at 7 year old he has a great attitude despite his situation.
As a reward for staying in school and achieving high grades, Canterio International gave Philip more educational supplies. Philip is also approved to receive a school uniform.
Asnet (second right with black inner shirt ) is now 9 years old. She is pictured here with other orphans on Canterio International educational field trip to Lake Malawi. The students were ecstatic since field trips are not part of the normal curriculum.
Asnet playing in the sand with her friends.
Asnet seen here in 2009 during the "Day in the Life of a Malawian Orphan" video
Playing frisbee...just being kids
Seeing themselves on the digital camera and learning to take pictures too!
Demonstration School: Black board reads: 1. Equality 2. Tolerance …
Malawi is a young Democracy. Teachers are now starting to teach ideas such as equality and tolerance. These topics have not been explored in the classroom or by most Malawians in the context of the modern world. We were proud to be a part of a classroom exchange discussing the meaning of discrimination and the concept of respecting all people. Change begins with these children.
World Cup fever is all over Malawi. Since the Malawian National team did not qualify for the World Cup most Malawians were supporting South Africa. Malawians were depressed when South Africa lost to Uruguay. Football, or soccer in US, is the major game in Africa. People take it personally when their beloved African teams lose in this part of the world. It is a talking point at every occasion, even in some villages! They are now counting on the other remaining African countries to at least win a game or two. To avoid a complete heart break, soccer fans in Malawi support other African countries as well as one experienced team. I surveyed many Malawians and the majority opinion is that if all the African teams are eliminated Brazil, will get their support. I have been able to download game highlights and show then in the villages using my solar powered lap top.
Isa Ebowe handing out pencils at the Demonstration School near Lilongwe
Working with OVC (orphans and vulnerable children) at the Demonstration School near Lilongwe City. We went to the local market to price pencils in the city. One pencil was 50 Kwacha, approximately $o.33, this is well beyond the means of most Malawian families. Canterio International is proud to announce we have distributed more than 12,000 pencils, pens, and crayons to OVC since we started our work in Malawi. Special thanks to all the American students for running school material fund drives for the orphans. As stated by Jane Kambalame, Secretary of Economic Affairs, Embassy of the Republic of Malawi, Washington, DC, “When you give a pencil, you are giving a Malawian child an education.”
Interacting with the students and teachers at the Demonstration School
In Nsaleu village, the orphans of Malawi had their own World Cup Games. The day started with songs and a pep rally
Orphans thank the American students
PEP Rally to start off the games
Starting with the girls. Luke introduced them to the game of Field Hockey. We divided them into two teams, Canada for Luke and America for Isa. The villagers were thrilled that we showed the girls a new game.
Girls playing field hockey
The Canadians worn the hockey game 2-1 and won the Pangaea Project World Hockey Cup!
Traditional reverence while receiving the trophy
Jubilation by the girls team Canada taking the Field Hockey trophy
Next was the Netball championship. Netball is a kind of basketball that is very popular in Malawi. Malawi is number 6 in the world in Netball. It was Canada vs. US and Canada won again 7 – 5 taking the Pangaea Project World Netball Cup!
Netball played by boys and girls
I was getting a bit annoyed and humiliated. The US teams had not won a game yet. On to soccer, my favorite. The boys picked sides and played hard. And yes, USA prevailed trouncing Canada 4 – 0 taking the Pangaea Project World Soccer Cup!
Team Canada
Team USA
The epic battle of soccer, Malawian US and Canadian teams playing hard
Team USA celebrating the soccer World Cup win
This was a wonderful day for all the orphans. We started with music and poetry readings; orphans and teachers thanking the US students for all their hard work. The games were competitive fun. Luke and I were ecstatic to see the joy on the faces of everyone involved. This will definitely be an annual event.
