Hello from Mzuzu!

Hello everyone!

Welcome to a very photo heavy post in our blog. Sorry for not updating more regularly! We have been so busy with training that we haven't had chance to visit an internet cafe!

We have just finished our training at Mzuzu - where we had an absolutely amazing time. We met some wonderful girls and ladies and they were all very welcoming. Unfortunately we were only able to train there for 3 days as the girls could not afford the transport and packed lunch for a full 5 days. But luckily we knew this and the beginning of the week and were able to plan accordingly and cram all our training into 3 days!

Gemma playing Splat-Bang!

 Day 1 - We began our training on Leadership. The girls and leaders did some excellent role plays where they dealt with difficult situations that a leader may face. By lunchtime we knew we would only be training for 3 days, so we began to train on public presentation.

Emma pins on name badges

 Public presentation included tips on how to speak in public and how to behave in an interview. The GOLDies acted as different candidates - good and bad. The girls thought it was hilarious and enjoyed Thea's bad dress sense and messy hair.

Rachael and Glory hold up a group profile

 

The girls enjoyed playing games outside and learning new songs, although they also taught us some!

Alice plays Foxes and Chickens

Day 2 - On day 2 we split into 2 groups. 3 GOLDies taught Teenage Health whilst the other taught the Rainbow Programme to the leaders. Teenage Health was lots of fun, and a good opportunity to talk about a subject that can be taboo. The girls certainly had lots of questions for our anonymous Q&A box! The Rainbow training also went really well and the leaders responded well to the Rainbow jigsasw, 4 Ls and 5 essentials. In the afternoon they were taught craft and activities they could run with their own Rainbow units.

 

The girls make up their own games, using random objects

Becky and Alice tie friendship knots with their new friends!

Day 3 - Our final day was split into Camp Skills and Craft for fundraising. In the morning the girls learnt how to tie knots and had a mini pioneering challenge!

Emma helps build a pioneering structure

Which patrol has the tallest structure?!

Grace looks for hidden string outside to make the longest cat tail in a wide game

 

 

 The girls also learnt how to use a compass and what to take on camp. They had fun trying to direct each other when blindfolded and the GOLDies even made up a camp game called Leader's Coming (in the same style as Captain's Coming)!

Thea helps Deborah to crochet

 In the afternoon we moved onto fundraising. We began by brainstorming ideas and then discussing the pros and cons of each. Then we began 3 craft activities - Crocheting, Newspaper beads and Bead brooches. We finished with an overall evaluation for the week.

A big group photo of all the leaders, guides and GOLDies

Another group photo of the leaders and GOLDies

We all had an amazing time in Mzuzu and were really sad to leave. But soon we shall be in Lilongwe to begin our 3rd and final week training. Just before we leave the North we're going to visit Lake Malawi at Nkhata Bay and are all very much looking forward to it!

Lots of GOLD and Malawi love,

Team Malawi xxx