Malawi
Go beyond the headlines and experience the people, wildlife, and wonders of the “Warm Heart of Africa”.
This landlocked nation is home to some 15 million people and a wide array of wildlife. Our programs in Malawi have been designed to educate students on vital issues affecting the world today and is based on Future Earth’s model of sustainable development and environmental conservation. It provides an all-encompassing overview of development that gives students a ‘passport for life,’ including workshops on Wildlife, Environmental Conservation, Healthcare, Education and Fair Trade. The studies take place in an environment that is hands-on and participatory, encouraging students to actively learn and put their classroom lessons into a practical context. The experiences and knowledge gained will provide students with a passport to a wide variety of future careers alongside helping to develop the necessary skills to succeed, such as communication, adaptability and leadership. By linking groups together with on-the-ground ‘agents of change’ we promote transformational learning that sets students up to become successful and responsible citizens.
Potential Program Themes
Sample Itinerary
We fly into Blantyre Airport and transfer to our centrally located and comfortable hotel. After a thorough health and safety briefing, the evening is spent relaxing and sinking into the ambience of Africa.
We set out goals for learning about Malawian history and culture, interacting with local citizens, exploring the wildlife, understanding the larger picture of what we see, being of service to the population, and sharing our adventure with those back home.
A short drive takes us to the majestic Mulanje Mountain (1 hour south of Blantyre). We spend three days exploring the hills, learning about climate change challenges, deforestation and wildlife on the reserve (including hiking to a nearby waterfall for a refreshing swim).
We transfer to Thyolo (1 hour from Mulanje) for a day of intensive talks and presentations on the sustainable practices and fair trade methods of Malawi’s first Fair Trade Tea Estate (and try out their huge selection of specialist teas!).
We continue on to the small town of Nchalo for a day of talks and presentations on the sustainable practices and Fair Trade methods of Malawi’s leading sugar producer.
We take a safari drive through Majete Wildlife Reserve with a talk on conservation activities in Malawi with a focus on deforestation, the Black Rhino and poaching.
We visit one of our community-based partner to volunteer in a volunteer project. The exact project depends on the needs assessment, and activities may include teaching local children, assisting with development of teaching materials, building and cleaning educational facilities, or assisting with fundraising materials and plans.
All activities must:
1. Be proposed by our local partners and seen as essential to improving their operations.
We do not engage in re-painting murals or any other “photo-op” projects that will be repeated by subsequent trips. Envoys students will only participate in projects that result in an actual benefit to the communities.
2. Facilitate collaboration between volunteers and those that they serve.
We refuse to contribute to a culture of dependency and see collaborative projects as the best means to develop understanding and empathy.
We return to Blantyre, where students return to the learning goals that they set for themselves and reflect on their progress, making plans for maintaining connections to Malawi after they return home.
Finally, we spend time discussing the impact of the trip on our views of ourselves and the world, crystallizing the changes that have taken place and setting goals for continuing to learn.
International flights home.
“Envoys was at the top of their game from start to finish. What initially interested me was their focus on curriculum during pre-departure meetings and the program itself. Envoys cares deeply about the experience of the participants and faculty. [They] constantly ask for constructive criticism and make changes when necessary.”
— Joe Vogel , Executive Director, Global Education Benchmark Group“I was incredibly impressed by the care taken by Envoys. Before we even hit the ground, there was an emphasis on comprehending impact on our destination’s environment that I appreciated..Throughout the trip, our Envoys leaders made sure that we continued to be conscious of impact. That awareness of cause and effect is something that often gets lost when traveling, and Envoys did not allow it to. During this trip, there was never a moment I did not feel safe and cared for nor a moment where I did not feel I was learning something!”
— Keylee S. , Student, Dalton South Africa 2014“Many student groups participate in ‘Voluntourism’. This trip did not attempt that, but rather funneled the collective energy of each member into meaningful, mutually beneficial cultural interactions. Thank you so much for this unforgettable and transformational experience.”
— Altana , Student, Friends Seminary South Africa 2016
