As I watch the red sun quickly descending tonight, finality seems to surround me. My room is almost empty, my bags are packed, and I have completed my final day at my internship. While it is my last night in Lilongwe, it is my first time blogging for SFD during my time here, and I am finally able to introduce myself. My name is Niamh O’Shea, and I am a fourth year student in Human Rights and Women’s and Gender Studies at Carleton University. Over the past three months, I have been working with an organization called the Chinsapo Rainbow Home Based Care Centre, located right outside of Malawi’s capital city.

Before I begin, I must first apologize for being a late comer to blogging on this experience. Not only has my access to the internet been precarious at best, but I have also had reservations about sharing a story that is still in the process of becoming. In fact, the notion of blogging is one I find a bit overwhelming, because there is a certain level of permanence that each thought gains when it finds its way onto the internet. In spite of this, as my journey (on the ground) comes to a close, I feel I can begin to piece my experience together. I hope, in the upcoming weeks, I will be able to share with you as I work to understand this incredible adventure and reintegrate back into life in my hometown of Ottawa.

Located in Chinsapo, an area just outside of Malawi’s capital, the Chinsapo Rainbow Home Based Care Centre is a faith based organization that works to serve all members of the community. Its mission is to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on all infected and affected individuals, including orphans and vulnerable children. In order to fulfill this mission, the Centre runs a number of programs, including a home based care program and support groups for people living with HIV/AIDS; early morning secondary school lessons for youth; a preschool and child care centre for children five years old and younger; and a number of income generating  and skill sharing projects, including the Zikomo Bag Project,  through which female childcare volunteers (many of whom are living with HIV/AIDS) have learned to make chitenge (a beautiful and durable colourful material often used for traditional wear) bags that are sold both in Malawi and in Canada.

During my time here, I have been a sort of jill of all trades for the Centre, focusing on the CIDA priority themes of securing the future of children and youth, and stimulating sustainable economic growth. I have taught English class to all four secondary school forms (including the challenging Romeo and Juliet as part of the literature unit to third and fourth form students, most of whom do not speak English outside of the classroom) and worked with the women who are members of the Zikomo Bag Project on expanding their market through developing a new product (laptop covers) and problem solving around shipping fees and the challenges of selling locally. I also worked to develop a website that will be used for resource mobilization; promoted capacity building through teaching computer lessons to both youth and staff; and worked on administrative tasks, including building a more comprehensive intake program for international volunteers.

While some of these tasks were more in line with my own skill sets than others, I primarily approached this internship with an understanding that being involved in community-led development means listening to the community’s needs and responding in as many ways as possible. The past three months have allowed me to see that a much more nuanced approach is necessary when addressing the role an intern can or should play. While of course the demands identified by the community of are the utmost importance, it is necessary to balance what the community needs with what any given individual can offer. While I am incredibly grateful to have been involved in so many different aspects of the Centre, I worry that I may have lacked effectiveness by taking on tasks in which I do not feel particularly competent. Feeling as though I could be more productive working on another task that I saw as equally valuable to the community, but knowing where the community saw the most time and effort was required was a conflict that remained with me throughout my time at the Centre.  Even if I am not particularly skilled in a certain field (especially by Canadian standards), I may be the closest the Centre has  ever had to a skilled technician that field. It is straightforward enough then, that by the estimation of the community, that is where I should be working. In spite of this, I cannot help but think: is my doing work that is ‘good enough’, good enough? I still am not entirely resolved on this issue, as I can see the community’s perspective, especially given the immediacy of many of their concerns, but I am also aware that I have skills to share which may have just as much value to the Centre in the long run. I hope that a bit more space from the experience, and the opportunity for short term and medium term impacts to evolve will allow me to develop a better assessment of this, and I will be sure to keep you all updated!

As I finish writing this, the sun has finally set, and I can see the night sky. It is my last night in Lilongwe, but only the beginning of my reflection process. Tomorrow I will head back home, and continue to think about what I have encountered and learned, and how I can best share my experiences. I know I will continue to find meaning in what I have seen and done along the way, and I hope you will explore it all alongside me!

Category: Malawi, On location // Add Comment »