The team arrived home last week..................

Home after 27 hours of travel - it feels soooo good! 

Last week was a tough challenge but worth every second. We had a great team of hardworking Touchstone folk and it was a pleasure to get to know everyone a bit better. Like the team that went out last year, we have achieved so much and our efforts will have a positive impact on a couple of families living in extreme poverty. A phrase that was repeated over the trip was 'You have to accept that you cannot help everybody, however you can make a difference to the lives of a few'.

Touchstone have paid for 24 houses to be built in the area just outside Salima! The project spans over three years.  I am so very proud to work for a company that gives back to the global community! John and Rae's passion for the project that they started is fierce and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to be a part of the experience. It was wonderful to meet all the dedicated staff from Habitat for Humanity and the CBO - thank you for welcoming us and showing us your amazing communities and country! 

 

I could never have understood the poverty that some people face without seeing it first-hand. It is an experience I will never forget and I come back to the UK with fresh eyes and a new perspective.

https://give.everydayhero.com/uk/touchstone. Thank you so much to everyone that has already donated - if you would like to donate then please click on the link above.

Village Church

Village Church, made totally of mud

Inside the Village Church



Day 6

Our last day today. Roof on Fayinesse's house and brickwork continuing on Violet's house.

 

 

A Sunday, so all the kids at home and everyone very relaxed. The village seemed busy with the women busy cooking for the post dedication ceremony lunch. Wise (from the Community Based Organisation) brought his wife and children to see us which was wonderful. Fayinesse spoke about her recollections of British rule and her memories of King George! A truly amazing lady. We played with the children and practiced our performance for the ceremony. Margaret had bought bubbles which the children got really excited about.

 

The ceremony commenced with dancing, then a welcome from the village chief. There were many chiefs also present from adjoining villages as this was seen as a very important occasion. More dancing and more speeches - the dancing was truly stunning and also very amusing and some of the Touchstone team joined in - much appreciated by the village!

Margaret as team leader gave some of her speech in Chichewa - very brave! John then thanked the community for making us such a loved part of their families and their community. Margaret and John were then made honorary members of the Banda tribe (holy people and mystics), in the case of Margaret, and the Phiri tribe (kings and aristocracy) in the case of John. A true honour! We had to participate in the ceremony of course and do "our" dance. We cheated a bit and got all the children to join us in "If you're happy and you know it" and the Hokey Kokey led by Julie and enjoyed by all!

 

Following the ceremony and having met with all the village chiefs we had lunch with the families prepared by the ladies of the village. Beef, chicken and goat with rice and nsime, with beans, shredded cabbage, peas and sweet potato with ground nut. An absolutely fantastic meal which was enjoyed by everyone. The children got Fanta to drink. The next time they will have the chance to drink this will be Christmas.

 

Then it was time to go. A really emotional farewell to those who, in a short week, have become our closest friends. John was asked if he wanted to take Moossa with him but had to agree to leave him with his mother as he is still breast feeding.  Back to the hotel for a final meal and up early for the long drive back to Lilongwe.

Here are some more pictures while we wait to hear how the next day went.................

Day 5 onsite

Hi, it's me again!!

So it's day 5 of the big builds! And the final Building day ☹️ so as you can imagine we were all eager to get started and crack on to get as much done as possible! And boy did we.....  https://give.everydayhero.com/uk/Touchstone

In the blistering sun the team went full steam ahead and by lunchtime both houses had the gable ends finished and both windows in!! With one of the houses internal walls nearly completed!! 

 

 After lunch we had the pleasure and honour of talking with Violet and Fainyess (please check spelling!) the soon to be new owners of the houses we are building to find out what having the new houses will mean to them & also to give them an opportunity to ask us some questions. 

 

For Fainyess it would mean having her grandson back to live with her as due to her blindness but by having a decent home he will be able to return, which is fantastic news!! Some of the team had a chance to look around her current home & the feedback was it was dark, dusty & bare & made of mud & straw. 

For Violet and her six children it will mean space & security as they have been living in a temporary hut which is no bigger than a small wooden shed! I don't think any of us can fathom how they all fit & sleep in there?! 

For both families their new homes will give them hope, security & something to share with their families which is why we are all here! 

Work continued & by the end of the day one house had all internal walls were completed & the beams were being installed as our mini bus was pulling away! And the second house had two internal walls almost completed with the scaffolding going up for the third internal wall! 

 

Thousands the site foreman gave a lovely speech saying we were a hardworking team and despite the heat we worked as if it wasn't a hot day! I think as a team we had a goal in mind & we set our minds and hearts on completing that task! And even though we stopped work one day due to the funeral & one team being down two members what we have achieved is nothing more than amazing!! 

After lots of pictures with the houses & our super team of builders & helpers we headed back to the hotel satisfied that the two families were well on the way to being their new Touchstone houses! 😊 

#Touchstone2Malawi #thebigbuild 

 

 

 

 

https://give.everydayhero.com/uk/Touchstone

The team visit 8 houses that Touchstone have funded in Malawi

2 of which Touchstone volunteers built last year.