The most commonly asked question that I get is, "what's it going to be like over there?" - which I think is the most bizzarre question to ask someone who has not yet been there. Yes, I've done research and yes, the Peace Corps has sent me info - but really it is all very generic and it differs for every volunteer.
I have provided a basic outline of what I am to expect from the Peace Corps (at least during training, when I won't be able to contact you), so please read on if you are still wondering what it's going to be like over there...
And yes, I lazily copy and pasted this from an e-mail from Peace Corps. Some blog update, eh?
Arrival In Malawi
Malawi has some of the best weather in Africa and you’re coming right in the middle of the rainy season. The highest peak near the training site is almost 6,000 ft. You will want to have a sweater/hoodie or jacket and light weight rain gear and easy to carry umbrella to use during training You will learn to love that fleece you thought you’d never need in Africa!
Upon you arrival at the Airport in Lilongwe on Sunday, February 27 you will be greeted by some key members of the PC/Malawi Main Office and training staff. They will facilitate the processing of immigration entrance visas and get you through customs. Your luggage will be taken directly to the training site by Peace Corps staff where you can be assured of its safety but you may wish to use simple zip ties for keeping bags and zippers together. You will then travel by motor coach directly to the training site in Dedza (about an hour south of Lilongwe).
Orientation (The First Few Days)
Accommodations
For the first week, trainees will stay in dorm rooms at the Dedza College of Forestry, which sits at the base of Dedza Mountain in the middle of a high altitude pine forest. The facilities are very simple but clean, with common bathrooms. The first week is designed to orient you to Malawian culture and to the main goals and objectives of Peace Corps Malawi’s mission. But there is only so much you can learn about a culture from a distance, therefore after the first week you will be placed with Malawian host families. The people of Malawi are renowned for their hospitality, generosity and kindness and we feel as if there is no better way to get to know the people of Malawi than to live with host families. At the end of the first week, you will be moved to one of four home stay villages, which are divided by language groups and sectors in order to immerse you both linguistically and culturally. You will be provided with your own room, with simple furnishings, within a family homestead. Most host families do not have electricity, but you still find your evenings full of socializing with your community members by lamp or fire light. Your host families have been hand-picked by Peace Corps and have received their own cross cultural training to prepare them for their time with you. Additionally, there will be a Language/Cultural Facilitator, a Technical Trainer and a second year Peace Corps Volunteer in each village to conduct your training sessions and to serve as a support team for any questions or concerns that may arise.
Dietary Issues
You will eat simple, good food during training. Vegetarians do not have significant trouble in Malawi as long as the information is clearly and respectfully communicated. Hosts often want to honor a guest by providing meat, especially poultry or fish. Most Malawian villagers eat a vegetarian diet, more out of necessity than choice. Consistent and polite declines will best communicate your dietary restrictions. Once in country, Trainees should advise the Homestay Coordinator on any dietary concerns. During this time, you will be given “walk about money” so you will be able to buy some basic goods such as beverages, potato chips, and cookies at small local stores. But for the most part, all meals will be taken with your host family with the exception of days (Thursdays) spent at the College of Forestry.
Baggage
After the first few days in Malawi, you will not have access to your entire luggage. Try to pack with the most necessary things together so you can reorganize easily, and use your smaller bag or pack for what you will take to homestay. Keeping it simple will be best during this time. Ideally, one bag should be packed for storage with items you will not need during PST. The other bag should be packed for things to bring with you to your homestay during PST.
Bicycles
Each of you will be issued a sturdy “mountain bike” for use at your site. The bikes will arrive by the end of PST when you will receive bicycle riding and maintenance training. You will not need these bikes during PST as you will be fully immersing yourself in the local village by walking as much as possible.
Vaccinations
You will be getting several vaccinations during the training period. If you have a Yellow World Health Organization (WHO) Card be sure to bring it along with any other documentation about vaccinations you have had. This will assist the Peace Corps Medical Officers (PCMO) in determining which immunizations you will require. If you do not have a Yellow WHO Card, you will receive one during PST. If you do not have or do not bring your WHO card then the PCMOs will assume you will need to receive all the required vaccinations in-country.
Communication
As a Trainee in Dedza you will not have access to either Internet or e-mail - with the possible exception of the weekend following site visit (mid-April). As a Volunteer you will have email/Internet access at the Peace Corps Office (available in the Volunteer lounge during daylight hours). Please make sure your family is aware to send mail the old fashioned way. There is an office phone at the training site for business and emergency purposes, and the Training Manager has a cell phone for emergencies. Since you won’t have access to phone or email, please inform your families that no news is good news concerning your arrival. We will take a group photo on arrival on February 27th which we will send to a family member to confirm safe arrival.
Local Currency/Money Matters
When you arrive there will be an opportunity to place your personal passport, travelers checks, credits cards, etc in the safe at the Peace Corps Office. You will be given a large envelope during the first days in Dedza in which to place these items along with a form describing the contents. It is STRONGLY recommended that you take advantage of this service. You may not have access to the safe during the 8 week PST period. However, you will have access to this safe throughout your service and it eliminates worry of theft or loss during PST and at your site.
A Word About Technology
In the interest of full disclosure, three forms of technology have become increasingly important or popular for PCVs in recent years – laptop computers, MP3 players, and cell phones. Some Volunteers choose to bring these items with them and are happy that they did, and you are welcome to do so. Each item brings with it many pros and cons, so it is good to consider each side:
Each of these items may be of varying importance to you and you should carefully consider whether or not to bring them. These items may be the target of opportunistic theft. If broken, lost, or stolen, however, Peace Corps will not replace or repair them. We strongly recommend that you buy personal property insurance to cover all your items.
Local Conditions
The Dedza Training Site is within the Malawi College of Forestry and Wildlife premises. There is a lot of pine plantation area, hills of indigenous forest and mainly dirt (muddy) roads. The rain and elevation makes it chilly sometimes, but then the sun comes out and it’s nice and toasty. Please be prepared for chilly temperatures by bringing along a fleece or light jacket for your time at the training site. Lightweight hiking or work boots and Chaco-style sandals are most popular and practical for Environment PCVs.
Agenda
On Sunday, the day you arrive in Dedza, we will organize a welcome activity that will be low key. Often people want to go for a short hike right away, or sleep off the plane ride, so the afternoon is free. For the first three days, there will be introductory sessions for culture, Chichewa language, and brief informational interviews with the APCD and PCMOs. There will also be a briefing on the entire 8-week training period.
Pre-Service Training
Training Site
As noted above, most of your training will be village-based. The Forestry College is located about 80 kilometers south of Lilongwe. The cluster villages are around the College, but transportation will be limited to feet and training vehicles. Once a week (Thursdays) all trainees will gather for common sessions such as medical and administrative procedures, cross-culture and special topics such as diversity.
Overview of Training Schedule (in addition to language/culture topics)
The training is generally organized into weekly themes but the first week at the College will be an intensive exposure to the major topics with a great deal of input from you and the other members of your group. Weeks 2-5 will be held strictly in the villages surrounding the college to maximize your use of language and to practice technical skills. Week 6 will be spent at your future sites. Week 7 will be for final language skills development and will be held at various locations outside Dedza. Week 8 (the final week) will Emergency Action Plan (Safety & Security), final medical and admin procedures, and preparations for Swearing-In and the move out to your sites. You will be transported to Lilongwe for Swearing-In and leave for your new site the following day!
Health Sector:
Week 1: Introduction to language, culture and the Health System of Malawi
Week 2: Community Needs Assessment Methodologies and Integration (Knowing your community)
Week 3: Communicable Disease Prevention (water, sanitation, malaria, diarrhoeal diseases)
Week 4: Community Health (EPI, MCH, Family Planning) and HIV/AIDS in Malawi
Week 5: Food security and nutritional deficiencies (Food availability, Permaculture, malnutrition)
Week 6: Supervisor’s Workshop
Week 7: Site Visit
Week 8: Promote interventions for support and adoption of health behaviors such as (Life Skills, IGAs)
Week 9: Training Closure and Preparation for Swearing-in in Lilongwe
Basic methodology and assessment criteria for PST
For the duration of the training, you will live with a Malawian family in a small village located near the college. We're sure you have some apprehension about this aspect of the training - understandably - but we feel very strongly that it is one of the most vital aspects of the entire training program. The home stay is generally considered the most challenging, but also the most meaningful aspect of training by Malawi Volunteers.
The challenge lies in adapting to the rigors of Malawian village life. The living conditions are generally extremely basic despite being only a few kilometers from a main road. Some of the houses are cement block with tin roof and others are constructed of mud brick with grass thatched roofs. You will have a private room with either a bed or a mattress on the floor for sleeping. Toilet facilities consist of a pit latrine outside within the compound. Bathing is done in outdoor stalls under the stars - a magical experience! Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be taken with your host family.
The joy of the home stay is that you are able to live as most Malawians live. Homestay immerses you in Malawian food, culture, and language. The experience exposes you to the realities of the communities within which you will be serving. Many Volunteers become very close to their home stay family, and we encourage you to do this. A family on this side of the world is a nice thing to have.
When you arrive in Malawi, we will give you a list of competencies in language, culture, health, safety and security, and technical expertise. You will be expected to master these competencies in order to be sworn in as a Volunteer. You will be responsible for taking an active role in your learning process, evaluating your progress, and setting goals for your learning. We will help you assess your progress and make recommendations at several points during the PST.
In order to be sworn in, you will need to demonstrate competence in five areas. You must demonstrate:
1. A working knowledge of the local language;
2. Knowledge of health risks common in Malawi and demonstrated practice of preventive health strategies;
3. Interpersonal and cross-culture skills and knowledge that enable you to communicate, make friends, understand your environment, understand how Malawians perceive and interact with you, and work effectively with Malawians;
4. The technical skills and knowledge essential to your work;
5. An understanding of Peace Corps' philosophy of development and your project's long-term plan to see how you fit in and what you can contribute.
Overview of Training Components
The pre-service training is made up of three major TLC components: technical, language and culture. In addition, we have group sessions every Thursday with Medical and Administrative staff on the reality of living safely and healthily in Malawi. These sessions emphasize how you can take care of yourself, and when to contact the PC Medical Officer for help and advice. Other special sessions include Safety and Security, Diversity, and the Role of the Volunteer in Development.
While technical aspects of your job are important and will be covered throughout your PST, your trainers will stress the integration of language and cultural understanding within this technical background. Do not expect to learn everything you are going to have to know for your two years of service in just 9-week training program. Learning is on-going. As professional adults, you will be expected to learn how to learn, perform self-directed learning activities, and strive to keep yourself safe and healthy. There will be further technical trainings (in-service training or IST) after 3-months and one year at your village site. At those trainings you will learn and teach the skills that you will need at that point in your service. So, come to PST with an open mind, heart, eyes and ears. You will be exposed to many new concepts and ideas and we look forward to your input into your own learning.
Sample Day’s Schedule
Every day except Thursday and Sunday will include language sessions and technical sessions. We integrate closely, but there will be hands-on practical sessions every day. Generally the morning will focus on theory for technical, followed by language, lunch and language. The last part of the day will usually be the active part of technical.
Swearing-In Date
Upon successful completion of PST, you will be Sworn- in as a Peace Corps Volunteer on Wednesday, April 27. As a new PCV, you will be taken to your site on the following days (Thursday or Friday).
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