A Letter from Canada

Delamere House Blantyre 01 624 311 / 01 624 255 Friday Direct +265 9 964 156 Friday 30 April 2004 Issue No: 134

You may remember I spoke of Jean Béliveau a few months ago. He left Canada in 2000 to walk around the world to promote "Peace and non-violence to the profit of the children of the world" and he has just walked through Malawi. When I heard about him, I tried to get an interview, but alas he was already in Mzuzu! I have been communicating with his wife, Luce and her story of her trip to Malawi is featured below and is a marvelous perception of Malawi. Please read it and click on the links to view her photo's. Jean's walk can be followed by visiting their website at www.wwwalk.org

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As always have a great weekend and don't forget to listen in to the real Man Friday on FM101 at 5.05 with the ghettofabulous CODE. Fx

MAN FRIDAY'S DIARY CHECK HIM OUT ON FM101 A FEW MINUTES AFTER 5PM EVERY FRIDAY with DJ CODE

FRIDAY 30 APRIL

PHUNGU JOSEPH NKASA "THE MILLION DOLLAR MEGASTAR" with Zosayinasayina Band at Sangalala Mwanza 8pm K150

SATURDAY 1 MAY

Gospel Music at French Cultural Centre with the Blantyre Baptist Church 1.30pm K150

PHUNGU JOSEPH NKASA "THE MILLION DOLLAR MEGASTAR" with Zosayinasayina Band at Kalulu Stadium Nchalo 2pm K100

SUNDAY 2 MAY

Mega Gospel Show with Jean Binauli, Ethel Kamwendo, the Chiteka's and
others at French Cultural Centre 1.30pm K200 / K150 children

PHUNGU JOSEPH NKASA "THE MILLION DOLLAR MEGASTAR" with Zosayinasayina Band at Matechanga Chikwawa 8.30pm K200

MONDAY 3 MAY

Public Holiday - Labour Day

Gospel Show with the King of Gospel Adam's Family at French Cultural Centre 1.30pm K200

WEDNESDAY 5 MAY

Creative workshop -Gel Candle Making Book at least one week in advance. 50% Deposit required upon enrolment. A minimum of 10 people required to cover the cost of venue, coffee & tea and materials used. A booking made – is a booking kept – no refunds! Lynette Alberts Tel: 01624 146

SATURDAY 8 MAY

OPEN DAY AT HILLVIEW INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOL, LIMBE 10.00-12.00 MEET THE TEACHERS - VIEW THE SCHOOL "You only have one chance to educate your children, so choose their school wisely." Based on the English National Curriculum, Hillview School offers a broad and balanced education, which will give your child and excellent start in life. Families are invited to attend the Open Day at the School, between 10am and 12noon on Saturday 8th May.

THE BLANTYRE MUSIC SOCIETY AND HILLVIEW INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOL PRESENT .AN OPEN- AIR CONCERT IN THE SCHOOL GARDENS AT 6pm
Performances by the International Schools, Junior Orchestra and Music Society Choir & Orchestra. Bring your picnic basket, blanket or garden chair and table and be
serenaded while you enjoy your picnic. Cash bar. Gates open at 5.30 pm to allow you to choose a good spot for your picnic. .Seating available for those who just want to listen to the music. Entrance fee K250 per adult, K100 per child (pre-school children free)

SATURDAY 15 MAY

Creative workshop - Decoupage on wooden items. Book at least one week in advance. 50% Deposit required upon enrolment. A minimum of 10 people required to cover the cost of venue, coffee & tea and materials used. A booking made – is a booking kept – no refunds! Lynette Alberts Tel: 01624 146

FRIDAY 21 MAY

PARENT’S FILM NIGHT at Hillview School - We will be showing the recently released comedy CALENDAR GIRLS, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Waters. Tickets will be available in advance from the school ofice and will cost K1000, which will include a 2-course meal, served before the film.

SATURDAY 29 MAY

MAY FARE at St Andrews Primary School - Second hand items (no clothing), books, toys are needed. Could you donate a prize for our raffle? Contact the school office on 633428. Anyone wishing to sell items can contact Mr Temperley on this number.

A man had finally got around to taking all the broken umbrellas to the repair shop. Next morning on his way to his office, when he got up to leave the mini bus, he absentmindedly laid hold of the umbrella belonging to the woman beside him, for he was in the habit of carrying one.

The woman cried "Stop! Thief!", grabbed her umbrella back and embarrassed the poor man no end!

That same day, he stopped at the repair shop, and received all eight of his umbrellas duly restored. As he entered the street car, with the unwrapped umbrellas tucked under his arm, he was horrified to behold, glaring at him, the lady of his morning's misadventure. Her voice came to him charged with a withering scorn: "Had a good day, didn't you!"

Dearest friends, I read somewhere that “you cannot go to Africa and come back home being the same person as when you left”. I am afraid it is true!

I traveled in India, Nepal, Egypt, South America and I never felt so disorientated as in Africa. All is different… the sky (as much during the night than during the day), the vegetation (evidently), the quality of the air (pure and non polluted), the temperature (again, evidently) and even a special odour that is from the earth… There are also the basic values of life that are so different than the ones we have in our over developed countries…

As Jean had been walking in Malawi for 2 months already, he had prepared a special itinerary for our little vacations. Except for the indispensable errands: bank, Internet etc., we avoided the big cities and the big hotels. We used the public transportation: a unique fare for all of them, be it a regular bus, a minibus or a pickup truck where one travels sitting in the box. The roads are quite narrow and without shoulder and the car or bus drivers have a fairly heavy foot…. Thank God for the horns that allow the numerous pedestrians to run away in vegetation to avoid collisions!

We saw plantations of rubber trees spiked with little tubes under which are hung small pots to collect the precious rubber. At first, it sure doesn’t look like our car tires!!! We saw a lot of flowers and lush vegetation even though the rain season was weak this year.

Something to see absolutely: Lake Malawi! An immense extent of soft water of an incredible purity! We had a 2 day-cruise there on the Ilala, a boat that has been doing transportation on Lake Malawi for 50 years. The boat is an indispensable transportation means for some Malawians because several villages are not accessible by the roads. This cruise was an extraordinary experience. I felt as in a movie… observing colourfully dressed people embarking or disembarking… carrying their shopping or possessions… from bunches of bananas to furniture… It was multi-coloured … animated and extremely exotic!

But the biggest wealth of Malawi is the Malawians themselves! First, they are beautiful with their devastating smiles… then, they are so kind and cordial!

In Kande Beach Resort, we met a young Dutchwoman, Sandra Verbaan who undertook to have an orphanage of 30 places built in Kande Village. As the village counts about one hundred orphans, she promised herself to enlarge the building as soon as it is finished in such a way that there will not be one orphan left without a roof in Kande. You can write to Sandra to send her your support be it moral or financial or other.

In Monkey Bay, we met an Australian lady of German origin, Birgit Albers who thought of an impressive enough project… The education for primary school is free in Malawi but to attend secondary school, you need to pay some fees. These fees are minimal for us but impossible to pay for the numerous orphans. So, Birgit undertook to make a descriptive card with photo of every orphan who expresses his interest. Once a year, she goes to Australia, in Tasmania to be more precise, organizes a big African dinner at 50 $ a setting and distributes the descriptive cards of the orphan teenagers of Malawi and invites people to become sponsor for the studies of one of these young teenagers. Upon her return in Monkey Bay, she asks the young man or woman to write to his/her sponsor personally so that the 2 (sponsor and young person) are directly in contact. This project works marvellously well. Here I invite you again, to write directly to Birgit to offer her your support or even to sponsor a young teenager, thus giving him or her a break to overcome this stagnation.

After our cruise on the Ilala, we spent 4 days of paradise at the Baobab Beach Resort where Henry Shamu and his wife, Mary ascertained our happiness and comfort. As Mary and Henry are Malawians, we could take advantage of very enriching conversations while relaxing in a charming scenery and while appreciating young Peter's visits. Peter is Mary and Henry’s 4 months old grandson.

One last thing: Malawi is clean… clean… clean! People are clean, the children are so cute, you feel like hugging them… and the houses and their yards, the roads and even the big cities are clean what made an astonishing contrast with the dirt of winter’s end in Montreal. http://www.wwwalk.org

One fairly used Superior four plate cooker with grill / bake oven and warmer at Mk30,000.00, One fairly used Display Cabinet (Imported wood with glasses) maroon colour Mk25,000.00. Contact: tel: 01 707 357(O), email: l.phiri@africa-online.net

Computer - , Monitor CD- ROM, Printer, Speakers, and Scanner. K 100,000.00. Video Camera - Sony comes with hard-shell Sports case to keep out dust or rain K 75,000.00 Isuzu D/cab 4x2 with Canopy, 3 years old, low kms, duty free, would suit Church or NGO, expat selling. Contact Terry Sleight at tsleight@malawi.net or phone 667-581 Cell 08 202 750

Limited number of Indian outfits and handbags for sale, just in from India. Exclusive designs, only one of each. Cash buyers only, no credit. Please phone: 09-930633 for appointment to view

1. 1997 Mazda Rustler 1.3 Pick-up with canopy. About 80000km. Very good condition, a good runner and very economical. Lady owner. Available after end of April K500000.00 o.n.o

2 . 2 x Modern Standard Lamps with dimmer switches. Black with aqua trim K10000.00

3 . Portable Philips CD/Cassette Player with remote control and a selection of CD's K20000.00

4 . Power and Hand Tools including circular saw, hammer drill, Bench Grinder, Socket sets, hammers, levels etc K100000.00

Tel: 08 828953 / 01 429201

NOTICES

MALAWI CRICKET UNION would like to invite any interested cricket players to join our upcoming league. We have 8 teams to play in 5 separate tournaments so there is plenty of opportunity to play. We are also attempting to get an expat team together, so please send me an email or call and I will assist you straight away. Following reaching the semi final of a senior world cup qualifier in South Africa, we are very excited for the future growth of cricket in Malawi. BEN WICLING CRICKET DEVELOPMENT OFFICER wiclingben@hotmail.com 09245444

Dance Class for Adults (men and women!) The emphasis is on fun! Contemporary/Jazz/Samba/African Dance - an eclectic mix! with interesting music from around the world Mondays 5-6pm, New term starts 19th April At French Cultural Centre With Gail Arnold Tel 01 658010 or 09 965223 for further details No charge for classes but, after trying out one class for free, you will need to join the French Cultural Centre (K1800/year)

Work amongst wildlife - young, energetic, adaptable person required to assist in running a Wildlife Lodge in a National Park. Some experience in
hotel management / catering would be useful but not essential. Food, accommodation and minimal salary provided. Send CV to chinguni@africa-online.net

French lessons available with Mr Urban Mkandawire who is a very patient teacher - may be contacted by calling Mr Sam Kadyakale 0n 08866733 and leave a message or by email - urbanmkandawire@hotmail.com MK500/hour

Boat wanted. We are looking to purchase a ski-boat in excellent condition. Must have a deep V-hull, suitable for use on the lake. Engine size minimum 115hp. Must have trailer and boat cover, and engine must be in tip-top condition. Danforth Yachting Danforth@mw.celtelplus.com 09 960077 / 09 960770

Wanted to buy – a trailer for a pickup, reasonable price, needed by enterprising new band Mabingu for its forthcoming illustrious tour throughout Malawi . Please Sue on 09 243 783 or Peter on 09 263 286 or email malata@africa-online.net

Lake cottage FOR SALE (Nkhotakota) The cottage is 10 km from Nkhotakota boma (going to the south) near Sani Beach Resort, Fish Eagle Bay ,Njobvu Safari Lodge, Price; U$D 13,000 Please call 01460017/243/266> Christopher Paul Chilupa or write to jak@africa-online.net

Contact:
Editor - Roz Edwards
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Tel: + 265 1 624255 / 311
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Email: friday@zikomo.net
Africa Online PO Box 2461 Blantyre Malawi
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