Malealea - The Travellers Return
A REPORT FROM KEN DUNN (view photo gallery)

It's great to back home with everyone reunited with their loved ones. The expedition has been a tremendous success and it is hugely satisfying for me to listen to the staff and pupils recounting their experiences as they view the many photographs taken. There are many outcomes from such an undertaking:

Forty people from our region have experienced life in Southern Africa - up close and personal - and that must surely stay in their consciousness for many years to come.

We have significantly strengthened our link with the community of Malealea and there is a powerful desire to develop this relationship further.

The physical outcomes can be seen in around the four schools and the two community learning circles with whom we worked.

"We have left Malealea but Malealea has not left us"

1. At Malealea High School an amazing transformation has taken place. The school buildings have been patched and painted including the roof and its timber joists. Three murals adorn the walls and inside is a library all indexed and shelved. Posters raising the awareness of HIV/ Aids and others encouraging people to read have been made and are displayed on the library walls.

2. At Malealea Primary and Malealea pre-school, buildings were painted inside and out and a double swing constructed in the playground.

3. At Makhatheng Primary a major refurbishment took place with many of the students who have attended construction courses in the UK being called upon to use their skills. Mortar was prepared and extensive patching, pointing and plastering was completed before painting of the external walls and roof was undertaken.

4. With the Makhatheng Learning Circle hundreds of young trees were planted in almost impossibly hard ground. These were lovingly watered and mulched and Reanne even carried the water to site on her head in true Malealea fashion!

5. At Tsinyane a huge operation was undertaken to terrace the hillside and wall the front of the terraces with stone - collected locally. The terraces were then cultivated in preparation for planting in the spring. Hundreds of trees were planted here to stabilise the soil and provide fuel for the community. Work was undertaken to repair a growing erosion scar and divert the streamway responsible into the dam which we helped build in 2003.

6. Our doctors worked closely with the clinic nurse and were amazed at her workload and appetite for work! Makhalisho treats everyone and is very highly thought of. Our doctors worked alongside her and gleaned that, in addition to HIV/Aids, people are dying from water-born infections. Preventable deaths is a phrase which has been used a lot in recent weeks and some wealthy countries are not wishing to tackle this with their money as they claim good governance must come first. In Malealea the latter is certainly in place with the formally constituted Malealea Development Trust. I have met with the trustees and trust them totally. I know that the money we raise will get to where they it is intended. Water is clearly our next major focus in parallel to supporting the pupils through school.