My office at WOFAD

today I sold timber at the side of the road. Another IGA - Income generating activity. I didn't make any sales but a white woman sitting on a pile of timbers at the side of road is free P.R. there are very few white people here and quite frankly none of them in the villages. Chickens came to visit, kids all wanted to stop and look at me. I took some photos of the local ladies doing laundry in the river - the poverty is extreme but the people are wonderful. Today Loney who worked with me hada liquid lunch of flour and ground maize, mixed with water and sugar.50MK, approx 17cents. Almost of the Malawi women told her not to give me any ~ my stomache wouldn't be good. no kidding. I've eaten goat and nasima and fried "little fish" think guppies but at some point I have to politely decline the offers.
Let me tell you about Loney, she is bright and articulate but hasn't been past grade 4. She and her husband are HIV positive. They have a son that they can't afford to raise so he lives with his grandma and Loney seems him every 3 months (or so). they live in a shelter with no water, electricity or cement floor. Loney comes to WOFAD everyday and works on many projects. She has learned to use the computer and types the proposals that request the all needed foreign funding. The one I read to the Stephen Lewis foundation was declined. So much need, so little funding. Did you know these people have to buy water? There are very few safe, free sources of water. The US embassy has approved a bore hole for WOFAD which will help. $5,o00 USD.
Ok enough, I'm overwhelmed by the need and the resiliancey.