Carol Millett's pre-trip thoughts.....................

I have watched many humanitarian documentaries and always felt great admiration towards the aid workers but at the same time feeling slightly ashamed, as always watching from the safely of my home, comfort of my Habitat sofa with a cold glass of wine in my hand. The opportunity to actually play a part in helping to improve the lives of people that have far far less than myself is one that I could not turn down. I think this will take me out of my comfort zone in many ways but I relish the challenge and whole heartedly am looking forward to the experience.


I am taking a collection of photographs of my family, children, dog, cats that I hope will bring a smile to the faces of the families we will be meeting.


Bring on Malawi J

Caroline Vincent's pre-trip thoughts

I feel very fortunate living in the western world where we generally expect a safe place to sleep, and modern facilities and amenities are expected as a given right. We are privileged to live in such an abundant society with healthcare services and government resources available to most of us.

After questioning why I was putting myself forward for this trip rather than donating money to a UK cause I came to the conclusion that its easy to put money in a charity box or support mainstream fund-raising events but to have the opportunity to be able to physically help families will be more enriching than I can imagine and I’m probably unlikely to ever have the chance again. To know that we will be helping families who are probably already burdened by the hardships of the area they’re born into and are likely to have limited chances of changing their lives, yet they’ve taken on additional children who have been orphaned is a truly humbling prospect.

And finally, as an avid fan of all things property and hoping to embark on my own self-build project in the future, I’m really looking forward to getting my hands dirty and being part of the build process. Can’t wait to get going!

Cx

Danni Hall's pre-trip thoughts................

Frank and Honest from the start:

 

I have just brought an amazing new house/I have brought a new car/I go on plenty of holidays/I buy what I want/I eat great food/I am free to come and go as I please/I have a great social life/I have all the possession I want/I am able to buy clothes/shoes/handbags whenever I want/I enjoy my job/I have a great work life balance/I enjoy coming to work/I enjoy the gym/ I have no restrictions in my life/ I smile and laugh on a daily basis/ I am healthy 

I have an amazing support network around me/I have the best husband who provides me with the lifestyle I lead, who is my best friend and everything I would want and need in a partner/I have family/I have an amazing extended family/A brother in law I never thought I would have/A father in law that turned into the Father I never had growing up/Best friends that keep me sane on a daily basis/extended friends/ work colleagues

I have a great life apart from the cherry on the top

I have spent the last 5 years trying for children – with no success. I have gone through 8 rounds of IVF resulting in endless time/money/tears and arguments. I have spent the years wondering why me/being ashamed/self hate/seeing endless friends and family having everything I wished for…………

For me my trip to Malawi is to remind myself that even though life can sometimes not pan out the way you expect, I want to have a personal reality check to remind myself off all the good things I have and appreciate life again for what it is!

 

Danni

 

Greg Merrick's pre-trip thoughts...........................

 

Having only started with the company in September I never thought I would get chosen to go on this trip but knew if I didn’t at least put my name forward I would look back with regret for not at least trying. For me I’ve never done anything like this before but I’ve always wanted to make a difference in any way I can, I’m just lucky that I get to do it with a good group of people to enjoy the experience as well.

 

The most building or DIY I’ve done involved some IKEA furniture, a hammer and a lot of cursing so, sorry in advance team for dragging you down with my lack of knowledge J.

 

I’ve never felt this excited and nervous for anything before and I just can’t wait to get out there and see what this project has done so far for these tribes living out there.

Simon Barton's pre-trip thoughts.........

When the business went out to our colleagues three or so years ago asking for ideas and suggestions for charities or projects we could support, I don’t think any of us thought it would lead to something that would see thirty plus colleagues going to Malawi building houses for the most poor and vulnerable children and providing so much valuable support for the wider community.  The impact this has had on both the people who have received this support and our colleagues who have worked with these communities has been life changing. 

I have watched this partnership with Habitat for Humanity develop and each year thought ‘I want to be a part of this’, but each year either work or family commitments have got in the way. This year I was determined to put my name forward, even though it is slap bang in the middle of both my son’s A level and GCSE exams, in fact it was my family who really pushed me to commit to going and now we are only a couple of weeks away I am feeling excited and slightly nervous at the same time.

I am really looking forward to visiting some of the homes we have already built and meeting those families and we will also get the opportunity to visit the new nursery being built with the funds raised by John Midgley’s retirement challenge.

My DIY/building skills are legendary in that they are non-existence so hopefully we will get some good on the job training and the 2018 Malawi team can continue the fantastic work already completed by the 2016 and 2017 teams.

We will do regular blog updates, given the limited internet and WIFI access, so keep watching this space to see how we are getting on.

Meet the families we are building for this year

Family No 1

 

A 53-year old single Mother taking care of three children.  One being her own daughter, and two her grandchildren; her daughter’s children.  Her daughter separated from her partner six years ago

 

They currently reside in a very dilapidated house that leaks so much during rainy season. The house is thatched with grass and has poor ventilation and a substandard latrine. Sleeping during rainy season is a miserly because the family remain sleepless until the rains stop.


“We find it very difficult to sleep during rainy season because the house leaks almost everywhere.” she explains


She earns a living through piece works like farming in other people’s fields so that she can get paid and buy some basic needs for the children she is looking after.

Family No 2

A single Mother who divorced over two years ago and was left with five children to care for.  She finds it very tough to look after these children as they currently live in a house that has numerous problems.  The house leaks during the rainy season, has poor ventilation and is very small for them all to live in.   This is because the house is thatched with grass and it was built with green bricks. 

“I wish I could have a better house that leaks no more but it is difficult to have it due to my level of earnings” she explains

She earns a living through piece works, her earnings are not enough to take care of the entire family.

She uses a poor conditioned latrine that belongs to the surrounding relatives.

 

Support the Malawi 2018 team while they work hard in Malawi.................

The Malawi 2018 team have set up a fundraising page so you can support and motivate them while they work hard in Malawi building houses for the Orphans; https://give.everydayhero.com/uk/touchstone-1 

The team are getting ready............................

..............to fly out to Malawi to complete the third and final year of our project with Habitat for Humanity.  They will fly out on Friday 1st June 2018 and return on Tuesday 12th June 2018. 


Touchstone are funding the construction of 24, fully-subsidised decent and permanent homes for 96 orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC’s). Each family will also receive a ventilated and improved pit-latrine to improve sanitation and hygiene. Each house will meet Malawi Government housing quality standards in terms of ventilation, space, and other features. Target beneficiaries will be OVC’s from families that have lost one or both parents, and have no permanent place to live, and little or no income.


The project will also include;

• incorporate HIV prevention training for the 24 OVC beneficiary families;
• Provide 3 insecticide-treated mosquito-nets per family (on average) and also provide the 24 OVC families with malaria prevention training. Training will also cover better hygiene practices around the homes to eliminate mosquito breeding places, signs of malaria and when to seek medical help.
• Provide property-rights and wills and inheritance training to safeguard the lives of the OVC from property-grabbing. In many communities in Malawi, when the breadwinner dies, children are subjected to property-grabbing and are often left destitute. The training will be offered not only to the OVC care-givers, but also to traditional leaders (village headmen), child protection workers, CBO representatives and other influential people (gate-keepers) in the villages.

The project has provided an opportunity for Touchstone colleagues to visit Malawi and participate in the construction of the houses. This has enabled the team members to have an opportunity to interact with the homeowners and the wider community. Through the global village visit the Touchstone team get to see first-hand the need these vulnerable families have for shelter and the impact that this project has on the targeted families and wider community.


The team will be led by John Midgley who has attended both previous years as a Director of Touchstone but this year we see him wearing his Habitat for Humanity Team Leader hat. 


The team are really excited and can’t wait to get building