Today marks our last day in Malawi. We started the day by taking a tour of the mental health facilities at Saint John of God, a hospital and university that offers extensive mental health and special education services to adults and children in the surrounding areas. Among these include primary and secondary schools with certified special education teachers, vocational training schools, and after school activities with educational components. Many of these were aimed at children and adolescents with physical or intellectual disabilities. After learning about the lack of special education resources and training in many schools like Chiputula Primary School, it was fascinating to learn about some of the resources available in Mzuzu. We were so fortunate to have a chance to tour the facilities with Michael Nyirenda, the Clinical Director of the Saint John of God Hospitaller Services.
After finishing some last minute errands during the day, we worked on our preparations for our going away party. We wanted to celebrate our time in Malawi and say our goodbyes. We invited many of the people that we met, including people from the District Health Office (DHO), Luke International (LIN), Mzuzu University, and Anno’s Africa. There was dancing, drinks, and lots of food, including a barbecue provided by LIN. We learned some traditional songs, and shared some heartfelt moments with the people who had become so important in our lives. Some of these people met each other for the first time, and there’s a chance that these connections will open the door for future collaboration between all of these amazing organizations!
There were many tears shed at the thought of leaving. This time in Malawi has been a whirlwind trip that will leave a lasting impact on all of us. As we think about heading home for Malawi, we wanted to share some of our reflections and thoughts about living in Malawi and the experiences that we’ve had.
Highlights:
Tour at Saint John of God mental health facilities
Goodbye party with people we’ve met in Malawi
All the photos were taken by SHANTU (Verbal consent was obtained before taking the pictures)