Touch And Feel Africa TAFA

Like to become part of TAFA or learn more of how you can make a difference? - email me - Barry - "touchandfeelafrica (at) gmail.com"

Gracious and Tusa "at the beach" after
a meeting to see how Tusa might start his business

Tusa, the "star" secondary student, has been accepted to university. This is a great achievement, but also a situation that is not easy. There is no scholarship involved. Tusa, his sister and grandmother have been struggling with food issues and Tusa's work part time at Kunyanja does not provide enough income to support them. Tusa continues to work on his international scholarship applications. We are also working with him to see if we can get him making some extra money selling chitenjes (African wrappers) as they are known.

Lutengano and his wife just had their second child. Needless to say, they are both extremely happy. It makes things a bit more difficult for Lutengano, as he studies law in Blantyre and his wife is living in Nkhata Bay with relatives.

After graduating last year as a nurse/midwife, Steve did not find placement with any hospitals to begin work. The government of Malawi, with their ongoing financial issues, were not hiring any nurses for their hospitals. Steve was fortunate to be able to find a position working in a good pharmacy in Lilongwe. I think this has greatly expanded his education and knowledge of the pharmaceutical world and what treatments are used and also available in Malawi. Just a couple of days ago, Steve started his new position as a nurse/midwife in the village of Thyolo, near the Mozambique border. It is a small hospital and after I spoke with the director, I am sure that Steve will learn much and become fully knowledgeable about all aspects of treatment and healthcare. He will be involved in it all. Unfortunately, cell service/network is almost unavailable in the village, and he must walk to the top of the nearby hill to get cell service. Using whatsapp is going to be challenging along with his new duties.

Monica, as usual is excelling at her studies at university. She had an incident with a snake biting her at school and couple of weeks ago. She spent some time at the hospital for treatment and has now fully recovered. Another one of the "extra experiences" that Malawian students get to have, different from most university students in the world.

Richard continues to excel at his engineering studies at Polytechnic in Blantyre. He has been taking extra practical courses, both for the knowledge and credit it will give him, but also because he is really enjoying the more hands on applications of his engineering studies in communications.

And Mr Chisomo, who never ceases to amaze me. Truly achieving at Mzuzu technical, working so hard to earn a bit of extra money while studying, and living on next to nothing, is quite an achievement.

Isaac, who has been with TAFA from almost the very beginning, is also repeating his Form 4 and MSCE exams. We are wishing you well Isaac, I think you are going to master it all now.

Elia, our Tanzanian TAFAian, who administers our PO Box in Mbeya, enabling shipments of phones and other things, continues his studies at university in Dar es Salaam.

The students of TAFA continue to mature and accomplish so much, with so little. I am so proud of you all. To achieve in your circumstances in truly extraordinary. Keep up the good work!

And a big thank you to Max Mbise, my long time friend lving in Dar es Salaam, for helping my friend Brenda, founder of the One Person Project, to get her container of medical supplies released from the port in Dar and on its way to the hospital in Kahama, Tanzania. Helps to have honest, reliable friends who can go the "extra mile" to get things fixed and on there way. Thank you Maxie!!

More about this college, google: Mpemba staff development institute law program, Malawi.

Wednesday, 8 February 2017 - COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CONTINUE FOR MORE TAFAIANS- Lutengano Muthali has moved in to his "boys quarters" and is attending classes at Mpenda - University of Malawi. Gracious (Axe) Mwandwanga has enrolled at GLEC's Business School to enhance his business skills. TAFAian Pido Kalipa called today from Kempton Park near Johannesburg today. He just arrived in South Africa, and is on his way to Mpumalanga in search of work. Wishing you well on your journey Pido! It's difficult and certainly a challenge.

Lutengano is currently studying diploma in law at Mpemba staff development institute situated in Blantyre. Mpemba is a constituent College of the University of Malawi, Chancellor College. Mpemba is the historical background of Law school in Malawi which was the center of law for white colonies before shifting to Chancellor College. This college still remains the college of law where all magistrates in Malawi attains their Law course and the barrister course. Mpemba is a para stator/ public company aim at sharpening government civil servants under the office of president and cabinet.

Gracious one of the very first students at TAFA and "businessman extraordinare" is now in Mzuzu taking courses at GLEC's. What is a bit unusual in Gracious's situation is that he has been running a number of self-created businesses over the last few years since graduating from secondary school in Karonga. He has decided it is time to learn more about the successful creation and running of a business.

Thursday, 12 January 2017 - IT'S BACK TO CLASS ONCE AGAIN. TAFA is please to announce that Monica Nkhayange is back at LUANAR: Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources; Richard Mtambo is back at Engineering School - Polytechnic/University of Malawi; Elias Mwakagile is back at Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy, in Dar es Salaam, Chisomo Banda continues with his busy schedule of wiring houses before returning to Mzuzu Technical School. Other students such as Isaac Phiri and Kennedy Chirwa continue secondary school with the intent of rewriting their MSCE to improve their academic graduation standards.

And congratulations to Lutengano Munthali who enrolled this week at LUANAR in Blantyre to study law. Truly an exciting time as Lutengano had to find sponsorship on his own for fees and TAFA was able to help with room, board and some other living essentials. This has been over 4 years in the planning...

As TAFA moves forward in the year 2017, we are finding the TAFAians are "growing up", graduating from school and going out into the workplace looking for jobs and experience. This is a amazing task or better put, conquest in Malawi. It is TAFA's challenge and focus for the next 12 months to work on creating businesses and job opportunities for these students.

it does not compare to the 5 year anniversary this week
of Jacco being the TAFA project manager!!

Thank you Jacco, for 5 years of flawless service to TAFA and all the TAFIANS out there. Not once, have we had to "search for money", wonder what when wrong, or worry about our funds and the distribution of it to all the students and schools. This is truly an accomplishment Jacco. And so very appreciated!! We are most proud of you! And all the help you have given us all.

And Jacco is off to Mbeya, Tanzania to collect the last three orders of phones, electronics and books that have been sent to the TAFA postoffice box. Thanks to Mpenzu who has taken over duties as our postal supervisor while Elia is off to university in Dar Es Salaam.

Yes, Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut and Commander of the Internation Space Station, is now required reading for TAFAians.... :):) An inpsiring story for all who want to achieve through truly difficult situations. Perfect for Malawians!

Most everyone is home for Christmas. Richard Mtambo has left Polytechnic/University of Malawi to spend Christmas with his Uncle and family in southern Malawi. Chisomo Banda, finished his exams at Mzuzu Technical and then travelled to Kusungu to visit Alfred. He has been spending his time back in Mzuzu wiring houses for electricity before going home for Christmas and then back to school in March.

Gracious has been working on his Christmas sausage recipes, and still challenged with multiple days of no electricity. Mclove Kamba along with Gracious, Andrew and Lutengano have been working on a social assistance group. More to come in the new year about their project.

We are proud of proud of you Frankie! Frankie Mwali receiving his dipoloma in Pretoria 2 weeks ago. It has been a long and hard road for Frankie since he arrived from Malawi 5 years ago. Wonderful to see good things happening.

Monica is home for Christmas in Nkhata Bay with her Uncle Kanyanji. She has been attending LUANAR: Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources and will be returning in January.

Richard Mtambo continues his Engineering studies at Polytechnic - University of Malawi,

Chisomo Banda, continues his Electrical Engineering studies at Mzuzu Technical, helped by his skill in welding,

Monica Nkhayange, has been selected and has currently arrived to begin agriculture studies at LUANAR: Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources - combining her studies of Accounting and Agriculture,

Alfred Kamisa is working on taking Welders Training, TAFA is putting together a Computer Training School with

Rusk Mkwapatira, head teacher at GLECS - so that TAFAians and others can learn computer skills, Tusa, Chisomo, Winter and Ben to be the first students.

Tusa Kanyika has graduated from Kunyanja Private, receiving 12 points on his MSCE and the number one student at the school,

Jacco Mhone continues as the "fearless leader of TAFA", is still managing the egg store in Chitipa and studying for his ABE business school exams in December.

A heartfelt hug for Gracious Mwandwanga and his family. His granny passed 3 days ago after an illness with TB. So very sorry Gracious.

Elia Mwakagile, our TAFAian from Mbeya, Tanzania, who has been looking after our shipments to Africa, is now in Dar Es Salaam, studying at the University, and Laston Banda, a TAFAian student from Nkhata Bay continues with his gardening career, also in Dar Es Salaam.

Mclove Kamba, has graduated from Livingstonia University, and Augustine Mlotha is writing his papers in Economics at the University of Malawi.

And yes, from the ancient past and the beginnings of TAFA, Augustine Nyirenda is working at 4 star lodge in South Africa as a specialty chef. A big congratulations to him and his success and how he has made it all happen when the challenges have been so great.

Isaac Phiri is back to school at St Augustine's, Kennedy is repeating his level 4 and Isaac Bichoza has graduated Form 4.

And thanks to Mpenzu, who has taken over the TAFA postoffice box in Mbeya, Tanzania, while Elia is attending University in Dar Es Saalam

Robson Theu, working on his singing and recording as well as a potato selling project with Gracious

Andrew Simuko, just graduated from Livingstonia University with Mclove Kamba, both majoring in Social Sciences/Human Rights. TAFA, Andrew, Mclove and Kondwani Gama are currently working on a Human Rights project, to be announced soon.

Wednesday, 10 August 2016 - Not a day goes by where I don't contemplate the "dance" and the "reflection of self" I have will all the TAFAians in Africa.

It's been a lot of struggle, hard work, dedication and believing in yourself
Thank you Jacco for making us all know that it is possible

I dedicate the following to Jacco and all the other TAFAians,
who have accomplished so much through the years

Stand in the light and be seen as we are

Didn't I tell you I hear what you say
Never look back as you're walking away
Carry the music the memories and keep them inside
You laugh everyday
Don't stop those tears from falling down

This is who I am inside
This is who I am I'm not gonna hide
Cause the greatest risk we'll ever take is by far
To stand in the light and be seen as we are
So stand in the light and be seen as we are

With courage and kindness hold on to your faith
You get what you give and it's never to late
To reach for the branch and climb up leaving sadness behind
You fight hard for love
We can never give enough

This is who I am inside
This is who I am I'm not gonna hide
Cause the greatest risk we'll ever take is by far
To stand in the light and be seen as we are
So stand in the light and be seen as we are

Riding the storms that come raging toward us we dive
Holding our breathe as we break through the surface
With arms open wide, with arms open wide

This is who I am inside
This is who I am I'm not gonna hide
Cause the greatest risk we'll ever take is by far
To stand in the light and be seen as we are
So stand in the light and be seen as we are

Cause the greatest risk we'll ever take is by far
To stand in the light and be seen as we are
So stand in the light and be seen as we are

So stand in the light and be seen as we are

Defeater of the justice
Creator of greedy third planet
Unquestioned authorities seen celebrating

Epicenter of enormous suffering
Pulling the nation anticlockwise
To drag citizens out of the reality
With fear, they watch

Killer of peace and love
That affects sprouted thrilling flags
And fatten greedy readers
Surely exposed by scandals

Monday, 30 May 2016 - IT'S EXAM TIME, ALFRED GETS HIS BICYCLE, GRACIOUS EXPANDS HIS ACCOUNTS ALL THE WAY TO THE TANZANIA BORDER, MONICA GETS ACCEPTED AT UNIVERSITY, TUSA IS WORKING ON HIS SCHOLARSHIP, AND MUCH MORE!!. Things keep moving along. The Mlotha twins, Augustine and Austin are busy finishing their papers and getting ready for exams. I have been enjoying immensely, my conversations about "negative interest rates in the world economy" which Augustine is writing a paper on....

Thanks to Kondwan and Mr Gama the rabbits seem to be growing and multiplying. This rabbit raising has not been without challenges, but we are learning how to make it work

TAFA thanks Bela and Angus at the University of British Columbia (UBC) for their efforts to collect some phones to send off to the students in Malawi. We are currently getting them unlocked and they should be on their way shortly.

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO VICTOR NYIRONGO AND HIS CREATION OF YOUTH IMPACT! Victor and his friend Clement Alexander Mkandawire with two other friends have begun Youth Impact, funding 4 students to school.

This is truly amazing and wonderful. And certainly almost unbelievable work. These guys have little resources of their own, and to live can be challenging. Yet they can work together and raise money to fund students to school. So very well done!!

Congratulations to Steve Harawa! He has finished his nursing exams at St Johns, finished his government exams and had his graduation last Saturday. We are hoping he may have a position at Lukuni Hospital in Lilongwe.

We are working with Sydney and Feston, the headmasters/founders of Kunyanja on a scholarship for Tusa. With perseverance and some focus we hope Tusa will be studying abroad after his graduation.

Congratulations to Monica. She just let me know that she has received a scholarship to attend University.

Richard Mtambo is writing exams at Polytechnic and should be home in 2 weeks. He is also helping me with the knee for Joe's leg (this endeavour seems like it is in the forever category, sorry Joe) We are planning to work with Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe to finish the leg. It is far easier for Joe then to get to the hospital as needed.

WANT TO HELP SPONSOR A BRILLIANT BOY AND UNIVERSITY STUDENT?? RICHARD'S SPONSOR SEEMS TO BE NOT ABLE TO HELP ANY LONGER

Alfred Kamisa just text me that he was able to by his bicycle today with a little help from TAFA. And he has already made some money for the day. Proud of you Alfred. We know with your sister almost dieing last month, your other sister with malaria, and your mother being extremely sick, it has been a very very difficult two months for you.

Aaron Mhone, good to hear you are doing well in Cape Town. It has taken a while to get there.

It is time to speak out about the endless crimes to LGBT people in Malawi
- TAFA is working on this, more to come

Tuesday, 29 March 2016 - IT'S BACK TO CLASS, AND THE END OF SCHOOL FOR OTHERS. TAFA is please to announce that Steve Harawa has completed nursing school, Tusa Kanyika, has been chosen as class president for his graduation class, Monica Nkhayange continues her studies in accounting at GLECS, Richard Mtambo is continuing his studies at University of Malawi, Polytech in Blantyre, Chisomo Banda will be returning to University in Mzuzu in Engineering, Jacco Mhone passed all his ABE Business exams, and Gracious Mwandwanga has more than doubled his sausage production in his business in Karonga.

TAFA is also happy to announce that we have successfully completed the shipment of 3 packages of lights, batteries, some phones, many DVDs and other items through our post office box in Mbeya, Tanzania, and with Elia's help delivered to Jacco in Chitipa, Malawi.

Seems TAFA has changed much over the last 12 months. A couple of years ago, it would have been just an "impossible" dream to believe there would be so many TAFAians in College and University. All I can say it has taken unbelievable persistence on everyone's part.

Steve Harawa has done well with his final exams in Nursing from St Johns Hospital in Mzuzu. He will be writing his Government Certification Exams in about a month. There is now 1 huge challenge... the Government of Malawi has not hired any new nurses in over a year. Financial challenges continue to beset the Government. Steve is working on seeing how he might use his nursing background in other fields.

Tusa Kanyika continues to make us all proud. In his graduating year at Kunyanja Private School, in Nkhata Bay. He continues to be one of the top students, is "Head Boy" and now going to fill the role of Class Graduating President. We wish Tusa well. Huge challenges are part of his life, and living with just your Grandmother and trying to provide the necessities of life is often even inconceivable for me.

Monica continues to be a top student at GLECS College of Business Sciences. Her exams fees have just been paid so she can advance in her career in accounting and follow her goal of using her accounting background in agriculture.

Richard, also nicknamed the "professor" while a student at Nkhata Bay Secondary School continues to make us proud at TAFA. As an engineering student at Polytech, he scored over 91% in his last math exam, and was the top performer in the exam. We wish him continued success in his studies.

Chisomo Banda, the "boy" who always amazes me! Not often does a student say to me, "Mr. Barry, I have earned enough to pay my school fees for University, I will only need a bit of pocket money". You are truly amazing Chisomo, and your extremely focused work welding and fabricating, as well as additional work has certainly paid off. We are looking forward to your continued success as you return to your Engineering classes.

"Mr" Jacco continues his journey and dedicated work both as a Manager selling eggs in Chitipa and working as the TAFA "Boss", ensuring school fees are paid and all the TAFA projects continue. And congratulations for doing so well on your ABE exams!

Last week, Elia Mwasile, a university student in Mbeya, Tanzania and the only Tanzanian TAFAian to date, travelled with all the shipments of lights, batteries, phones DVDs and other things to sell to meet Jacco at the Malawian border. Together they travelled to Chitipa, where Elia was able to enjoy and experience Malawian life for the first time and Jacco's great Malawian chicken suppers. TAFA was truly excited that we have been successful in our quest to be able to ship packages to Malawi and have them arrive at a much lower cost than DHL or Fedex. This has been a huge challenge and we truly thank Elia for his help.

Gracious continues to expand his sausage business, with accounts now all the way to the Tanzanian boarder. He has gone from production of his sausages on a monthly basis, now to weekly production. More to come on his business shortly.

Jacco joined TAFA in 2012 as an "orphan student wanting to go to college". The impossible happened in 2013 when Jacco was able to enroll in GLECS College of Management Sciences to study business. Jacco excelled at his studies and last year was teaching business classes at GLECS. He became the "Project Manager" for TAFA over 2 years ago, and now he has taken on the position of "The TAFA Boss". Everything that TAFA does in Malawi is now monitored and maintained by Jacco. This includes school fees, monitoring students, dealing with health issues of students and their families, monitoring the student businesses, and keeping a watchful eye over everything - a huge undertaking.

Jacco also maintains the TAFA bank account, does the accounting and is responsible for the "TAFA Weekly Spender" which is compiled and sent to the TAFA office in Vancouver on a weekly basis, (if there is electricity and/or internet :))

Without Jacco's complete attention to everything and his unquestionable loyalty and honesty to TAFA and his TAFA brothers and sisters, TAFA would truly be at a loss.

So be sure, if you are one of the people, student, school, donor, or you are associated with TAFA, please be sure to THANK Jacco. He can be found on Facebook as "Jacco Slim Wacko"

THE UBC ROTARACT CLUB with members Angus and Isabela are working to collect used cell phones on the UBC campus. These phones are invaluable to TAFA and the students in Malawi. Without access to text communication through Facebook and Whatsapp, it is nearly impossible for TAFA to support students for their school funding or helping with startup businesses. We thank Angus and Bela so much for all the work they are doing to make this work.

I am a first-year student who is currently studying at the University of British Columbia in the faculty of Arts. A major goal of mine is to develop my leadership skills and work ethic in order to become an entrepreneur. I am also very passionate about community service and helping with the improvement of certain lives in any way possible. This is one of the main reasons why I am contributing to the “Touch And Feel Africa” project; because I know that I am making some sort of impact on the lives of those who I am currently helping in Malawi (Richard Mtambo and Monica Nkhayange) and I receive a rewarding feeling from doing so. I definitely plan on continuing with my contribution to TAFA in the future.

Richard Mtambo is an Engineering Student at Polytechnic, Blantyre
Monica Nkhayange is an Accounting Student at GLECS College of Management Sciences, Mzuzu

I thought this was truly wonderful and so Malawian...
A flag of peace - not many countries and people of the world
see their flag in this way...

A three equal horizontal stripes flag
Flying with authority at angles of point
Special identity over the world
Shines with wonderful colours day and night

Epicenter of Nyasaland history
Sun,a new dawn of freedom
Black, predominantly black Malawians
Red, blood of heroes struggled for Independence Green,
indeed our evergreen homeland

Spitting unity and freedom showers
Of bringing peace and love among citizens
That never covered like air O flag of peace!

Thursday, 21 January 2016 - So very happy to announce that Monica Nkhayange will be attending GLECS College of Business Sciences in Mzuzu, beginning on Monday.

Monica as been a TAFAian for the last few years and consistently one of the top students at Bandawe Girls School. We are proud of you Monica! I am looking forward to you keeping TAFA's books after you graduate in accounting. TAFA would also like to thank Sri for his continued support of Monica and her schooling over the last years.

Saturday, 2 January 2016 - TAFA is entering the new year with some wonderful events coming up.

To create, operate and maintain small businesses, funding school and college fees and creating an environment where students can learn business and have an income both while attending school and after they graduate.

SUMMARY OF PROJECTS

TAFA is currently partnered with GLECS College of Management Sciences in Mzuzu, Malawi. In exchange for computers and other equipment, GLECS along with TAFA are providing scholarship funding for business students. GLECS also provides business analysis and business plan development to help many of our projects.

I am truly excited to be attending the African Business Forum at the University of British Columbia, Friday evening thru Sunday afternoon. Hoping to learn much, appreciate how others see creating and operating businesses in Africa, and meeting some truly wonderful people. And sharing some ideas.

Friday 23 August 2015 - Tuesday 6 October - I am back at home. Some students back at school, rabbits being rabbits, some students selling clothes,

A huge problem in Malawi - corruption at all levels
making everything you do risky and tedious

I have experienced waiting in a court room for a judge to arrive,
over 2 hours late, witnesses and doctors waiting to give testimony
and the judge does not even apologize. Truly a lost country.

Steve Harawa in his operating room scrubs.... graduating at the end of this term!
so proud of you Steve, it's not been easy and you have overcome all the challenges.

My great friend and host, Max Mbise at their home in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Thanks to you I had a great place to stay and was looked after so well.

Escaping the broken down bus, on my travels from Mbeya to Dar es Salaam. As I wrote that day in my texts...
"Such a day, 18 hours.... The bus broke down. Had to ride in the back of a truck, then private car, then in dala dala. At the end, on a motorcycle.
Was like the amazing race.
Am so so tired, but safe and crawling into bed at Maxies"

There was no repair for the bus, as the coolant and oil ran down the highway
from the bus. Seemed like the last trip and journey on way back to South Africa...

Our truly excellent home in Mbeya, Tanzania! In both directions. The Moravian Church is most interesting... the first "Protestant" Church in the world, having accomplished that about 50 years before Martin Luther.

Gracious, as we check out the interesting "3 wheeler trucks" in Mbeya, Tanzania.
If I had a bit of cash, I would have bought one and had Gracious take it back to Malawi. I think it would be a great revenue maker.

Gracious and his mother, holding a tribal village plan from the Musqueam First Nations near Vancouver, Canada

Chisomo Banda, TAFA engineering student in Mzuzu.
Accomplishing the "impossible".....

Sydney Simumba, the head teacher and one of the founders of Kunyanja Private
Secondary School, in Nkhata Bay. Amazing Sydney... you have all the computers
donated to the school on my trip in 2011. They are all working and the students of
Kunyanja continue their computer training.

Kondwani Gama working on the TAFA rabbit house at Lutengano's
at Mkondezi Village

Mary Nyirenda, TAFA "Mum" and head teacher at Mkondezi Primary School.
Without Mary... TAFA would likely have not been "born"
and without her dedicated work, administering school fees,
and working with the students, many would never have gone to school,
or graduated as they have to date. Thank you Mary!

Winter, an aspiring TAFAian, hoping to get his school fees.
His dream is to become a doctor and I truly believe he can do it.
Unfortunately, TAFA did not have enough money to help him this term.

Stomach/ulcer medication we found in Tanzania which
has greatly helped some TAFA students

Kennedy, writing out his plans for school. He is also in need of
medical care for painful and chronic stomach and intestinal problems.

"Dr" Mwamlima who has been helping some of the TAFAians with their
medical needs.

A meeting with Mr Gama and the police when it was discovered
that some TAFA funds had gone missing.

Our next project: building crutches in Nkhata Bay to help those
with leg disabilities in Lilongwe and Blantyre

TAFA student Victor's mother Isabel, as head clinician for the HIV clinic at
Likuni Hospital, dispensing HIV drugs late into the evening.

Lukuni Hospital in Lilongwe. Home to Isabel Chimbiri
am my home while I was staying in Lilongwe

TAFA has begun the planning of a project to help those on the streets,
with crutches and limbs, furthering our project with D-Rev and their knees

We are working on getting Chimeme crutches....
and hopefully in the next year, a new leg so he can walk.

My great friend and host, Max Mbise at their home in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Thanks to you I had a great place to stay and was looked after so well.

Chimweme's hand, badly deformed from having to use just a pole
to be able to walk

Aniz, in Lilongwe, partner in our plan to help support LGBT youth,
who have been "chased" from their homes

Ishmael, on a plane to an LGBT conference,
always advocating and supporting those with the
challenges of Malawian "society attitudes"

Speed!! Malawians are a bit crazy about speed in their vehicles.
When I complained to the bus driver that 140 kph was was too fast....
he pulled over and told me to "get out!"
Needless to say, with the support of the other passengers on the bus,
we prevailed and the bus took a slightly slower journey to LIlongwe.

TAFAian Robson at his sister's house in Blantyre
They were our hosts for Joe and myself when we went to
Queen Elizabeth Hospital to begin construction of Joe's new leg.

Rodrick Banda and Robson Theu, patiently waiting as Joe's gets attention
at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for his new leg

Taking measurements and making a mold to construct a new leg for
Joe using the D-Rev knee

Rotarian luncheon meeting in Lilongwe. As guests, Joe
and I made a presentation to partner for the supply of additional knees
from D-Rev for Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Isaac Phiri with his TAFA supplied camera, so he may
enlarge his photo taking business

Saturday 1 August - Thursday 22 August 2015 - Arrived in Malawi, to some surprises at the border, learning the sausage business with Gracious in Karonga, off to Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay to my "Malawian home" with Mary Nyirenda at Mkondezi Village. Assessing the rice and maize projects, selling phones and flashdrives, off to visit Alfred (very likely the poorest boy I have ever seen in the world). Finding rabbits and building a rabbit farm, and even off to beautiful Chikale beach for an afternoon.

Christopher Mbale, teacher at Mkondezi School and his woodworking shop building school desks. Sorting out today why they school has not received its tools for school classes from CIDA (the Canadian Government) as a project through the University of Regina

Isaac Bichoza, TAFA student getting prepared to go back to boarding school in NkhotaKota

The deep freeze for Gracious and his AXE Sausage Company and his juice and food cart, finally purchased and in place. The only problem was "no electricity". This has been an ongoing frustration as the power comes and goes, from day to day.

Gracious and I, feeling so good that we finally got the food and drink cart operational

Monica, a TAFA student at Bandawe Girl's School. One of the top students, graduated this year. Monica, like Alfred, is not just "Malawian poor" but truly has nothing. My visit with her and her uncle will never be forgotten

Tuesday 2 July 2015 - Friday 31 July 2015 - Arrived in Dar es Salaam, greeting by my friend Maxie and his wife - Jacco, the TAFA Project Manager joins us from Malawi - Jacco and I travel to Zanzibar to visit my friend Ali and his wife, exploring the amazing and beautiful island, then off to Mbeya, Tanzania to be met by Gracious, a graduate TAFA student who has started his sausage business in Karonga, Malawi. Then to Mzuzu, and "home" at Mkondezi Village near Nkhata Bay and our "TAFA Mum" Mary.

The skyline of "Dar", much changed from 5 years ago when I was last here. And home to some of the worst traffic jams I have experienced in the world.

The amazing dining experience at the beach in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Most incredible for me, totally unfathomable if you are from Malawi??

Drink experiments at Gracious's house in Karonga... they are sure great fruit smoothies. Orange, papaya, banana and now Gracious tells me with some pineapple. Test marketing to begin soon.

Grinding the meat to make sausages. Probably the highest quality beef I have ever seen as sausage meat, right from the leg, with very little fat.

Testing an "Axe Sausage & Egg Sandwich" and "Axe Fruit Smoothy" drink for supper

The first get together of the "senior" TAFAians to discuss future plans or TAFA held on Sunday, 26 July. We talked about TAFAian ideals and how we might create and move forward on the projects.

MacDonald at the new computers TAFA helped find for GLEC's Business School in Mzuzu

Mary and Enna carrying water to her home at Mkondezi. Yes, no running water or electricity.

Tuesday, 19 May 2015 - With grateful thanks to the SAGE Foundation, in partnering for this Saturday's event:

2:30pm-2:45pm (15 min)
Welcome and Introduction SAGE Foundation - Deidré Heim
Welcome and Introduction Bill Reid Gallery - Sharon
Invocation

2:45pm-3:00pm (15 min)
S.S. Segran - Author, Aegis Rising / Aegis Incursions

3:30pm-4:00pm (30 min)
Tecla Tawonezvi - Author, Diary of My Pilgrimage of Faith

4:00pm-4:10pm (10 min)
Jabulile Maju Dladla Niemann – Gospel/Soul Music Artist

4:10pm-4:30pm (20 min)
Barry Thorsness - Touch And Feel Africa (TAFA)

4:30pm-4:50pm (20 min)
Sarah K – RnB/Soul Music Artist

4:50pm-5:00pm (10 min)
Closing Address - Honoré Gbedze
Final Remarks / Song

5:00pm-6:00pm (1 hour)
Book, Music, Art Signing, Sales, Donations, Refreshments, Gallery Tour, Mix and Mingle

Wednesday, 1 April 2015 - Gracious... so proud of you! Gracious has been working to create and operate his sausage business, since his graduation from Secondary School in June - with extraordinary perseverance.... Jacco, TAFA's project manager along with Mr Gama, who is looking after our rice plots, and Alfred who is running the maize project are all happy to announce the rain, the sunshine and all their hard work has resulted in some very good crops. Mary Nyirenda, our TAFA "MUM" is home from the hospital after being hospitalized for malaria and the students are finished exams and home for Easter Holidays.

When Gracious kept phoning me in the middle of the night 4 years ago, and insisting I should help him with school fees, I would have never dreamed where this would go. He has had 4 years of great challenges with his living and family situations and has managed not only to graduate but begin a business that is actually processing and selling orders. TAFA is partnering with Gracious in his endeavour. The first step was to ask Rusk, the head teacher at GLEC's Business School to volunteer and help Gracious with a business plan and spreadsheet projection for his business. They also worked on basic bookkeeping, bank deposits and marketing. I received the plan last week and was astonished at its content and thoroughness. Thank you Rusk!

TAFA would like to thank Joseph Reid for his generous contribution towards helping with Gracious's sausage business. I met Joe at the Mbeya train station when we where all traveling to Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar. Joe has helped us often with school fees for the students.

TAFA Invites you to participate
at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada

Redefining International Aid | MARCH 31, 2015

Being mindful of unique locational issues is key for international aid to be sustainable. Re-igniting otherwise stagnant economies by working in partnership with local communities and local actors as opposed to traditional aid models are the future. Join us for an in-depth discussion on international aid with the director of TAFA Malawi, Barry Thorsness, and pioneers of the the UBC Sauder School of Business Arc Initiative, Jeff Kroeker and Aklilu Mulat.
http://www.valuesinperspective.com/projects.html

Thursday, 12 February 2015 - It's been busy.... TAFA student's go back to school, the maize is growing, 3 more plots of rice planted at Mkondezi, with 2 more plots this weekend, we have found a used refrigerator, Mary Nyirenda was very sick with a serious leg infection, and with all the rains in flooding, has come the malaria. Jacco returns from South Africa and with him came the Duvets, another business fundraiser for TAFA

Mary Nyirenda was busy, with Jacco's help, funding students back to school after the Christmas holidays. A huge, huge thanks to Julia and Guy Borgen for their great support with a donation to help us fund the students. The money was also used to buy the rest of the needed fertilizer for Alfred Kamisa and his family and village for the maize. We were frightened for many weeks, as everything was so dry and the maize had grown to around 15cm. Then it started to rain, and rain and rain. Now the fear was too much water and a destroyed crop. Farming is never easy, but global climate change makes everything unreliable or too intense. Mr and Mrs Gama are again involved with the 5 plots of rice at Mkondezi. After this weekend, all of them should be planted. TAFA cheated on ploughing.... we hired the tractor from the Mkondezi Research Station instead of using the cows.

Steve Harawa found he could not return to St John's College after the holidays. The government ran out of funds and the school is now scheduled to open this coming Monday. He has been spending some time with friends and Gracious in Karonga. With Steve's help we may have found a refrigerator for Gracious sausage business... a used one in Mzuzu. Steve is going to check it out on his return this week.

Mary Nyirenda was very sick with an intense leg infection. Much oozing and puss and extreme pain. She took some weeks off from her position as Headmistress of Mkondezi school, but managed to ensure the TAFA students received necessary funding to return to school, winnow the last crop of rice to ready it for sale and to work with Jacco and the Gamas on the next planting. She also suffered from malaria last week... as did two other TAFAians, Tusa and Mathews.

Jacco returned from his stay in Pretoria with a quantity of duvets. Now this is not what you might think would be popular with Malawians... but popular they are. It has been a great business experience for Jacco, dealing with transport costs on the bus, customs and selling them. But his efforts are paying off in some additional funding for TAFA.

Monday 8 December 2014 - Pido graduates; 1.5 hectares of maize has been planted in Kasungu by Alfred; Mary and Mrs Gamma have ensured our latest crop of rice has been successful, (harvested last week); Richard Mtambo gets 17 points in his MSCE and is taking courses to prepare for scholarship exams; Steve gets ready to continue his nurses training in hospitals in Mzimba and then to Zomba; Monica continues to be a star pupil at Bandawe Girls school; Gracious and TAFA continue to work on planning for refrigeration for the his and Abie's sausage business in Karonga, and Jacco gets invited to spend Christmas by Father Chris at his Haphororo youth retreat center, at Pretoria near Johannesburg.

November has been very busy with TAFA projects and students working on their education. I am so proud of Pido Kalipa! He just graduated from SOCHE Technical College, studying business. He never gave up, even though TAFA had little money these last two terms to send any additional assistance for food, to supplement the daily regime of "beans" for every meal. Pido is working on his plans now for an internship and being employed.

Alfred surveying his maize after it has been planted at the village near Kasunga

Jacco on the motorcycle taxi, leaving Alfred's village after checking on the maize

The maize has been planted by Alfred Kamisa, his family and some in the village where they live. We have 1.5 hectares planted and it is already over 15cm high. We have purchased fertilizer, but are a couple of bags short (limited kwacha/$$) but we are working on this. Everyone is l "praying" for rain, so we have a good crop and great harvest.

Our "dry season" plot of rice has been harvested at Mkondezi, with great thanks to Mrs Gama and Mary Nyirenda and some of the TAFA students. We are waiting until next week (when the TAFA students have finished exams) to "willow" the rice, which is the manual sifting of the rice from the chaff and stalks. The money from the sale of this rice will help with school fees in January.

I am so proud of Richard Mtambo who got 17 points on his MSCE (government exams). I have known Richard for a few years since he was a student at Nkhata Bay Secondary. TAFA has sponsored Richard to preparation classes in Mzuzu to write his scholarship exams, with plans to study engineering at the Polytechnic in Blantyre which is part of the University of Malawi.

Steve Harawa continues his nurses training at St John's. He has been part of medical teams of people that have been mutilated to children approaching death through malaria and other diseases. He now goes to study at the Mazimba hospital and then down to southern Malawi at Zomba where Chancellor College, University of Malawi is situated. Steve has also been the mentor for Richard, to help get him to excellent prep classes for his scholarship exams.

We are also so proud of Monica Nkhayange! Jacco has been managing funding of fees and school supplies provided by funding from Sri in Dar Es Salaam. She continues to be one of the top students at Bandawe Girls School. I have great dreams of TAFA's continued support of Monica and hopes that TAFA can get additional funding to help many more girls like her.

"Mr" Gracious Mwandwanga, one of TAFA's first students 4 years ago and an inspiration to hall of us. Through the biggest of challenges, Gracious has made it through secondary school and graduation and has been motivated to team up with his friend Abie with her sausage business. TAFA, with the input of Gracious and the spreadsheet knowledge of Jacco, have been working on how we can finance/purchase a refrigerator and electric meat grinder for the sausage business

"Jacco" Mhone, taking a well deserved break
after a grueling and challenging couple of months

And the infamous "Jacco" Mhone... TAFA project manager and business student at GLECS College in Mzuzu. Jacco has finished his ABE exams and expects excellent marks from his studies. He has been able to do this, as well as monitor and supervise the other TAFAians and projects, write reports for TAFA, create spreadsheets and send me the TAFA "weekly spender" spreadsheet every week. A term very well done. Thank you so much Jacco! And for Jacco the reward has come from Father Chris Schonenberger, founder of Haphororo Youth Retreat Center, at Pretoria near Johannesburg. Chris has asked Jacco to spend Christmas with him at the retreat and is providing transportation, lodging and food. I have no doubt this "trip" may be one of the highlights of Jacco's life and he will get to experience life so different than in Malawi. I really thank Chris for his generosity and time doing this for Jacco. And I wish Jacco an "excellent journey".

Wednesday, 29 October 2014 - The rice has been harvested and sold, and TAFA has 20 students attending secondary school and 4 in college. The marks are coming back this week from the June MSCE exams (level 4 = 12th grade) government exams and some students have greatly impressed. Many of the graduates are working on projects with TAFA - maize in Kasungu, a sausage business in Karonga, looking at a car wash in Nkhata Bay, and of course, our next plot of rice at Mkondezi will be ready to harvest in 3 weeks. Joe's replacement knee from D-Rev has been delayed 2 months but our project with D-Rev and Dr Robster Nyirenda, head of Orthotics at Queen Elizabeth hospital is coming together well. And needless to say, many of us TAFAians have been discussing Ebola.

It has been quite the September and October. As is usual in September, we at TAFA work hard to see what funding we can find to add to our revenue from our projects. And it can be difficult and stressful. We seldom have enough money to send all our current students back to school. This year we were greatly helped by TAFAian initiative!!! We made some money from our rice plots at Mkondezi. Thanks to the hard work from Mr Gama and his wife; our TAFA "mum' Mary Nyirenda (headmaster Mkondezi school), "Jacco" Mhone (TAFA project manager) and many TAFAians, we are proud to say that we made a profit. Jacco just sent me the "profit/loss spreadsheet, I am analyzing it and then it will be sent to Mary for "final audit".

I chatted with "Pido" Kalipa last week and he is proud be be graduating from Accounting at SOCHE Technical College in Blantyre at the end of November. It has been a couple of "challenging years" for Pido, but "we" have done it!! So proud of Pido. Now with along with TAFA... we must figure out a plan for Pido for employment work or a business. Richard Mtambo called me yesterday, he got 16 points in his MSCE - one of the best scores of anyone I know. Now we are working on seeing how he might get a scholarship to go to Malawi Polytechnic in Blantyre to become an engineer.

Gracious and Shem are finalizing plans for their sausage business in Karonga. These boys are learning about expenses vs profits and learning to create a budget and business projection. The business looks good, Still a few more details. Gracious was one of the first students TAFA sponsored. We are proud to have assisted him through 3 years to his graduation in June along with Shem. TAFAians I am most proud of.

TAFA is also working with Alfred in Kasungu on our largest project to date - growing maize. Alfred Kamisa, a student who graduated last year from Nkhata Bay Secondary has been persevering and most adamant we get things going. Thanks to his direction and spirit, the ridges have been completed for planting the maize. We are currently working to buy the seed and get it planted before the first rains.

OUR GOAL AS YOU CAN SEE - is to make TAFA self sufficient through our projects with the students we have been sponsoring. This gives the students an income after graduation, they can learn business and also help to fund TAFA.

I would like to thank Milo Gach, of Milo European Cars in Vancouver for his continued support, this time money directed to our maize project. Others like Cheytna Butler with her monthly contributions. Without our supporters, these businesses could not be started and operated.

And a huge thanks to "Jacco" Mhone. As a college student at GLEC's College of Business Science, he has his days full with classes and study. He has also been the organization with Mary to fund the students and co-ordinate and monitor the projects, along with his deskmate at college and fellow TAFAian MacDonald.

I called Joe Mandhlopa three days ago, good news Joe! D-Rev just confirmed we are getting some of their first knees in production. Bad news... they have been delayed 2 months for production changes. Joe is a TAFAian who lost his leg last year in a dump truck accident. TAFA has teamed up with D-Rev in San Francisco and Dr. Robster Nyirenda, head of orthotics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Blantyre. The plan is to build Joe a new leg with the D-Rev knee as a test, in plans to supply many of the "high tech/low cost knees" to amputees in Malawi. This project, inspired by my connection with the Rotary Club in Malawi should be operational now in March when the first knees ship.

And Monica Nkhayange, a 15 year old orphan at Bandawe Girl's School... with her sponsor Sri, Monica continues to excel. I talked with her headmaster last week... she was in the top 4 out of 60 students. Jacco is working with her directly this week to help ensure her tremendous success.

And yes, we have been having conversations about ebola. There have been no cases of ebola in Malawi. We are hoping it stays that way. Malawi is on the opposite side of Africa from the epidemic in West Africa. But it is a huge concern.