Chikale Nursery

When I was living in Kande a small village about 40km away from Nkhata bay I was inspired by an Australian woman Robyn Casey. She is setting up nursery schools around the surrounding villages and providing porridge for the children. Not only do the children benefit with education, they also get nutritional food, and it also creates employment opportunities.

When I visited the Chikale nursery school where it exists at the moment I realised there was definite need for a new site. There are 45 children learning in a room that's around 9ft square so literally sitting on each other as they learn. Gill Hargreaves came to visit some years back and was also encouraged by Robyn's efforts.  She was teaching at a school in Dubai and as soon as she got back she began fundraising.  She came back to Malawi and volunteered for some months in the existing building and became very close with Mrs. Squeezie the teacher who takes on the ambitious task of the nursery.  We purchased the land last year and have slowly been building as the funds trickle in. The roof is now on a two classroom building with store room and office in between which is 18by 50 feet.

This is going to make such a massive difference to the children. Gill continues to fundraise so we can finish of the building and get the children in as soon as possible. I also have been supported by Rotary clubs back in the U.K. who have made this possible. There have been many volunteers passing through adding new inspiration to the teacher’s already passionate attitude.  The new site will need another teacher and we hope in the future we can offer food and toilets and maybe electricity for the children.
 
Chikale is a private nursery so the children pay a minimal fee to learn there but this new site will enable some more children who can't afford the fee to still learn. I have already received a number of books and toys to equip the nursery with but so much more are needed to make our dream come true.Someone who has recently been staying at Butterfly has offered to come back and paint a mural on the walls of the nursery, which is very exciting. As school only goes on in the morning there has been talk of what to do with the building in the afternoons. 
 
Al Bruce a butterfly supporter and carpenter is thinking of setting up a carpentry school and what a perfect deal we might come up with to incorporate his ideas. There have been some problems along the way but as always there is no hurry in Africa The collection of all the bricks was no small affair, we were helped by friends, and links to the heart of healing, as we hired a tractor and were told they were just off the road. When we were still off roading for over half an hour with the tractor doing wheelies and stuck in the mud we knew it wouldn’t be easy. Recently after contracts had been signed months ago the builder demanded much more money and took me to the labour office.
 

Thankfully they were on my side and he will have to finish the job if I can ever get him enthused. Just as the teachers begin to get excited Gill returns and finds out the head master will be still expecting rent as the current nursery runs from a small room in his house.  He thought he was quid's in as he sees the efforts beginning to take shape. He left quite disgruntled when he was informed that extra money would be going to the hard working teacher who are pretty much volunteering. I am really excited that after all this time I will be able to see children walking over the hill and playing and reading the books that have been sent over in a container for them, and of course enrolling Ezmeekie when she is old enough. Please if you can help there is still definite need for donations to add the finishing touches and get floors and walls plastered up.