Roberta Laurie - Weaving a Malawi Sunrise: A Woman, A School, A People

Weaving a Malawi Sunrise: A Woman, A School, A People — read online for free the complete book (whole text) full work

Below is the text of the book, divided by pages. System saving the place of the last page read, allows you to conveniently read the book "Weaving a Malawi Sunrise: A Woman, A School, A People" online for free, without having to search again every time where you left off. Put a bookmark, and you can go to the page where you finished reading at any time.

Light

Font size:

↓

↑

Georgia Tahoma Arial Verdana

Reset

Interval:

↓

↑

Bookmark:

Make

1234567...84

Published by

The University of Alberta Press

Ring House 2

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E1

www.uap.ualberta.ca

Copyright 2015 Roberta Laurie

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION

Laurie, Roberta, 1965-, author

Weaving a Malawi sunrise: a woman, a school, a people / Roberta Laurie.

Includes index.

Issued in print and electronic formats.

ISBN 978-1-77212-086-8 (paperback). ISBN 978-1-77212-113-1 (EPUB). ISBN 978-1-77212-114-8 (MOBI). ISBN 978-1-77212-115-5 (PDF)

1. Chazeza, Memory. 2. WomenEducationMalawi. 3. WomenMalawiSocial conditions. 4. EducationMalawi. 5. SchoolsMalawi. 6. MalawiSocial conditions. 7. MalawiPolitics and government. I. Title.

LC2475.8.L39 2015 371.822

C2015-905830-9

C2015-905831-7

Wayfarer, a literary travel series

Index available in print and PDF editions.

First edition, first printing, 2015.

First electronic edition, 2015.

Digital conversion by Transforma Pvt. Ltd.

Copyediting and proofreading by Kirsten Craven.

Map by Wendy Johnson.

Indexing by Adrian Mather.

Cover design by Alan Brownoff.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written consent. Contact the University of Alberta Press for further details.

The University of Alberta Press supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with the copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing University of Alberta Press to continue to publish books for every reader.

The University of Alberta Press gratefully acknowledges the support received for its publishing program from the Government of Canada, The Canada Council for the Arts, and the Government of Alberta through the Alberta Media Fund.

For my daughters Nastassja and Nicola: the sun that gives me life and the moon that shines in the darkness .

Contents

Preface

IT MAY SOUND TRITE to say Im grateful to have had the chance to write this book, but its true. Throughout the process I have been reminded of the single opportunity this book represents. Beginning in 2007, I travelled to Malawi on several occasions, and each time Ive been accepted with generosity and kindness into the lives and homes of ordinary Malawian people. I have asked probing, and sometimes inappropriate, questions, and Ive received nothing but considerate, good-natured responses from everyone Ive interviewed. I have come to know some extraordinary people: Christie Johnson, Memory Chazeza-Mdyetseni and her husband Henry, along with Grace, Memorys sisterwho I have grown to love and care forand many others. So while this book has been a long, exacting undertaking, it has been worth every minute.

This was a difficult project. Over the past few years, Ive stepped beyond my comfort zone on many occasions. Ive pushed past my limitations as a writer and grown immeasurably in the process. One week I would become an expert on Malawis primary education system, and the next Id need to learn the ins and outs of IMF policy and the effect it has on developing nations. Its with the utmost humility that I say, I hope I got it right .

Throughout this project I have consulted with many individuals: Memory, her husband Henry, her sisters Lucy and Grace, and other Malawian men and women; Agness, Eunice, Basimati, Chidothi, and the other CEAG girls; many of APUs students including Lucita, Patience, Blandina, and Chifundo; Chuck Morrison and other school supporters; Gordon Poultney, founder of the Simon Poultney Foundation; Leslie Vermeer, my mentor and friend; and, of course, Christie Johnson, without whom this book would not have been possible.

I also consulted and worked with Ken Haywood, one of the schools most passionate supporters. Ken passed away in 2011. The following year, his ashes were flown to Malawi and spread at the base of a newly planted baobab tree on the school grounds.

All of these people have been unendingly helpful to me throughout this process, but its important for me to make this distinction: any mistakes or misinterpretations I have made in this book are mine and mine alone.

It should also be noted that while all the place names are accurate, to protect their privacy, I have changed many of the names of the individuals in this book, and CEAG is a fictitious acronym for a real school. However, Memory, Henry, and Christie, along with the books other major characters, retain their names, and you can learn more about them, as well as the school, Atsikana Pa Ulendo , by visiting the website www.malawigirlsonthemove.com.

Their story is not over.

Acknowledgements

I RECALL LANDING AT THE KAMUZU AIRPORT . It was the colours that I noticed firstreds and blues and greenssaturated and vibrant. And the air, I can almost smell the air: hot and humid and full of life. The airline had lost my luggage, so on my first day in Malawi, I was without the little comforts: toothpaste, toothbrush, clean underwear.

We arrived in Malawi on the same day Memory and Henry moved into their house in Lilongwes bustling Area 25. They had been evicted from their old house a few days before, learning they were without a home when the new owners knocked on the door and told Henry they were moving in. Memory was nine months pregnant. It was amidst this upheaval that seven jet-lagged Canadians landed on Malawian soil. Yet Memory, Henry, and Grace welcomed us into their home without hesitation. A bit of lost luggage seemed trivial by comparison.

From that moment to this day, Memory, Henry, and Grace have been helpful, kind, and encouraging. Although we are separated by half a world, I think of them often and am ever grateful for their many kindnesses. Without them, this book could not have been written.

I vividly remember the moment Christie Johnson said, Im travelling to Malawi this spring with a group of Pearson College students. You should come with us. I doubt she thought I would take her up on her offer, but I did. Throughout the years, and throughout her own struggles, she has given her unconditional support to this project.

I recall mentioning Christies offer to my husband at the time, Jeff, and I recall his response: You should do it. For his ongoing support, Im forever grateful.

It is a thrill and an honour to have the University of Alberta Press publish this book. My thanks to Peter Midgley, for his support, his belief, and his confidence, along with Linda Cameron, Alan Brownoff, Cathie Crooks, Monika Igali, Duncan Turner, and Kirsten Craven.

To the many Canadians who sat with me and shared their words, their thoughts, and their experiences: Audrey Kaplan, Gordon Poultney, Chuck Morrison, Leslie Vermeer, and Timothy Anderson, as well as Ken Haywood, who I will remember always for his compassion, understanding, and encouragement, thank you.

Next page

1234567...84

Light

Font size:

↓

↑

Georgia Tahoma Arial Verdana

Reset

Interval:

↓

↑

Bookmark:

Make

Similar books «Weaving a Malawi Sunrise: A Woman, A School, A People»

Look at similar books to Weaving a Malawi Sunrise: A Woman, A School, A People. We have selected literature similar in name and meaning in the hope of providing readers with more options to find new, interesting, not yet read works.

Paul Theroux

The Lower River

Rory Pilossof

Labour and Economic Change in Southern Africa C.1900-2000: Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi

Laurie B Mintz

A Tired Womans Guide to Passionate Sex: Reclaim Your Desire and Reignite Your Relationship

Munthali

Malawi - Culture Smart!: the Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Kamkwamba William

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Unknown

Lonely Planet Zambia, Mozambique & Malawi

Unknown

Zambia, Mozambique & Malawi Travel Guide

Bunko

Hugh Laurie

Annie Chikhwaza

Mother of Malawi: The Story of Annie Chikhwaza, Who Created an Oasis of Love in a Country of Orphans

Florencia Castro-Leal

Who benefits from public education spending in Malawi?: results from the recent education reform, Parts 63-350

Owen J. M. Kalinga

Historical dictionary of Malawi

Samuel Decalo

Malawi

Discussion, reviews of the book Weaving a Malawi Sunrise: A Woman, A School, A People and just readers' own opinions. Leave your comments, write what you think about the work, its meaning or the main characters. Specify what exactly you liked and what you didn't like, and why you think so.