Orientation
On your arrival into Malawi you will be given a comprehensive three-day orientation:
Day One: This is the day that you arrive into Malawi. You will be met by a representative from the project and taken to your accommodation where you will be left to settle in and meet the other volunteers who are staying there. In the afternoon, you will also be shown around the city of Blantyre so you can get an idea of where all the major facilities are. You will be shown the local shops, banks, the sports club, pharmacy, local restaurants, the hospital and so on.
Day Two: In the morning, you will be met at your accommodation and receive a basic language and cultural lesson to help equip you in Malawi. The second part of your orientation involves you being taken to the orphanage centre where you will meet the staff and the children. You’ll also get a tour through the village where the centre is based to see some of the other projects that the centre is involved with – the Maize Mill, Training Skills Centre, farming and self-sufficiency programmes and the site of the secondary school.
Day Three: You will be picked up and taken to see even more projects linked to the centre, such as the arable farm and the animal farm. That afternoon you will return to the centre to meet the older children.
Accommodation and Meals
You will be staying in accommodation in Blantyre, which is included in the price of the project. You have the choice between two lodges.
Firstly, there is a friendly hostel run by a South African couple. You will have a private room here with shared bathroom facilities. This hostel has a popular bar and swimming pool and is a really good place to meet other travellers and locals alike. The hostel restaurant serves three meals a day at low prices but does not have kitchen facilities. It does however have cheap Internet access! We recommend that you budget approximately US$5 per meal at this accommodation option.
The other lodge is in the Northwest of the city and run by a Malawian lady. This lodge has the option for you to be self-catering if you would like to be. You will have a private room here and will share bathroom facilities. There is Internet access here, although it is not always available. There is also a lovely veranda around the back of the building with great views over the city. This option is a quieter option, but great if you want to budget well for meals and prepare your own food each day.
Meals are not included in the price of the project, and depending which accommodation you go for you will either buy your own food and cook for yourself or sample the food of the local restaurants. Food is not expensive here, if you are on a really tight budget, you will be able to find a meal for about 50p in the local villages!
Free Time
You will have weekends off on this project, and if you would like to travel a little farther afield you can also have the Monday off. Malawi has plenty to keep you entertained in your free time… There are several bars and restaurants and even a nightclub in Blantyre so as long as you have some local transport you can have lots of fun in the evenings.
There is also a sports club, which you can join for the duration of your stay or spend your time visiting the bustling markets nearby.
Heading a little further afield, Mount Mulanje is a beautiful mountain range about 2 hours drive from Blantyre. The stunning scenery, easy access, clear paths and well maintained huts make Mulanje a fine hiking area and many travellers spend at least a few days there.
Alternatively, spend a weekend relaxing on the edge of the infamous Lake Malawi, which offers snorkeling and the cheapest diving courses in the world. There are also some safari options in Malawi and some are within easy reach of Blantyre and can be reached by public transport as a day trip.
Project Support
Throughout your stay in Malawi you will have the support and guidance of our native Malawian project manager Reverend Timothy and his team. They will provide you with competent assistance and help you with any questions or advice you may need during your stay.
In addition, we will provide you with a 24 hour emergency contact number before you depart, so that you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.
