OPSEU in South Africa and Malawi: March 22, 2008

Before we left the village on Saturday, March 22, we did a quick tour of the local primary and secondary schools and also met with the representatives of a Kasungu based group called Tiyanjane Organization for the Disabled.

The primary school has no electricity and every classroom except one has no chairs. Students sit on the floor or take classes outside.

The local primary school

The only classroom with chairs

OPSEU meets with the Board of Trustees and members of the Tiyanjane Organization for the Disabled. The number of people with disabilities is increasing in this area due to different factors, including deformities from birth, motor vehicle accidents, strokes and HIV/AIDS related diseases.

Our last day with the Makupo villagers was a very sad one. The people from this village are wonderfully warm and treated us like close family members. We will have amazing memories of their hospitality, their music, their food and their laughter. We hope to continue working in solidarity with this community and said our final “Zicomo” (“thank you” in Chichewe) with tears in our eyes.

OPSEU pins became favourites to wear as earrings