Maloto – a dream for malawi • www.malotoinc.org • Get Inspired

Get Inspired

Gina Paoloni

From Volunteer to Development Director.

I heard about Anna—and her work in Malawi— through our mutual friend, Anne Beneville. I was so moved that I decided to stop in to Anna’s store in Nyack and learn more. That day in May of 2007 Anna and I began the first of many conversations culminating in my visiting to Malawi in January of 2008. Anna told me about the poverty in Malawi, about the women and children who were affected by HIV/AIDS and the programs she was involved with—the Kwithu Women’s Group and Feeding Center and Mzuzu Academy. I asked so many questions and Anna patiently tried to answer them. But at one point she looked me and said, “Gina, if you really want to understand, you must come and visit.” I decided she was right and booked a flight.

After 2 ½ days of travel, I arrived in Mzuzu. Anna picked me up in Lilongwe and we drove directly to the Kwithu Feeding Center where I had one of the most moving experiences of my life. All 120 children and the entire Kwithu Women’s Group were outside the center clapping and singing. Welcome Gina, welcome Gina, welcome to Kwithu. We are happy today. We are happy today. We are happy to see you here. After they finished singing, each and every child and all of the Kwithu women hugged me. I was overwhelmed with emotion. I also got to meet Anna’s sweet nephew, Blessings, who would be chronicling our trip on video.

Over the next 8 days, I visited villages, schools and several of the women’s homes. I spent time with the children at the Kwithu Feeding Center. I learned about the shortage of schools and how many children only go to school for a few hours each day (schools often operate two sessions each day to accommodate all of the children.) If it were not for Kwithu, the children wouldn’t have a safe place where they could gather; a place that not only provides meals, but support and supplemental educational programming, including HIV/AIDS prevention.

Anna was right -- there was no way I could fully understand without seeing for myself. Everywhere I went, I was shocked by the conditions. Homes had mud floors, no electricity, and no running water. Because it was the rainy season, the people would collect water that dripped off of their roofs in tin cans. Some homes had wells, but not many. In one village we visited, Anna introduced me to a Grandmother who was taking care of her eight grandchildren because their parents had died from AIDS. I was stunned to find out that this was not the exception, but the norm in Malawi.

School conditions were no better. In all of the government run schools, children sat on the floor, shoulder to shoulder—with some classes having as many as 90 students. They had no textbooks. Few had notebooks and pens. Not only is there a shortage of space but there is also a shortage of qualified teachers.

I spent a lot of time with the Kwithu Women who welcomed me into their homes and their hearts. I think what astounded me most of all is that while they have very few material possessions and their lives are extremely hard, you never heard them complaining. They sang, laughed and carried out their duties with big smiles. It is those faces and those smiles that I remember most. I came back from that trip more dedicated than ever to make sure Maloto’s projects reach completion. Anna is truly an inspiration and my life feels fuller because of this work. I will visit Malawi again (hopefully in August) and I can’t wait to see my friends there.

Gina Paoloni, Maloto Development Director

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Kwithu Student
Lusubilo Phiri lost her mother to HIV/AIDS when she was 2 years old. When she first came to Kwithu, she was very sick and at one point we thought we might lose her. She now visits Kwithu 3 times a week; she is a very bright girl and hopes to attend Mzuzu Academy. Watch a short video.

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