Sharing precious resources: knowledge, soap and clean water to beat COVID-19 in Malawi

This is the third in a series that profiles the work and thought leadership of Watipa scholars in their local response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despina Gwaza is a Watipa scholar in Malawi, who recently finished secondary school and is starting at College in 2020. She has been actively supporting families in her local areas, Kalowa, Liuzi, Mukwachi and Kasuza, to know about COVID-19, have more regular access to soap and clean water.

“Our aim is to improve good sanitation… people need help.”

Continue reading “Sharing precious resources: knowledge, soap and clean water to beat COVID-19 in Malawi”

Watipa scholar forms youth group to inform community and give textbooks to school children in Wowve, Malawi

This is the second in a series that profiles the work and thought leadership of Watipa scholars in their local response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comfort Menard Comfort Menard is studying Mining Engineering in Malawi and is looking forward to classes resuming. In the meantime, he has been mobilising his peers to share information, textbooks and soap to households in his community.

Just like many other countries in the world, Malawi is not spared from the Covid 19 pandemic. As of 1st June, 2020, according to ministry of health and population, Malawi has recorded 284 cases. Out of this, four have died, fourty six have recovered, and two hundred and thirty four still remain active cases.

Due to this pandemic people particularly in my community, Wowve, live in fear and feel hopeless, because their small businesses are now on stand still due to fear of contracting the virus. In order to join forces in contributing to the fight against the pandemic in my community, Wovwe.

I decided to encourage my fellow youths and form and chair a group. As a group we conduct door to door activities where among others we civic educate the households on the importance of staying home and avoiding unnecessary movements, keeping social distance of about 1.5 meters, avoiding handshaking, and regular hand washing with soap. Continue reading “Watipa scholar forms youth group to inform community and give textbooks to school children in Wowve, Malawi”