THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE

Returning to Malawi with a deepening love for a struggling people

By Stephanie Dotto
March 2005

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Back in Malawi for the second time in 18 months, I immediately noticed how different this trip was from the last. I told the Rosarian Sisters (a local congregation) that Malawi seemed different and they responded, "Malawi hasn't changed, your eyes have." I was no longer an inexperienced 16-year-old high school student, but an 18-year-old nursing student returning to a place I had fallen in love with.

It all began in 2002, in Grade 10, when my best friend Jennifer Goehring and I started a project to try to help the people of Malawi. We began by collecting shoes, which soon turned into a fundraising drive for other items. The following March break, my father and I travelled to Malawi to deliver school supplies, along with medicines received from Health Partners International of Canada.

Little Fels and Stephanie share a moment of love and friendship. Mzuzu, Malawi.

Now back in Malawi, I distributed toys to orphanages, towels (which are hard to come by) to AIDS patients, and clothes and shoes to many villages. At each village it was a ceremonial occasion complete with singing, dancing, laughter and speeches. The children came up shyly, one by one, in front of the entire village to receive their item of clothing, politely holding out two hands, as is the custom in Malawi. For some villagers, these shoes were the first they had ever owned.

However, clothes and shoes weren't the only items that we brought with us. When preparing for the trip, we asked Scarboro missioner Mary Olenick what she wanted most for us to bring. The response was simple, "More Frisbees!"

My Dad and I play on an Ultimate Frisbee team in Montreal, and on our first trip to Malawi we brought a few Frisbees, which turned out to be a big hit with the local teens. This time, we organized a one-day Ultimate Frisbee tournament with practices leading up to the event and team shirts for all the players. The day was a huge success, even though it rained.

Our reunion with Scarboro missioners was wonderful. I had not realized how much I missed Beverley and Ray Vantomme. I also had a great chat with Mary Olenick who was really kind to me when we stayed with her in Rumphi. We also visited St. Mags, a home for disabled children. Every month, Mary invites the children to her home for a movie night - a treat they look forward to all month.

The highlight of my trip was a return visit to Katete rural hospital where we stayed five days. At this hospital, the nurses and Sisters work under difficult circumstances, without electricity, doctors or much medicine.

I was able to use some of my newly learned nursing skills helping to conduct HIV/AIDS tests at an AIDS outreach clinic in a mud-hut schoolhouse. I also went on home visits in the hospital pick-up truck/ambulance to collect patients, and gave toys to the sick babies and children. One of the most magical experiences was being present at the birth of baby Stephanie at three in the morning by torchlight in the heart of rural Africa.

"It is seen as good luck to name a baby after a foreigner," Sr. Mary Margaret told me. In fact, each time I was introduced to a newborn baby, the mother would ask me to pick the name.

The blue team's cheer before the Frisbee game begins. Malawi.

I was also able to see the results of a hospital project that is very dear to me. After returning from my first trip to Malawi, I spoke to groups and individuals in Canada about the plight of the Katete hospital and their need for a new roof for their kitchen. People were so generous that we were able to accomplish much more. Katete now has a new unit with a kitchen, two storage rooms and a demonstration kitchen to teach mothers how to add nutrients and diversity to their cooking.

The three weeks I spent in Malawi were an incredible experience. I have learned so much that I welcome the opportunity to talk about it to groups in Canada every chance I get. When I think back on the past two years, I am amazed by the ripple effect this has had on my life and on the lives of my family and community.

I gave a presentation at St. Luke's parish in Montreal, telling them about the plight of children from five villages who are unable to attend school for two to three months of the year. The little stream they traverse becomes a large, fast flowing river during the rainy season, and is impossible to cross.

In honour of the parish's 40th anniversary, Fr. Roger Martineau and the parishioners raised more than $35,000 to build an elementary school and four houses for teachers. Thanks to them, 400 children, many of them AIDS orphans, will now receive an education.

After reading an article I wrote, a group in Ontario has raised $1,000 for children in Malawi. A 15-year-old girl has collected shoes for Angola and local schools and Girl Guide units are collecting funds to build a school in Malawi for another community in desperate need. Other groups are raising money to support Health Partners International in their work to get medicines to places in need, and we have also been able to raise funds to help provide prostheses for a 12-year-old Malawian boy.

I will return again to Malawi. Meanwhile, I am very thankful to the Canadians who have supported our projects and who continue to support me as I try my best to help these wonderful people.

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