Hi. My name is Naomi and I live in Arbroath, Scotland where I have just finished my 5th Year at Arbroath Hugh School. So a week to go and Im soooo excited cant wait to go to Malawi. I am leaving Scotland on the 30th of June with 14 others. We are travelling for a day and a half to Namisu orphan village just outside Blantyre. The orphan village is run by Aquaid Lifeline whose main aim is to care for orphans and provide clean water to rural areas of Malawi. They run one orphan village, two primary schools and about 14 day care centres around southern Malawi.
This is my 4th trip to Namisu so I am getting to know a lot of the children quite well. The older part of my church youth group go out every 2 years for a month and since my mum is the youth leader I get to tag along. So I will be travelling out with the group and spend my first month with them but after the month they will all come home and leave me.
Namisu Orphan Village is home to about 100 children who are cared for in Boarding Houses where they are looked after by House Mothers. During the day another 300 children join them and they all attend Namisu Primary School. Unlike government schools, Namisu School is all day and has a record of providing a very good education. The school is for Orphans or children at risk. By coming to the school they dont only receive an education but also 3 meals a day and health checks.
Every one keeps asking if Im nervous but Im not. I think this could be down to several reasons Ive been there before and I know the people; Im travelling out in a group and not by myself; and also I dont think it has quite sunk in yet!
During my year I will be working in the school teaching some classes, working in the Dawn Centre which is a centre for disabled children from the surrounding area, helping in the Village Clinic, organising out of school activities for the children and taking bible studies with the children in the evenings. It will be a very busy year but I am looking forward to all the challenges that come my way and am looking forward to sharing my experiences with you.
Naomi Dunphy
