John’s thoughts as we leave for Malawi

It seems particularly relevant that the Touchstone team is leaving for Malawi today, a day which is also the start of National Volunteers Week. 

 

Touchstone has funded a 3 year programme to build 24 homes for orphan children in Malawi together with pit latrines and training around disease prevention. It’s all about providing decent homes, and the work has been achieved by working with Habitat for Humanity through their Global Village programme. Habitat’s aim is to end housing poverty and since 1976 they have created one million homes and served 10 million people in over 70 countries.

 

I had the fantastic opportunity to be part of the Touchstone build team in both 2016 and 2017 and I am particularly honoured this year, after retiring from Touchstone, to be leading the Touchstone team on behalf of Habitat. I am sure it will be another life changing experience for everyone involved. A huge thank you to the this year’s team who have financed their participation and given up their time. A huge thank you to the 2016 and 2017 teams for their wonderful achievements. A huge thank you to Habitat for making it happen. And a huge thank you to Nakondwa Community Based Organisation who have identified need and manage the process on the ground in the villages around Salami close to Lake Malawi.

 

As part of National Volunteers Week I have been asked why volunteering is so important. It’s simple. It has made me realise that in a world of 7.6 billion people a team of 12 can still make a huge difference. Margaret Mead said “Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”. How true!

In the photograph below, Violet and the 5 children she cared for lived in the thatched mud hut on the foreground. It leaked, was insecure and unhealthy. Behind are their new washroom and latrine and the 2017 Touchstone team building their new 3 room home with a concrete floor, fired brick walls and galvanised metal roof. This is what volunteering is about. In a world where success is too often simply measured by financial success, Touchstone volunteers have found that it really lies in responding to need and providing security, safety and opportunity for others. I am sure this year’s team will find the same.