Julia has asked me to contribute to her blog, in the hopes that perhaps what I am doing here in Malawi inspires other young people do the same!

Upon leaving school I found myself in a position that I believe plenty of young people can relate to... Not knowing what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to go to university and study something just for the sake of studying, because that’s what I was expected to do. So, I began working in a retail job, stuck in a boring routine. I thought about the last thing I did that made me truly, truly happy. It was when I came to Malawi- back in 2013, as part of a school organisation. In the month I was here I fell in love with it, we spent one week at Cool Running’s working on a project with Samantha so I reached out to her. I wanted to volunteer, I wanted to help and I knew that Sam was the best person for that because of the amazing relationship she has with her community.

I arrived in May and since then I have taught members of the Malawi Defence Force how to use computers. I have helped build a playground made solely from recycled materials at Parachute Battalion Military Base, everything is made from scrap metal we found and the surrounding wall is made from glass bottles, to teach locals there are alternatives to cutting down trees for bricks. Created a prayer room at Ndi Moyo Palliative care centre where the terminally ill can go and take a moment to come to terms with their illness. Organised first aid training to local community volunteer police groups, helped repair ceiling panels at the school Library. I have been to patient day care a Ndi Moyo where I cooked for and danced with the most inspiring people - painted their nails, got to know them and struggled to believe they could be so ill when they were so happy and full of life. All of these amazing experiences in such a short amount of time and there is still so much left to do before I leave.

The projects I work on here at Cool Running’s are about the people for the people. They are not hand outs. They must be earned, we simply facilitate and encourage others so that when we are not around, they can survive and are sustainable. You have a responsibility to know the consequences of your actions. Here its all about trying to help the people be independent, intelligent individuals, not beggars that are dependent on someone else to give them everything they need. Like the saying goes, give a man a fish or teach a man to fish...

That was a very important lesson for me to learn, to fight the urge to just give, give, give, thoughtlessly. You want to, but you can’t because ultimately it does more harm than good. Sometimes it is heartbreaking, to see the situations some of these people are in. But I am so thankful I have the opportunity to see this part of the world, to meet these people who astound me with their positivity and happiness, content with so little.

I am so grateful to Sam for giving me the chance to help and teaching me the right way to do it. There is still so many wonderful things to be done here, volunteers are always needed and it is such a fantastic place to do it. Sam is the perfect teacher, I have never met anyone as knowledgeable, kind and positive. I am constantly inspired by her. If I can do even a fraction of the good that she manages to do, day in, day out, I will be happy with that.

In my time here I have learnt a lot about myself, I have found new strengths and new weaknesses. I feel capable of so much more than I did before, like I found a bravery in myself I didn’t know was there. To go out, to immerse myself in cultures, talk to people, try new things and at times push myself out of my comfort zone. These are not things I could learn in a classroom, I needed this experience to get to know myself, so that I am able to make decisions about my future and know what it is that I want to do. I really have loved every second I’ve spent here. I love the village and the people, it really does feel like a second home. It is clear to see why Malawi is known as the warm heart of Africa. I could not recommend it enough, you have to be here to understand how wonderful it is. As a volunteer, this is the best thing I’ve ever done. So if you’re thinking about helping, about seeing more, doing more, do it here. You won’t regret it.

I have met so many interesting people, that have each taught me so much. People like Julia! Who, by the way, I think is absolutely amazing and will definitely be hunting down when she makes it to England! I am just coming into my third month is this beautiful country – sadly, my final month... for now. I have no doubt I will be back very soon.

Harriet Gracie 

(Rebecca)