Mwayi Trust

Mwayi Community Radio Station Mwayi Youth Development Centre

Contact: Sandra Trevethan Ph:+265 (0) 1989831 +265 (0) 881452554 sandy.mwayi@gmail.com Rationale

TA: Kunthembwe TA Kuntaja Chileka Blantyre

The Mwayi Trust is being established within the Traditional Areas of Kunthembwe and Kuntaja in Chileka Blantyre located in the Southern Region of Malawi. This area lies on the outskirts of Blantyre approximately 8 kilometers past Chileka Airport and consists of more than 200 villages. The income in this area is derived mainly from agriculture being small scale farming. There are 29 primary schools (26 government and 3 private) and 12 Secondary Schools (7 government and 5 private) operating within TA Kunthembwe and TA Kuntaja. At present there are very few Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in the area. Radio communication has long been a major source of information and discourse for the people of TA Kunthembwe and TA Kuntaja and nationally across Malawi. Key issues are discussed on radio however access for participation in pertinent discussions in the local community is limited. The establishment of a community radio station will overcome these barriers and give a voice to the community of Chileka. It will also provide unbiased coverage of current issues affecting the lives of the local community.

Within TA Kunthembwe and Kuntaja in Chileka there are few job opportunities and limited opportunities for youth, including those with Special Educational Needs. Access to vocational training and tertiary education is not available to most youths in the area. If given the opportunity and access to quality, vocational training many of the youths of TA Kunthembwe and Kuntaja would be empowered to further develop their potential. The inclusion of a life skills component in all vocational courses will increase knowledge and increase skills in the areas of HIV and AIDS prevention, gender equality, human rights, social skills and small business management further enhancing self reliance and promoting positive life styles. Quote According to Ministry of Education, Science and Technologys basic education statistics of 2006, 22 percent of children drop out of Standard One while 15 percent of the enrolment from Standard 2 to 8 drops out each year. This means that by the time a class reaches Standard 8, only 25 percent of the initial enrolment has been retained in school (School survey reveals poor nutrition The Nation, 18th 19th October, pg.6). Primary education is now free and the Education for All program is still in operation however, there are significant numbers of children who are not accessing or being retained in local schools. Head Teachers and Teachers are committed but there are limited resources and high teacher pupil ratios. This makes it difficult for all children to receive the attention and assistance needed to achieve success. The impact is a high number of repeaters, truants and drop outs. There is therefore a vital need to provide educational support services within TA Kunthembwe and Kuntaja to complement the good work already being carried out within the local schools. The establishment of both a community radio station and a youth development centre will be instrumental in bringing together members of the community to facilitate the increased participation in educational, vocational, social and recreational activities and the media. The inclusion of life skills programmes in both the radio station and youth development centre, focusing on social skills, HIV and AIDS prevention, gender equality, human rights and both literacy and numeracy programmes will ensure social capacity and responsibility is developed concurrently with economic capacity and responsibility of the community. Young people, especially, will have opportunity to increase their skills repertoire and make decisions that promote their health, safety, well being and self reliance. 3

Parents and community play a vital role in the education and socialisation of children. The Mwayi Youth Development Centre will encourage and promote parental and community involvement in all aspects of the centre thus facilitating quality partnerships between child, home, school and community. This will further enhance academic social and personal success, empowerment and retention of children in the education system. The project will comprise two facets: 1. 2. Mwayi Community Radio Station Mwayi Youth Development Centre

Vision: To build the capacity of the community and enhance quality of life by working together to promote: - community driven radio, - educational support services and vocational training, and - cultural and socio-economic activities. Mission: 1. To work with the community to build capacity to access the media and have a voice in matters of concern; 2. To enable young people and the community to access vocational training and educational support programs which increase potential for gaining employment and developing positive lifestyles. Goals: 1. To empower community members to make informed choices on matters of individual and community relevance in the areas of good governance, health and social issues, employment and education. 2. To facilitate the development of a reading culture in the young people and adults 3. To enhance skill development, specifically for youths, in the areas of education, life skills and vocational training. Objectives

To train community members in all aspects of operating a radio station; To develop and implement programmes on relevant issues that facilitate maximum participation of community members; To provide reliable, unbiased news coverage; 4

To facilitate cultural and recreational programs catering for all groups within the community; To provide relevant vocational training for the youth of Chileka, including youth with Special Educational Needs; To increase the literacy and basic skills of the local young people; To improve the life skills of the local young people through HIV and AIDS prevention, gender equality, social skills and human rights programs; To facilitate the establishment of income generating activities for local young people; To facilitate the development of quality relationships between youth, parents and community To involve the community in all aspects of the project.

Outcomes

Community members developing work skills through working as volunteers in radio station; Community members participating in radio programs; Community accessing and utilising information on HIV and AIDS, health issues, gender equality, life skills, education etc; Increase in school attendance and retention; Increased community participation in local development; Community members, including youth, making informed decisions; Community members taking a greater role in decision making at local and district level; Community youth developing vocational skills increasing the number of young people involved in income generating activities. Impact Improved quality of life of community members and increased number of youth involved in income generating activities. 1. 2. Youth empowered to embrace positive lifestyles and become independent participants in their community and nation. Improved sense of ownership and empowerment of community members.

Programs
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Mwayi Community Radio: 1. Training volunteers New volunteers In-service Courses for community radio station volunteers from across Malawi. 2. Programs News programs; Educational programs Environmental programs; Health Programs - HIV and AIDS - Nutrition - General Health Issues including malaria Human Rights; Gender Equality; Social issues relationships, cultural etc. Sports; Talk Back; Letter Time; Youth Issues/ Entertainment; Drama, Story time Music: Local International; Political; Religious; 3. Initiate project to source and provide wind up radios to community members We will develop conference facilities in order to provide opportunities for the community and local organisations to access an affordable space in which to conduct meetings, training courses and social activities. Mwayi Youth Development Centre: . . . . 1. Vocational Training: Tailoring Tinsmithing Cane-work Carpentry . Baking . Shoe repair . Brick Laying . Room steward / Domestic worker

Courses will operate due to local demand and availability of resources and personnel. These programs will be open to all youth. We embrace the concept of inclusive education, as such children with Special Educational Needs will be encouraged to participate in all programs of the centre. Life skills, literacy and numeracy courses will be integral aspects of the vocational training programs, thus ensuring that graduates develop social as well as economic empowerment. 2. Educational Programs Library. Homework Centre Computer skills Life Skills a component of all vocational training courses - HIV and AIDS Prevention - Relationship/Interpersonal skills - Gender Equality - Human Rights - Assertiveness skills - Job seeking skills Literacy and numeracy skills for children, youths and adults 3. Sporting/Recreational Soccer; Netball; Volleyball; Table-tennis; Indoor games, including educational computer games; Drama; Traditional Dancing. 4. Community Involvement Program: Involving parents, community members and local secondary school students in centre programs in the capacity of volunteer mentors, educators, peer tutors and aides. Mwayi Youth Development Centre Programmes Library Goal: To facilitate the development of a reading culture and an appreciation of literature in 7

the young people and adults of the area. Objectives: - to provide access to a variety of books and reading materials - to facilitate activities that foster a reading culture - to increase the literacy and basic skills of the local young people; - to provide opportunities for young people to share their understanding with others Impact: - an increase in reading ability of the young people accessing the YDC - an increase in the number of young people reading and enjoying books Principles/Programmes: 1. The library will initially be a non lending library- books and other reading material can be read in the library. and If a young person is reading a novel or text book they will be able to book the book on reserve for a period of time in order to be complete it without interruption 2. The library will be open to all young people from the local areas on a daily basis after school ( initially Monday- Friday) 3. Local schools will be able to book the library during school hours for library lessons i.e. to conduct reading sessions, for project work 4. There will be a programme of story reading/reading activities for young children and adolescents i.e. selected stories will be read in a conducive environment, an educator will facilitate selected reading/ literature games and activities 5. There will be set times during the week when adults may access the library e.g. during week days, and times on the weekend when families may access the library (encouraging families to access books and read together) 6. A programme of English/literacy and Chichewa lessons will be developed and conducted to compliment the curriculum of both the local primary and secondary schools. We will be approaching the Ministry of Education , Science and Technology to request provision of a teacher and a specialist teacher full time at the centre. We will also be soliciting and training volunteers to assist as educators / tutors 8

Once well established the centre will offer these lessons for adults 7. As a meeting place - local community groups when not in use by the young people (until the conference room is available) Groups outside the local area will be able to use the space for a nominal fee (income generating) when it is not in use by the local community. Homework Centre/ Computer Room Goals: - To create a positive supportive learning environment to compliment the work done at the local schools - To facilitate a climate of peer support/cooperation between local school children/young people - To facilitate the development of computer literate learners Objectives: - Children completing homework and increasing skills - Young people learning peer support and cooperative learning strategies - Young people able to use computers for educational and recreational purposes Impact: - Increased retention of children in local primary schools - Reduced number of repeaters from local primary schools - A culture of helping others developed within local communities Programmes: 1. Identified volunteers from local secondary schools trained in peer support and tutoring techniques

2. Primary school learners register for homework centre in one of three programmes a) To work on homework independently in a conducive environment b) To receive assistance/support with homework from volunteer tutors, experienced teachers c) To work on school projects can use library or receive assistance from a volunteer tutor/ educator 9

3. Provision of courses in - basic computer skills to school age learners, adolescents and job seekers - basic computer skills for local teachers - accessing the internet We will be seeking volunteers to assist as tutors/educators. Once selected they will receive training to work as tutors/educators 5. When funds allow to provide access to the internet ( as an income generating activity)
4.

Vocational Training Centre Goals: - To enhance skill development, specifically for youths, in the areas of education, life skills and vocational training which increase potential for gaining employment and developing positive lifestyles. Objectives: - To provide relevant vocational training for the youth of Chileka, including youth with Special Educational Needs; - To improve the life skills of the local young people through HIV and AIDS prevention, gender equality, social skills and human rights programs; - To facilitate the establishment of income generating activities for local young people; - To facilitate the development of quality relationships between youth, parents and community Impact: - Youth empowered to embrace positive lifestyles and become independent participants in their community and nation. Principles/Programmes: 1. Courses will operate due to local demand and availability of resources and personnel. We propose that four courses will be operating at any one time. 2. These programs will be open to all youth. We embrace the concept of inclusive education, as such children with Special Educational Needs will be encouraged to participate in all programs of the centre.

Tailoring Tin smithing

Baking Shoe repair 10

Cane-work Carpentry

Brick Laying Room steward /Domestic worker

3. Life skills, literacy and numeracy courses will be integral aspects of the vocational training programs, thus ensuring that graduates develop social as well as economic empowerment. The course will include the following: - Life Skills - HIV and AIDS Prevention; - Relationship/Interpersonal skills; - Gender Equality; - Human Rights; - Assertiveness skills; - Job seeking skills; We have begun talks with officers from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of People with Disabilities, and Ministry of Youth in order to form a partnership (Memorandum of Understanding) which will enable us to secure teachers and vocational trainers including specialist teachers with vocational training skills to staff this centre. This especially, will enable us to be truly inclusive. As part of this partnership we will build an office that will accommodate an Itinerant Teacher for the Hearing Impaired (HI) and an Itinerant Teacher for Learning Difficulties (LD) and an Elderly and Disability Assistant from the Ministry of People with Disabilities to work both in our centre and in the surrounding primary schools in the area. At this time there is no support for learners with either HI or LD in our target area. Human Resources and Infrastructure for Mwayi Community Radio Station and Mwayi Youth Development Centre Board of Trustees Chairman of the Board Trustees/Board Members Margaret Ali Mary Kaphwiti, Pastor James Mbewe, Ken Mhango, Modecai Msisha, Carmel Young

Mwayi Community Radio Station Positions Director Head of News Head of Programmes Head of Marketing Station Manager 11

Chief Reporter Chief Technician Start Up Staff - volunteers Reporters x3 Presenters x 20 Head of News x1 Head of Programmes x1 Station Manager x 1 Secretary x1 Marketers x2 Loggers x1 Technicians x1 Receptionist x1 Watchmen x2 MCR will require the following offices Building 1 Newsroom Station Manager Recording Studio On Air Studio Reception Lounge Library volunteers Marketing contained bedrooms Presenters Chill Out /dining room Kitchen Stores Generator Room Mwayi Youth Development Centre Building 2 Conference Room Toilets Building 3 for future Accommodation for house with 4 self

communal

lounge

- communal kitchen

Positions Executive Director Sandra Trevethan Head of Education Services /Vocational Training qualified teacher Head of Recreational Activities Vocational Trainers - Baking Carpentry - Tailoring Room Stewards/ Domestic workers - Tinsmithing Shoe repair - Cane work Bricklaying We will commence with 4 trades dependent of local need 12

Start Up Staff - volunteers Executive Director S Trevethan x 1 Director Brian Banda x 1 Head of Recreational Activities x 1 Educators /aides x 5 Librarian x 2 Peer Tutors x 15 Recreation Officers x 3 MYDC will require the following buildings Building 1 Reading Room (library) workshops; Homework Room one purpose Computer Room smithing Office multi purpose Store room Building 2 Vocational Training

4 workshops will be built built for carpentry and tin the others will be

Building 3 can be attached to building 1 Games room Building 4 entertainment khonde - large Khondes - small Outdoor sports facilities - once purchase additional piece of land - Netball courts x 2 - Soccer field - Volunteer accommodation Developmental Plan Progress to date Action 13 Time Frame Outcome

Purchase land Initial block - Acquire additional block - Source and plant some trees

Mid September 08 - Mid October 08 Early November ongoing - End October 08 -End November 08

Completed. Probs with second block negotiations in progress

Early December Waiting for approval 08 Apply to MACRA for community radio - March 09 licence - End June 09 Liaise with TA, Chiefs, VDC to - Late October discuss 08 needs of community, outline project and garner support and ideas for project Mid Sensitisation meeting with November community reps and relevant 08 stakeholders including DC and DEM to outline project and identify needs, suggestions for - March- May programs 09 Conduct Base Line survey Meeting held very successful all gave support Large meeting, DC opened. Positive response from all good suggestions recorded First round of base line surveys completed - to continue after elections

Register NGO Mwayi Trust - Write vision, mission etc - Identify relevant programmes for radio station, youth development centre - Write constitution - File paper work

Completed Completed Completed Paper work filed waiting for registration

Develop organisational structure for project - Community radio station - Youth Development Centre Develop program outlines 14

- End October Completed Completed 08 Completed - End October

End November Develop infrastructure plan building End Nov 08 Develop project budget Initial designs drawn -consulting architect Budget for Radio station completed - March June YDC initial budget developed 09 - February 09 ongoing Initial meetings with DEM and EDM very supportive. Initial meetings held with Director Sp Ed (MOE), CYO (MOY) & Chief Disability Prevention & Awareness Officer (MOPD). MOU drafted & submitted to MOEST, No response as yet Concept Papers sent to most of the stated organizations negative responses from several due to being a new NGO Will now approach other organisations Have a proposal in with Press Trust to fund infrastructure for MCR and MYDC board meets in February 10 No response as yet Presentation made 15

Source resources: human, physical, funding - meet with relevant Ministries, DEM MACRA, DA, request assistance in form of teachers, Vocational training tutors, resources - prepare/ submit proposals for funding organisations e.g. Press Trust, Gift of Givers, UNESCO, USAID, OSISA, AUSAID, DFID, Tools For Self Reliance, ADRA

-March 09 ongoing Subject to receiving funding -

-March 10 ongoing

Subject to Building infrastructure receiving - Radio station funding - Library, homework space - Vocational training workshops - Recreational spaces - Conference facility - Accommodation /volunteers/ visiting guests

to DEC for supportJuly 10, No response for assistance requested Presentation made to Blantyre Rotary Sept 10 for assistance, No response as yet Approached TAs and GVHs for assistance with molding bricks, positive response, provided them with brick molds. Met setback when local MP told all to stop molding bricks for MT. Had meeting with MP to discuss situation. MP to hold meeting with TAs and GVHs Dec or January to encourage to restart molding bricks next year. Meeting not held TA Kunthembwe and his chiefs have since decided to mold bricks for MT after harvest 2011 Initial meeting held with TA Kuntaja, Kunthembwe & 4 GVH & 3 HTs & PEA. 4 SS & 4 PS selected.

Initiating programs - Homework Centre Project - end Jan 10 - Meet with relevant TAs, GVHs, PEA discuss establish homework - March May centres 10 16

Meet with HTs of targeted schools, identify volunteers - June 10 and learners Provide initial training for volunteers Homework Centres operating Presentation ceremonies for volunteer peer educators, Patrons and learners

Very supportive Learners and Volunteer Peer Educators, Patrons identified June 10 Peer educators trained Resources purchased HCs opened early July 10 Will be monitoring regularly Presentation ceremonies held for all homework Centres very successful over 200 learners, parents, volunteers etc at each of 2 ceremonies. Media present and good stories in 2 newspapers and on TVM & Zodiac Radio

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