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& Letter from Malawi Following
are excerpts from a letter from Mawingo. He describes events at Nyika
Progressive Secondary School and in his local community. This
provides the reader with an insider's view of life in northern Malawi. |
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(Excerpts from Letter written by
Byron {Mawingo} Jeys, transcribed by Virginia J. Pulver) Malawi, Africa Sunday 5/10/03 Dear
Virginia & Mark, Yesterday I attended the graduation exercises at Nyika
Progressive School. The guests met at
Caleb Library where we sat at tables, chatted, & had refreshments. The library is a lovely building, very bright with nice
proportions. It was previously a four room house.
The interior walls were taken out, making one
large room. The windows have interior
shutters that can be closed at night. The carpentry work on these and on the
doors was done by a very competent craftsman. There is a sign – a very beautiful one which
identifies the building & its use.
Mr. Mkondawire took a picture of the sign, which he will send to
you. I didn’t
write down the exact words nor note the arrangement. Sorry. It said: Caleb Library Books Donated by Emerald High School In Memory of Caleb J. Pulver Son of Virginia & Mark Pulver Mr. Mkandawire will send you pictures after they are
developed. Nyika School is now five years old. The three directors are all former Phwezi
teachers {Where Byron/Mawingo once taught}.
There are nine teachers and 450 students. At first they met
in the Assembly of God Church. In 2001 they build two classrooms at a place 500 yards north
of the church. (You visited that
structure.) Since then the school has
purchased and raised quite a number of houses and in this way created an
attractive campus. There
are several trees that had been planted by the owners of the houses. These made the school look less stark. One of the houses was
preserved and is now Caleb Library.
Two more classrooms have been built. The graduation was held at the
New Apostolic Church’s Fellowship Hall – one of the nicer buildings in
Rumphi. The celebration included a
meal, entertainment, speeches, & awarding of attendance
certificates. I presented the
certificates. I enjoyed shaking hands
with each student and saying congratulations and adding their names. I also gave the graduation address, which
was also fun. If Emerald High School is sending more books
they might consider some of these books: atlas, almanac, encyclopedia,
thesaurus, books on journalism, on debate, on parliamentary procedures, world
and African history books, & science books would be helpful. The books that were sent were good
selections – all very suitable and in good condition. The English teacher, Mr. Kuluwa, has used some of the
novels in his classes. The District
Education Officer was quite impressed by the library. It is the best school library in the Porto
Region (northern 6 districts). Our adult literacy classes will begin the 13th. Classes will meet 2-4, Mon-Thurs. The pupils will learn reading, writing
& arithmetic. We have 20 on the
register & expect about 10 more to enroll. We have gotten some slates, some exercise
books, pencils, & chalk. The
Ministry of Education gave us a few books & promise
more. This week we will be putting in a water pipeline to the
workers houses, to my house, and maybe to the school if we have time. We have the materials. Denis will finish his term tests on the 10th
Friday) and will come here…Denis is 20.
He is the son of Jerred’s older sister. He was born while his mother’s husband was
in prison. He lived with Jerred’s younger
sister in Blantyre until she and her husband died. Then her six children came to live with
their grandmother. When Jerred died,
his seven children also came to live with the grandmother. I give money to Jerred’s mother to help
with his children & I have become guardian for Denis. When Gomezani and Byron get older, I‘ll
probably become their guardians. …I think I will start a Birth Registry for Uzumara
Township. We’ll
keep it in the store. I am thinking of
giving a diaper to each new-born whose name is in
the register… …Solome (the 19 year old daughter
of Mr. Msowya) got married last November to Youngson Musukwa. Her brother-in-law just came to say her
baby that was expected at the end of October is
coming now. Samuel will take her to
the hospital. Her parents and
Youngson’s parents are at funerals. No
one has money. …I am helping Nyika to make a Secondary School Hymnal –
words only. I’m
doing the English hymns. It’s a fun project… …Love, Mawingo |
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