• Follow this link to sign our on-line petition. Add your name and write a brief comment, such as why the Peace Corps is important, why your service made a difference, or (if applicable) why you want to join the Peace Corps!
• Get at least ten other people you know to sign the petition! This petition is not limited to RPCVs or former Peace Corps staff. Anyone who believes in the spirit and mission of the Peace Corps (family members, friends, colleagues, people you know overseas) can sign.

Thank you for your support of Peace Corps and for sharing your stories.

Jonathan Pearson (Micronesia 87 - 89)
Advocacy Coordinator
National Peace Corps Association

p.s. Show your ongoing support for these and other efforts with your membership in our Peace Corps community. Join or renew your membership in NPCA and any of our 140 member groups online today!

Hey group, my name is Greg Clements from Orlando, FL and I just got my
invite to serve in Forestry and Parks Extension in Malawi.  My
departure date is Feb 16, 2008. I am hoping to get an idea of what to
expect and any advice you might have for me. I have lived in
developing countries before so I have been through some culture shock,
but you never know...

Thanks a bunch

Hey Greg, glad to see that brought Parks back into the mix in Malawi.  Send me a
direct message (clcull123@...) and I'll be happy to share some of my
positive experiences about working in Parks in Malawi.

Chris Cull 95-97

________________________________

From: ujeni@yahoogroups.com on behalf of cowboygreg58
Sent: Sun 11/16/2008 2:18 PM
To: ujeni@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ujeni] Need Advice - I just got my invite to serve in Malawi



Hey group, my name is Greg Clements from Orlando, FL and I just got my
invite to serve in Forestry and Parks Extension in Malawi.  My
departure date is Feb 16, 2008. I am hoping to get an idea of what to
expect and any advice you might have for me. I have lived in
developing countries before so I have been through some culture shock,
but you never know...

Thanks a bunch



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

2 December 2008

Dear all,

Recently someone remarked the ujeni has been quiet.  It seems it is almost
dead.

But just to let you know all is not finished, we are still ambulatory.
That is the good news.

The best news is the whole family is well and still thriving in spite of
the "recession."  Joshua and Cory have a new grandson for us, Gabriel.
Healthy and cute as a bug.  If everything goes well, we should receive
another grandson, adopted from Ethiopia early next year.

I have been looking forward to some comment about the Olympics, the
campaigns, the issues, the general election, and the president elect.  We
are all strangely silent.

Nevertheless, personal news of career success, professional achievement,
family growth, children's (grandchildren's) accomplishments, travel,
adventure, or just the ordinary daily grind will be more than welcome.

Enjoy the holidays and may the wind in your sails be brisk,

Vyrle

10 December 2008

Dear Christine,

Thanks for passing this article along.

Greetings of the season,

Vyrle

Now for a few thoughts.

Not only is this article thought-provoking, calling for some serious
mentation, for me it is also disturbing (disconcerting? I'm not sure of
the correct word.) and representative of a certain "shallowness" of
thinking about the Peace Corps and Peace Corps Volunteers.  Unless I
missed it, the author fails to mention the most important defining phrase
in the Peace Corps Legislation of 1961, the purpose and mission of the
Peace Corps is to "promote world peace and friendship."

Everything that follows in the Peace Corps Act, all of the bureaucratic
policies and organization hence, all of the people from Sargeant Shriver
to the most recent Peace Corps Recruit, everything the Peace Corps has
done has been an effort to fulfill that mission.  In doing so we have, for
the most part, lost sight of the mission of peace and friendship.  Indeed
we rarely talk about it, as policy makers, as staff, as Volunteers.

World Peace and Friendship are like religion and politics in family
conversation.  "Don't bring it up, and if you do, you do not get to talk
for two weeks."  "And by-the-way, don't bring it up again."

So, what do we do?

I will rejoin this conversation is due course.  For now, I need to get to
work.  Guess I have my priorities in order, isn't it?

Vyrle


> A thought-provoking article...
>
> Where to Go, Peace Corps?
> By David Lepeska on 08 December 2008
>
>
>
>
> In a December 2007 campaign speech, the presumptive Democratic
> presidential candidate Barack Obama presented his solution to the United
> States' depressed global stature. "To restore America's standing I will
> call on our greatest resource - not our bombs, guns, or dollars - I will
> call upon our people," the Illinois senator told a crowd of supporters in
> Mount Vernon, Iowa. Among his promises was this: "We will double the size
> of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011."
>
> The Peace Corps in middle age is a bit like a late model Studebaker: It's
> nice to know it's still around, embodying the unbounded optimism of a
> bygone era, but you might not want to look under the hood. A former
> country director and several returned volunteers have recently done just
> that, pointing out major flaws in Peace Corps operations and raising
> serious questions about its effectiveness.
>
> Like any bureaucracy, the Peace Corps is cumbersome; current officials
> believe laying the groundwork for an expansion could take years. And
> perhaps most troubling, Obama's words suggest the program's focus has
> shifted from helping the poor to gaining political capital.
>
> A wave crests, slowly
>
> Established in 1961, the Peace Corps was borne of President John F.
> Kennedy's desire to employ young, idealistic Americans to help developing
> countries and foster cross-cultural exchange.
>
> "To those peoples in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to
> break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them
> help themselves," Kennedy said in his first inaugural speech.
>
> Kennedy envisioned sending out 100,000 volunteers every year, and the
> number zipped to 15,000 by 1966. Then realpolitik intruded - the Vietnam
> War reversed that growth spurt, beginning a 16-year decline that led to a
> nadir of 4,600 volunteers in 1982.
>
> A slow climb began under President Ronald Reagan and matured under
> President George W. Bush, resulting in a slightly more robust Peace Corps
> today. The 2007 total of 8,079 volunteers is the agency's highest in
> nearly four decades. Still, after 47 years, returned volunteers total less
> than 200,000, a profound disappointment considering Kennedy's original
> goal. Further, the Peace Corps's global and domestic profile remains low.
>
> "It's a great brand, but the weight of the brand on the world scene is so
> small it hardly registers," said Lex Rieffel, an expert in overseas
> volunteering at the Brookings Institution, an independent think tank based
> in Washington, D.C. "If this is a brand that is good for America - if only
> because it's good for the world - then let's build on it."
>
> Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, who served as a Peace Corps
> volunteer in the Dominican Republic, is spearheading legislative efforts
> to double the size of the Peace Corps. Arizona Sen. John McCain, the
> Republican Party's likely nominee, also backs a Peace Corps expansion.
>
> In summer 2008, the National Peace Corps Association's More Peace Corps
> campaign, with a primary goal of doubling the program, hosted events in
> cities across the country. Kevin Quigley spearheads that campaign and sees
> a "perfect storm of conditions" buffeting his efforts: a need to improve
> the United States' global standing after the bullying Bush years; both
> major presidential candidates' stated support for doubling the program
> size; growing political awareness as a result of the Dodd bill; and
> widespread desire for reform in the run-up to the 50th anniversary.
>
> "We're at, I believe, a historic moment," said Quigley, president of the
> National Peace Corps Association, an organization of alumni volunteers.
> "If it's ever going to happen it's in the next three to four years."
>
> For an agency that, after 9/11, had slipped from the American
> consciousness, the interest is invigorating.
>
> "This is a wave that, as I see it, is just in the process of forming,"
> Rieffel said.
> Hitting the wall
>
> The wave may have slowed after Robert Strauss pointed out that the
> emperor's clothes were looking rather tattered. In a January 2008 New York
> Times op-ed the former country director for Cameroon (2002 to 2007)
> complained that the volunteer selection process was not rigorous enough,
> that a lack of oversight and management rendered much of the work useless,
> and that funding shortfalls meant volunteers and staff were inadequately
> supported. He described how volunteers were constantly mis-assigned - the
> Peace Corps continued to send volunteers to teach English in Cameroon, for
> example, even though Cameroonians repeatedly listed English instruction as
> their lowest priority.
>
> Strauss urged the Peace Corps to seek out and accept only the best and the
> brightest, to assign volunteers more effectively and to reform before it
> considered expansion. A few months later he expanded these complaints in
> an article in Foreign Policy magazine, arguing that the Peace Corps had
> "never lived up to its purposes or principles."
>
> Many volunteers relish their volunteer experience and return transformed.
> Yet others bear out Strauss's criticisms. The latest edition of Peace
> Corps' internal biannual survey found that less than half the volunteers
> felt their job took advantage of their skills, interests and experiences.
> Ecuador volunteer Jeffrey Jackson, for instance, left his Peace Corps
> assignment early because, as he explained on his blog, "in a school of 35
> students, with eight qualified teachers and four volunteers, the role of
> room checks and kitchen governor didn't seem sufficient for two years of
> my life and service."
>
> At the same time, many volunteers - often fresh out of college - are
> unprepared for the seriousness of the work. A perusal of Peace Corps
> volunteer blogs at www.peacecorpsjournals.com finds volunteers enjoying
> the carnival in South America, brewing their own beer in Burkina Faso, and
> tanning on Caribbean beaches.
>
> "Those are not the activities the Peace Corps is hoping for from them,"
> Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter acknowledged in an e-mail.
>
> For Rieffel, such failures are related to funding and thus inherently
> political.
>
> "Many of these problems would be easier to solve in the context of a very
> different foreign policy articulated by a new president and supported by a
> new Congress," he said. "The Peace Corps has been fed scraps from the
> budget for the last 30 years, and that pattern has had the result of
> putting it inside a protective shell."
>
> American taxpayers might not consider the Peace Corps's 2008 budget of
> $330 million mere scraps. That breaks down to about $40,000 annually per
> volunteer in the field; volunteers are paid about one-tenth that amount.
> Supporters say this is only a third the expense of maintaining military,
> diplomatic and aid personnel working abroad.
>
> While the number of volunteers increased about 30 percent over the past
> five years, the budget expanded by just more than 10 percent, Strauss
> pointed out.
>
> "The potential is still there for the Peace Corps to be a wonderful
> organization and a tremendous American initiative," Strauss said. "That's
> never going to happen as long as people respond to criticism by defending
> the orthodoxy."
>
> Mission statements
>
> That orthodoxy is represented by Peace Corps's three goals: development,
> cross-cultural exchange and understanding. Strauss sees the cultural
> exchange aspects as mere icing.
>
> "If you don't have a cake, there's not a lot of point in having icing," he
> said. "What Peace Corps sells to other countries is that it's a
> development organization that's going to help them with trained personnel;
> if that's what the United States is promising, that's what we should be
> delivering."
>
> Peace Corps Deputy Director Jody Olsen has several problems with Strauss's
> criticisms. Firstly, host countries are not under the impression that the
> Peace Corps is primarily a development organization.
>
> "I've had those conversations setting up Peace Corps programs with host
> country ministries," the former country director for Kazakhstan said.
> "It's made clear that we will learn the language, be part of the
> community, live with host families and we learn from you and bring that
> back."
>
> Olsen added that the host countries are aware that a good number of
> volunteers will be relatively inexperienced. More importantly, Olsen said,
> Strauss misses the point.
>
> "We have never been and are not seen as nor should be seen as a
> development agency," she said, referring to the three goals of Peace Corps
> work. "It's the integration of those goals that creates the trust which is
> where in small-scale ways Peace Corps volunteers make a difference, make a
> development difference."
>
> Rieffel called the goals debate narrow-minded.
>
> "A federally funded international volunteer program is going to work best
> when it doesn't have arbitrary constraints and defines useful activity
> broadly," he said.
>
> But how broadly can one define useful activities when projects involve
> goal-oriented development funds? The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS
> Relief, or PEPFAR, for instance, has given the Peace Corps more than $50
> million over the past five years. Some of that money has been used in
> Ethiopia, in fact, where officials recently told Peace Corps Country
> Director Peter Parr that volunteers sent to work on HIV/AIDS need
> expertise, not mere zeal.
>
> Fine-tuning the approach
>
> In mid-June, Rieffel and Quigley attended a weekend conference on
> re-envisioning Peace Corps for its next 50 years. Most attendees - a group
> that included architects of the program, former directors, analysts, and
> representatives from non-governmental and nonprofit organizations - agreed
> that the core idea, while good, needed considerable tweaking.
>
> "We can be a lot more innovative with how the program is run," said
> Quigley, who is convinced Peace Corps could expand to 10 or 20 times its
> current size via partnerships with the aid agencies of other governments,
> nonprofits and NGOs like World Teach.
>
> "This would allow Peace Corps to experiment in a way that it just hasn't
> for years and years," he said.
>
> That's news to Olsen, the Peace Corps deputy director.
>
> "Peace Corps already works with many, many NGOs all over the world," she
> said.
>
> She pointed to Peace Corps volunteers reporting to the local official of
> the Academy for Education Development as part of an HIV/AIDS project under
> PEPFAR in Malawi, and estimated that 50 percent of volunteers work with
> either local NGOs or local offices of international NGOs.
>
> "We work with NGOs all the time but the critical element is we work with
> them in country," she noted.
>
> The need for innovation remains.
>
> "We can't only do what Peace Corps has done in the past," Rieffel said.
> "There have to be other flavors of Peace Corps service."
>
> He and Quigley believe the 27-month service requirement should be just one
> option among several time commitments, that the agency should invite more
> older volunteers and that it should build a group of experienced aid
> workers and former volunteers to use in a variety of ways, including more
> development-oriented work.
>
> Under Tschetter's leadership, the Peace Corps has made some moves in this
> direction. His campaign to bring in more older volunteers has proved a
> quick success - with applications from volunteers aged 50 and over up 65
> percent in the past year. His use of Peace Corps Response - which offers
> four- to six-month tours to returned volunteers - and the creation of an
> office to perform annual field evaluations that will include effectiveness
> feedback from host country communities suggest a leaning toward
> impact-oriented development work.
>
> Volunteer Service Overseas, a British volunteer organization, moved much
> further in this direction years ago. Today, applicants need to have
> development experience and are placed in jobs that match their
> credentials. Service commitments can be anywhere from one month to two
> years and the emphasis is on combating global poverty, not cultural
> exchange. As a result, fewer volunteers (1,500 in 2007) work more
> effectively, and the average age is 41, compared with 27 for the Peace
> Corps.
>
> Bigger should be better
>
> If the Peace Corps is to double to 16,000 volunteers by 2011, it needs to
> get moving.
>
> "It would be, I think, a several-year effort," said Olsen, who has been
> with the Peace Corps since serving as a volunteer in Tunisia from 1966 to
> '68.
>
> She said the various host countries would first need to request the
> additional volunteers. The Peace Corps would have to prepare, too.
>
> "The proper structures need to be in place to support a doubling in the
> number of Volunteers," Director Tschetter said in an e-mail. "We have to
> maintain the quality of the program and most importantly, the safety and
> security of the volunteers."
>
> The demand is there;  at least 20 countries have requested new programs,
> according to the More Peace Corps campaign. Rieffel pointed out that no
> volunteers are serving in India, Russia, Brazil or Indonesia - four major
> developing economies of clear geostrategic significance.
>
> Perceptions of the United States abroad have improved in response to
> humanitarian relief initiatives, according to a study by Terror Free
> Tomorrow, a Washington-based nonprofit group whose advisory board includes
> McCain, the likely Republican presidential candidate. Polling data
> indicated nearly 60 percent of Indonesians and 75 percent of Pakistanis
> held a more favorable view of the United States following tsunami and
> earthquake relief efforts. Like Obama, many believe an expansion of the
> Peace Corps could further such efforts.
>
> Fast factsName: U.S. Peace CorpsEstablished: 1961Mission: Help developing
> countries meet the need for trained men and women, and promote
> understanding between Americans and other peoples. Headquarters:
> Washington, D.C.Budget: $330 milion (2008)Focus: 36 percent education, 21
> percent healthPresence: 74 countriesVolunteers: 200,000 so far, including
> 8,000 in fieldVolunteers characteristics: average age is 27, the oldest is
> 81, 93 percent are single, 95 percent hold undergraduate degrees
>
>
>
>
>
>
> David LepeskaDavid Lepeska has served as U.N. correspondent for the
> newswire UPI and reported for several major newspapers, including the New
> York Daily News and Newsday. He was chief correspondent for the Kashmir
> Observer in Srinagar, India, before starting his fellowship with Devex in
> Washington, D.C., in October 2007. He assumed his current post as Asia
> correspondent for Devex at the beginning of 2008. He holds a bachelor's in
> journalism and international studies from Brooklyn College and regularly
> contributes to the Economist, among other publications.
> _________________________________________________________________
> Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills.
>
http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_speed_12200\
8

Seasoned Malawi PCV's

Below is a recommended list of items to take with me to Malawi.
Please recommend what might need to be added or not. Also, is a tent
crucial to take (just trying to budget necessities and all)?

Thanks for the info.

Peace,

Greg Clements

PS Do you know about the world traveler website www.couchsurfing.com ?
Check my profile here -
http://www.couchsurfing.com/profile.html?id=4EU9VF


______________________________________________________________________




Greetings, Future Malawi PCV!

We've collected short bits from several current (as of November, 2008)
PCVs to help you get a sense of what Malawi is like, what some of the
high and low points are, and a sense of who your fellow PCVs will be.
We hope that you enjoy them, and you should feel free to contact the
people in the next few weeks if you have questions.

As for packing – well, look over the list below that was put together
by PCVs. They have a good sense of what you'll need right away or in
the long-term in your work and life here.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Brian Connors
APCD Environment

Lughano Munthali
Program Assistant, Environment

Items You Should not Leave At home!!
Clothes you don't mind getting destroyed or leaving here (some PCVs
suggest a smaller size than you have now…)
`Going out' clothes – (one only)
`Business-casual' clothes – skirts, khakis, button-down shirts.
Underwear
Jeans! (a pair or two, depending on how much you love wearing them now)
Flash drive!!
Laptop
Camera (digital is easiest, real film can be developed in major towns
but is very expensive)
iPod, mp3 player, or CD player (no need for tape players in this day
and age)
*Please note that erratic energy, heat, humidity, sand and dust will
do a number on all electronic devices (computers, iPods and cameras).
Medium-size thirsty towels (large ones are difficult to wash)
Kitchen knife
Pair of plastic flip-flops for showering the first few days
Good pair of sandals, for example, durable Chacos
3 month supply of any medicine you will need
2 pairs of eyeglasses (if you need them)
Sunglasses and good hat
Fitted twin sheets
Sturdy walking or hiking shoes
Small umbrella
Duct tape
Leatherman tool or Swiss Army Knife
Headlamp (very popular among PCVs!) and/or wind-up flash light
Scissors
Rechargeable or solar batteries and charger (bring AAAs is you have a
headlamp)
Converter and adaptors (220V here. Small multi converters/adapters
work well.)
Short supply of razors and shavers
Ankle socks
Sweater/sweatshirt – 1st two months in training are in cool
climate/rainy area
Compact sleeping bag and Tent
Hiking backpack
Zip-lock bags
Rain jacket
Toothbrush
English dictionary, Thesaurus
US $ cash
Powdered drinks, like Crystal Lite

Female Volunteers
If you wear make-up, bring some!
If you wear jewelry, bring some!
A pair of nice dress shoes
Two-piece bathing suits are ok at the lake
Sleeveless shirts
Hair ties/ Headbands
Tweezers
Light-weight skirts

Male Volunteers
Shorts
Collared shirt or three for official meetings
Swimsuit
Nice dress pants/Khakis

Presents for Host Country friends and family (can be dollar store bought)
Pictures of your city/hometown/postcards
Soccer balls – deflated, they don't take up much space
Crayons, markers, paint sets and coloring books
Matchbox cars
Photos and picture frames
Table cloth
Watch - think inexpensive
Jewelry- same as watch

Special Interest Items*
*i.e. things we love in-country, items only some volunteers adore but
others don't care about, and care package suggestions
Laptop computer – you can keep it in one of the regional houses or in
Lilongwe if you worry about it
Extra flash drive
Lotion
Colored maps of the world and Africa for your house, blow-up globe
Chapstick
Travel version of Bug repellent – we are issued spray stuff
Cutting board
Parmesan Cheese (Kraft), Mac and Cheese packets (have them flat packs
mailed by friends/family!)
Cliff Bars/Granola bars/Luna Bars
Pants with zip-off bottoms
Non-stick fry pan
Yoga materials
Rubber Spatula
Hammock
Seeds (herbs especially) - don't list this on packages mailed, since
you're not supposed to mail them
Sharpies
Calendar showing scenes of the US
Pictures of friends and family
Favorite recipes
Chocolate chips
Your favorite candy (but you can get lots here, too)
Sewing kit
Pet leash, collar and flea/tick prevention
Hobby Items
Puzzle/Crossword puzzle books
Crayons, markers, colored paper, colored pencils and cheap paint sets
Children's books
Stickers
Votive candles or other religious items
Playing cards
Christmas ornaments- have sent!
Favorite coffee, unbreakable French Press, Specialty Teas
GRE prep materials
Nice soap and facial cleansers; Oil of Olay daily facials  (no
water needed to wash your face: good for training when you don't feel
like fetching water or talking to host family, also travel in dry
regions); scrubbing face wash
Your favorite books (1 or 2) especially non-fiction if you're a
non-fiction reader. Books you won't mind sharing or re-reading. The
PC/Malawi office library has a nice collection also.

What Volunteers say in November 2008:
"Other than those things on the list, I would definitely emphasize
bringing a laptop and extra flash drive. It has been helpful numerous
times for work. I don't know how I'd get as much accomplished as I
have. And perhaps under-emphasize clothes. I was under the impression
that you can't get clothes in Malawi. If I had known how easy it was
to buy apparel, I would have brought more camping gear and less clothes."
- Ross

"Ignore other people's suggestions of leaving your laptop behind. You
won't regret bringing it!"
- Keah

"Bringing a hobby is a good idea too. Ethan brought some wood carving
tools. Lots of people bring musical instruments. I wish I would have
brought a couple tools for building instruments."
- Matt

Stacia, Khalidwe, and I were some of those people that Barack Obama referred to in his election night speech as, “the people huddled around their radios in the forgotten corners of the world.”   We do not have a television, so we literally were huddled around our radio waiting anxiously for the BBC to begin broadcasting live election results to our part of Africa and to the rest of the world.  Due to the time difference with America, we began receiving election results around 2:00 am.

As we listened, the BBC asked people from all over the world to call in, text in, and e-mail their comments about how they were feeling on the eve of the election.  As the feedback began to pour in from the various continents we began to see a pattern emerging.  From almost every part of the globe people were calling in to voice their excitement in support of Barack Obama, to extend their encouragement to the Americans to “do the right thing”, and to speculate about a new type of world in which America once again began to engage people of differing views and differing cultures in an open and honest dialogue.  As we listened, we began to feel as if we were taking part in an extraordinary new chapter, not just of American history, but of global history that was being written right before our eyes.  People, just like us, all over the world were staying up throughout the night to see what message America was going to send to the world. 

I don’t think that many Americans truly realize the overwhelming influence that our country has on the rest of the world.  Our policies directly impact the economies of other nations, they mold international relations, they shape foreign administrations, they influence diplomatic negotiations, they determine foreign aid, and they govern peacekeeping efforts.  But, most importantly they serve as a role model to the rest of the world in demonstrating the enormous obligation of ethical responsibility and moral principles that are imperative to being one of the world’s most powerful and free democracies.  This is an obligation that, regrettably, we have seen many in the world beginning to question over the last eight years.  As America has turned inward on a path of patriotic isolationism, we have abandoned and discarded many nations and many individuals that had at one time greatly admired us and looked to us as a beacon of hope in a world of ever-growing injustices and inequality.  

We thought that Senator McCain’s concession speech was one of the better speeches that we have heard in quite some time.  Many people that we had contact with here in Africa simply shook their head in disbelief and admiration of how respectfully the senator accepted his defeat and peacefully handed over power to his adversary.  Unfortunately, this type of behavior has not yet become a standard in many African nations.  What may have been Senator McCain’s downfall was the rhetoric that he chose to use throughout the duration of his campaign.  He repeated many times that he had fought in Vietnam, that he had spent his life fighting for America, that as President he would fight for each and every one of us, and that together we could fight for a better America.  What he may have failed to realize is that a great majority of the people in the United States, and an even greater number of the people around the world, are simply tired of fighting.  Barack Obama’s campaign of “change”, on the other hand, succeeded not only in inspiring millions of Americans, but also in energizing the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of billions of people that comprise the global community that we have now all become a part of.

We have no idea what the mood of the American nation was like on the evening of the election, but if our personal reaction was anything to judge by, we are assuming that it was full of electrifying tension and nail-biting suspense.  As the red and blue states once again split down the middle in a narrowly separated 53%-46% result, the analysts heralded the election as a “landslide victory” and a “political mandate” for Barack Obama.  This truly was a historic moment for America, not only in what Barack Obama symbolizes for a nation that has had such a abysmal track record on the issues of race, but also with its record turnouts at the polls and record numbers of new voters showing up to exercise their right to vote.  What is striking, however, is that while in America a 7% margin may be considered to be a solid win, the international community’s support of the two candidates was much differently divided.  In an extensive international Gallup poll that was conducted in 73 countries and represented nearly three-quarters of the world’s population, the world’s citizens chose Barack Obama over John McCain nearly 3-to1.  This means that if America’s election results had reflected international opinion, the numbers would have been closer to 93,605,079 in favor of Barack Obama and 31,201,693 in favor of John McCain, or a margin of 66%-33%.

By the end of the evening, or I guess I should say at the break of dawn, it was reported that Barack Obama would indeed become the next president of the United States of America.  We cannot begin to describe the emotions that surged through us as we witnessed Malawians dancing around our small village chanting, “Obama! Obama! Obama!”.  It was perhaps one of the most profound and moving experiences of our lives.  To celebrate we bought a crate of good old fashioned American Coke-Cola and, since we didn’t have any hot dogs, we threw a goat on the grill and held a spontaneous celebration with our African friends and neighbors to mark what we are all hoping will be the beginning of a new period of global unity, peace, equality, health and prosperity. 

These are, of course, unrealistic expectations to put all on the shoulders of one individual, but what America needs to realize, now more than ever, is that there are a whole lot of incredible, intelligent, and graciously supportive people from every part of the globe who have been simply waiting for a chance like this to extend their hands in a gesture of mutual friendship and goodwill. Our challenge now, as a nation, is to accept their embrace and begin to work together with each other to build not only a great country, but a great planet that we can all call “home”.

As our family heads into this new year and era of renewed hope, we would like to encourage everyone to do anything and everything that they can to encourage peace throughout the world, and to remember that this peace starts in our own homes.  Teach each other about other cultures, make a compost pile, explore new ideas, try new foods, join a community group, read something the improves your mind, lobby a congressperson, plant a tree, whatever it takes to leave this planet a better place than you found it. 

Here in Malawi we have already begun to formalize our commitment to a better future: Stacia has just renewed her contract for another year with the German-based GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) to help communities in Malawi work hand-in-hand with their schools and students to create productive and healthy school environments.  In unison with the Malawi’s School Health and Nutrition Program, she has been working very hard over the past three years to facilitate the implementation of sustainable school Permaculture designs that have been producing nutritious foods as well as creating safe, clean, and exciting places of learning. 

Kristof has been very busy over the past year teaching about Permaculture implementation from their home/demonstration area that is now known as “Never Ending Food”.  This has included a wide assortment of people from governmental to non-governmental, Malawian to foreign, extension workers to university students, local youth clubs to church groups.   It has been extremely encouraging as we have seen our work growing so rapidly, gaining so much recognition, and starting to have such a tangible impact throughout the country (and we hope throughout the world).  This next year is already lining up to include more trainings and more excitement as Malawi has agreed to host the 9^th International Permaculture Convergence! 

As for Khalidwe, she is still as amazing and culturally-integrated as ever.  Her first language of Chichewa has become fluent to the point that her parents can no longer understand her, and she managed to fail her mid-term English exam this year.  (Dad has decided to put a bit more effort into the English home-schooling curriculum).  She continues to amaze and delight us as she explores her path in this world.  Having a role model like her around makes it very easy for her parents to work toward leaving her a better world to live in!

We wish you all the best in your 2009 endeavors, whatever they may bring.  Just remember that you are not alone in your ups and downs, your joys and disappointments, and your successes and failures.  We share them all in common.  Every culture, race, tribe, nationality, and person on this earth faces the same concerns and hopes for a better tomorrow.  Together we can move forward in accord with our humanity.  As Tolstoy once said, “Only a man who lives according to his conscience can have influence on people, and only activity that accords with one’s conscience can be useful.”

Happy Holidays,

Happy New Year

Happy New World!

The Nordins

December 2008

www.NeverEndingFood.org

-- Stacia Nordin, RD
Registered Dietitian
Advisor to Malawi Ministry of Education, School Health and Nutrition
* American Overseas Dietetic Association, PastPresident@... , www.EatrightOverseas.org
* AODA Country Rep for Malawi, CR-Malawi@...
* ADA HEN DPG International Food committee, www.HENDPG.org
* Permaculture Network in Malawi, outgoing newsletter editor, see page on www.NeverEndingFood.org
* Nutrition Society of Malawi (un-registered), Treasurer
Kristof, Stacia & Khalidwe
Crossroads PDN x-124, Lilongwe, Malawi
Physical Address: Chitedze Trading Centre, 18 km west of Lilongwe
Malawi is +2 GMT (6-7 hours before USA EST)
+265 (0) 1-707-213 home
+265 (0) 9-333-073 cell stacia
+265 (0) 9-926-153 cell kristof
+265 (0) 8-132-710 cell khali / home
www.NeverEndingFood.org

it is a pretty good list. how sweet it would have been to have ipods I the early
90's!! a laptop will b pretty much useless if u r at a site without electricity.
if u plan to travel and camp then a tent is nice, but not that necessary. I
always crashed on a friends floor and was fine with that. get a solar electronic
charger for ipods and cell phones etc. my wife gets gsm "unlocked" cell phones
used from ebay. have fun, malawi is a great place.  I will likely b bringing a
group of students there in June for the third time.

dan dudley

-----Original Message-----
From: cowboygreg58 <cowboygreg58@...>
Sent: 12/20/2008 7:29:12 AM
To: ujeni@yahoogroups.com <ujeni@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [ujeni] Packing List


Seasoned Malawi PCV's

Below is a recommended list of items to take with me to Malawi.
Please recommend what might need to be added or not. Also, is a tent
crucial to take (just trying to budget necessities and all)?

Thanks for the info.

Peace,

Greg Clements

PS Do you know about the world traveler website www.couchsurfing.com ?
Check my profile here -
http://www.couchsurfing.com/profile.html?id=4EU9VF


______________________________________________________________________




Greetings, Future Malawi PCV!

We've collected short bits from several current (as of November, 2008)
PCVs to help you get a sense of what Malawi is like, what some of the
high and low points are, and a sense of who your fellow PCVs will be.
We hope that you enjoy them, and you should feel free to contact the
people in the next few weeks if you have questions.

As for packing – well, look over the list below that was put together
by PCVs. They have a good sense of what you'll need right away or in
the long-term in your work and life here.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Brian Connors
APCD Environment

Lughano Munthali
Program Assistant, Environment

Items You Should not Leave At home!!
Clothes you don't mind getting destroyed or leaving here (some PCVs
suggest a smaller size than you have now…)
`Going out' clothes – (one only)
`Business-casual' clothes – skirts, khakis, button-down shirts.
Underwear
Jeans! (a pair or two, depending on how much you love wearing them now)
Flash drive!!
Laptop
Camera (digital is easiest, real film can be developed in major towns
but is very expensive)
iPod, mp3 player, or CD player (no need for tape players in this day
and age)
*Please note that erratic energy, heat, humidity, sand and dust will
do a number on all electronic devices (computers, iPods and cameras).
Medium-size thirsty towels (large ones are difficult to wash)
Kitchen knife
Pair of plastic flip-flops for showering the first few days
Good pair of sandals, for example, durable Chacos
3 month supply of any medicine you will need
2 pairs of eyeglasses (if you need them)
Sunglasses and good hat
Fitted twin sheets
Sturdy walking or hiking shoes
Small umbrella
Duct tape
Leatherman tool or Swiss Army Knife
Headlamp (very popular among PCVs!) and/or wind-up flash light
Scissors
Rechargeable or solar batteries and charger (bring AAAs is you have a
headlamp)
Converter and adaptors (220V here. Small multi converters/adapters
work well.)
Short supply of razors and shavers
Ankle socks
Sweater/sweatshirt – 1st two months in training are in cool
climate/rainy area
Compact sleeping bag and Tent
Hiking backpack
Zip-lock bags
Rain jacket
Toothbrush
English dictionary, Thesaurus
US $ cash
Powdered drinks, like Crystal Lite

Female Volunteers
If you wear make-up, bring some!
If you wear jewelry, bring some!
A pair of nice dress shoes
Two-piece bathing suits are ok at the lake
Sleeveless shirts
Hair ties/ Headbands
Tweezers
Light-weight skirts

Male Volunteers
Shorts
Collared shirt or three for official meetings
Swimsuit
Nice dress pants/Khakis

Presents for Host Country friends and family (can be dollar store bought)
Pictures of your city/hometown/postcards
Soccer balls – deflated, they don't take up much space
Crayons, markers, paint sets and coloring books
Matchbox cars
Photos and picture frames
Table cloth
Watch - think inexpensive
Jewelry- same as watch

Special Interest Items*
*i.e. things we love in-country, items only some volunteers adore but
others don't care about, and care package suggestions
Laptop computer – you can keep it in one of the regional houses or in
Lilongwe if you worry about it
Extra flash drive
Lotion
Colored maps of the world and Africa for your house, blow-up globe
Chapstick
Travel version of Bug repellent – we are issued spray stuff
Cutting board
Parmesan Cheese (Kraft), Mac and Cheese packets (have them flat packs
mailed by friends/family!)
Cliff Bars/Granola bars/Luna Bars
Pants with zip-off bottoms
Non-stick fry pan
Yoga materials
Rubber Spatula
Hammock
Seeds (herbs especially) - don't list this on packages mailed, since
you're not supposed to mail them
Sharpies
Calendar showing scenes of the US
Pictures of friends and family
Favorite recipes
Chocolate chips
Your favorite candy (but you can get lots here, too)
Sewing kit
Pet leash, collar and flea/tick prevention
Hobby Items
Puzzle/Crossword puzzle books
Crayons, markers, colored paper, colored pencils and cheap paint sets
Children's books
Stickers
Votive candles or other religious items
Playing cards
Christmas ornaments- have sent!
Favorite coffee, unbreakable French Press, Specialty Teas
GRE prep materials
Nice soap and facial cleansers; Oil of Olay daily facials  (no
water needed to wash your face: good for training when you don't feel
like fetching water or talking to host family, also travel in dry
regions); scrubbing face wash
Your favorite books (1 or 2) especially non-fiction if you're a
non-fiction reader. Books you won't mind sharing or re-reading. The
PC/Malawi office library has a nice collection also.

What Volunteers say in November 2008:
"Other than those things on the list, I would definitely emphasize
bringing a laptop and extra flash drive. It has been helpful numerous
times for work. I don't know how I'd get as much accomplished as I
have. And perhaps under-emphasize clothes. I was under the impression
that you can't get clothes in Malawi. If I had known how easy it was
to buy apparel, I would have brought more camping gear and less clothes."
- Ross

"Ignore other people's suggestions of leaving your laptop behind. You
won't regret bringing it!"
- Keah

"Bringing a hobby is a good idea too. Ethan brought some wood carving
tools. Lots of people bring musical instruments. I wish I would have
brought a couple tools for building instruments."
- Matt





------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

It sure is a different list than it could be 14 years ago.  Some nice
additions.  Besides the electronics... the unbreakable French press!  Good
idea!

Here are just my thoughts...

We could always buy a great umbrella there...big and red, yellow,blue,
green.  We brought one home with us.  Even the big ones don't work when the
"real" rainy season hits.  Small ones are only good for the July/Aug drizzly
season.  During the REAL rainy season you just learn to live with being wet
and laugh with all the Malawians who are walking along with you and wet,
too.  That is a great equalizing experience, great fun.  Consider a good
poncho instead of rain jacket.

Fitted sheets?  If I were short on room and long on pounds, I'd leave them
behind.  Non-fitted sheets don't stay as well; but heck, you're not going
into the Peace Corps to experience total comfort.  I'd forget the table
cloth.  There are wonderful 2 meter pieces of the greatest fabrics that can
be used for a limitless number of things and definitely as a table cloth.

I'd say take the tent!  A light cheap one that you can leave behind for the
next volunteers.  We had to write home to have one sent to us after deciding
not to take one.  If you ever sleep out without it, the bugs get you.  We
took sleeping bags and Therma-rest pads.  Even if you never sleep out, you
will for sure sleep on volunteer friends' floors.  Cement is harder than the
ground.  The pads are great.

Oh how I wished digital cameras existed.  Film was hard!  Don't even
consider it when digital is an option.  Make sure you have lots of memory
card space!  Several smaller spaced cards would be good so you can send them
home for prints to be made to share with coworkers, friends, neighbors and
the kids who all love to have pictures of themselves.  That is unless
printing pictures is easier there now.  Maybe you'll be able to make CDs of
pictures... probably can at the Peace Corps office...and send them home for
prints to be made.  Gee, things have changed!

Along with hobbies and cards...other games that you can play with friends
you make there and neighbor kids are good.  UNO and Yahtzee were popular.
They are great ways to pass the time and enjoy the company of others.
Everyone, young and old, seemed to like Jinga but it's heavy.  You might
have someone mail it to you, though I know postage has gotten really high.
Jigsaw puzzles.  Have them out and started, everyone who comes in can't
resist trying to find and fit a few pieces.

If you are an avid reader, I'd take more than one or 2 books.  You may not
always be able to get to the Peace Corps office often enough to exchange
them, depending on where your site is.  Books are hard to buy in Malawi.
Have friends and family who know your taste in books be prepared to send
them regularly.  You could even buy a supply ahead and have them sent at
intervals.

  You won't take everything you need and you won't need everything you take
but it doesn't matter.  It all works out.  Hope you have as wonderful an
experience and have the chance to make as many Malawian and Peace Corps
friends as we did.  It's a truly a warm and welcoming place.

Cathy Weber.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel Dudley " <papadud@...>
To: <ujeni@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 2:59 PM
Subject: RE: [ujeni] Packing List


it is a pretty good list. how sweet it would have been to have ipods I the
early 90's!! a laptop will b pretty much useless if u r at a site without
electricity. if u plan to travel and camp then a tent is nice, but not that
necessary. I always crashed on a friends floor and was fine with that. get a
solar electronic charger for ipods and cell phones etc. my wife gets gsm
"unlocked" cell phones used from ebay. have fun, malawi is a great place.  I
will likely b bringing a group of students there in June for the third time.

dan dudley

-----Original Message-----
From: cowboygreg58 <cowboygreg58@...>
Sent: 12/20/2008 7:29:12 AM
To: ujeni@yahoogroups.com <ujeni@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [ujeni] Packing List


Seasoned Malawi PCV's

Below is a recommended list of items to take with me to Malawi.
Please recommend what might need to be added or not. Also, is a tent
crucial to take (just trying to budget necessities and all)?

Thanks for the info.

Peace,

Greg Clements

PS Do you know about the world traveler website www.couchsurfing.com ?
Check my profile here -
http://www.couchsurfing.com/profile.html?id=4EU9VF


______________________________________________________________________




Greetings, Future Malawi PCV!

We've collected short bits from several current (as of November, 2008)
PCVs to help you get a sense of what Malawi is like, what some of the
high and low points are, and a sense of who your fellow PCVs will be.
We hope that you enjoy them, and you should feel free to contact the
people in the next few weeks if you have questions.

As for packing – well, look over the list below that was put together
by PCVs. They have a good sense of what you'll need right away or in
the long-term in your work and life here.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Brian Connors
APCD Environment

Lughano Munthali
Program Assistant, Environment

Items You Should not Leave At home!!
Clothes you don't mind getting destroyed or leaving here (some PCVs
suggest a smaller size than you have now…)
`Going out' clothes – (one only)
`Business-casual' clothes – skirts, khakis, button-down shirts.
Underwear
Jeans! (a pair or two, depending on how much you love wearing them now)
Flash drive!!
Laptop
Camera (digital is easiest, real film can be developed in major towns
but is very expensive)
iPod, mp3 player, or CD player (no need for tape players in this day
and age)
*Please note that erratic energy, heat, humidity, sand and dust will
do a number on all electronic devices (computers, iPods and cameras).
Medium-size thirsty towels (large ones are difficult to wash)
Kitchen knife
Pair of plastic flip-flops for showering the first few days
Good pair of sandals, for example, durable Chacos
3 month supply of any medicine you will need
2 pairs of eyeglasses (if you need them)
Sunglasses and good hat
Fitted twin sheets
Sturdy walking or hiking shoes
Small umbrella
Duct tape
Leatherman tool or Swiss Army Knife
Headlamp (very popular among PCVs!) and/or wind-up flash light
Scissors
Rechargeable or solar batteries and charger (bring AAAs is you have a
headlamp)
Converter and adaptors (220V here. Small multi converters/adapters
work well.)
Short supply of razors and shavers
Ankle socks
Sweater/sweatshirt – 1st two months in training are in cool
climate/rainy area
Compact sleeping bag and Tent
Hiking backpack
Zip-lock bags
Rain jacket
Toothbrush
English dictionary, Thesaurus
US $ cash
Powdered drinks, like Crystal Lite

Female Volunteers
If you wear make-up, bring some!
If you wear jewelry, bring some!
A pair of nice dress shoes
Two-piece bathing suits are ok at the lake
Sleeveless shirts
Hair ties/ Headbands
Tweezers
Light-weight skirts

Male Volunteers
Shorts
Collared shirt or three for official meetings
Swimsuit
Nice dress pants/Khakis

Presents for Host Country friends and family (can be dollar store bought)
Pictures of your city/hometown/postcards
Soccer balls – deflated, they don't take up much space
Crayons, markers, paint sets and coloring books
Matchbox cars
Photos and picture frames
Table cloth
Watch - think inexpensive
Jewelry- same as watch

Special Interest Items*
*i.e. things we love in-country, items only some volunteers adore but
others don't care about, and care package suggestions
Laptop computer – you can keep it in one of the regional houses or in
Lilongwe if you worry about it
Extra flash drive
Lotion
Colored maps of the world and Africa for your house, blow-up globe
Chapstick
Travel version of Bug repellent – we are issued spray stuff
Cutting board
Parmesan Cheese (Kraft), Mac and Cheese packets (have them flat packs
mailed by friends/family!)
Cliff Bars/Granola bars/Luna Bars
Pants with zip-off bottoms
Non-stick fry pan
Yoga materials
Rubber Spatula
Hammock
Seeds (herbs especially) - don't list this on packages mailed, since
you're not supposed to mail them
Sharpies
Calendar showing scenes of the US
Pictures of friends and family
Favorite recipes
Chocolate chips
Your favorite candy (but you can get lots here, too)
Sewing kit
Pet leash, collar and flea/tick prevention
Hobby Items
Puzzle/Crossword puzzle books
Crayons, markers, colored paper, colored pencils and cheap paint sets
Children's books
Stickers
Votive candles or other religious items
Playing cards
Christmas ornaments- have sent!
Favorite coffee, unbreakable French Press, Specialty Teas
GRE prep materials
Nice soap and facial cleansers; Oil of Olay daily facials  (no
water needed to wash your face: good for training when you don't feel
like fetching water or talking to host family, also travel in dry
regions); scrubbing face wash
Your favorite books (1 or 2) especially non-fiction if you're a
non-fiction reader. Books you won't mind sharing or re-reading. The
PC/Malawi office library has a nice collection also.

What Volunteers say in November 2008:
"Other than those things on the list, I would definitely emphasize
bringing a laptop and extra flash drive. It has been helpful numerous
times for work. I don't know how I'd get as much accomplished as I
have. And perhaps under-emphasize clothes. I was under the impression
that you can't get clothes in Malawi. If I had known how easy it was
to buy apparel, I would have brought more camping gear and less clothes."
- Ross

"Ignore other people's suggestions of leaving your laptop behind. You
won't regret bringing it!"
- Keah

"Bringing a hobby is a good idea too. Ethan brought some wood carving
tools. Lots of people bring musical instruments. I wish I would have
brought a couple tools for building instruments."
- Matt





------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links




------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

21 May 2009

Dear Christine,

Thanks for keeping us informed.  Sounds like Malawi will continue to do
some good things.

If anyone is paying attention, I do miss the utilization of this "ujeni"
for discussion.  I shouldn't admit to "facebook" illiteracy but I think
this forum is effective for "mass" communication, discussion, and
announcements.  So I will announce the prospect of the arrival of another
grandson next week.  Our middle daughter and husband will travel to
Ethiopia to pick-up their newly adopted son.  Details when they return.

Y'all stay well,

Vyrle



> Malawi opposition admits defeat
>
>
> Opposition leader Bakili Muluzi has been a bitter foe of the incumbent
> Malawi opposition leader Bakili Muluzi has accepted that President Bingu
> wa Mutharika has won Tuesday's election.
> The UDF leader congratulated the incumbent, who has been a bitter rival.
> Mr Muluzi is a former president who was barred from standing for a third
> term.

Voting irregularities:

Maybe even in Florida or American Idol.

Dan, it is gratifying to hear "normal" news from someone actually there.
Thanks for passing it along.

Travel well with your students and pass my greetings along to any of our
mutual acquaintances you may chance to meet,

Vyrle



>
> Voting irregularities, must only happen in developing countries...oh wait.
>
>
>
> My wife is there and says that there is very strong support and happiness
> where she is (Ntcheu) for Bingu.  I was concerned because I am leading my
> 3rd group of 10 students there next Sunday.  But she says that everything
> is peaceful and happy.  Very nice to hear after all the news that Kenya
> had.
>
>
>
> Dan
>
>
>
> To: ujeni@yahoogroups.com
> From: wartpiggy@...
> Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 10:01:22 -0400
> Subject: [ujeni] Malawi election results
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Malawi opposition admits defeat
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Opposition leader Bakili Muluzi has been a bitter foe of the incumbent
> Malawi opposition leader Bakili Muluzi has accepted that President Bingu
> wa Mutharika has won Tuesday's election. The UDF leader congratulated the
> incumbent, who has been a bitter rival. Mr Muluzi is a former president
> who was barred from standing for a third term.
> His party was part of an opposition coalition led by Malawi Congress Party
> leader John Tembo, who has not admitted defeat but challenged partial
> results.
> With 40% of votes counted, Mr Mutharika had a huge lead, official results
> show.
> The incumbent, a 75-year-old former World Bank official, has 1.3m votes
> against 0.5m for Mr Tembo.
> "The United Democratic Front (UDF) party and its chairman wishes the
> president well as he governs the country in the next five years," UDF
> spokesman Hophmally Makande said in the statement.
> But poll observers said the president had enjoyed an unfair advantage,
> including a partisan state media.
> Mr Tembo, 77, complained on Wednesday of "irregularities" as he disputed
> results in his party's traditional stronghold of Central Province.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> John Tembo (l) has not accepted any win for President Mutharika (r)The
> MCP, which governed the country for three decades, said its poll agents
> had been denied access to counting centres in the area.
> The election followed a five-year feud between Mr Mutharika and his
> predecessor Mr Muluzi that brought a failed impeachment bid, parliamentary
> deadlock and coup plot claims.
> Mr Muluzi lost a court battle last Saturday to be able to stand for a
> third term, having argued that after a break of five years he should be
> able to run for office again.
> The UDF leader - who is being tried on charges of embezzling $10m (£6.5m),
> but insists the charges are politically motivated - then endorsed Mr
> Tembo.
> Mr Mutharika fell out with Mr Muluzi in 2004, accusing his one-time backer
> of trying to stonewall an anti-corruption drive.
> The president quit his rival's party in 2005 to form the Democratic
> Progressive Party and lead a minority government.
> Poverty, agriculture and health care are the big issues for Malawi, where
> two-thirds of the population lives on less than $1 a day and Aids has
> orphaned an estimated one million children.
>
>
>
> Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.
>
>
>