This morning I spoke to Azikiwe. He is doing a fine job running Itatu. He left Ntcheu for about two weeks to attend a funeral in his home in the north. Before he left, he made sure the children had the food they needed and that the cooks had the money they needed to buy vegetables and eggs. Upon his return he learned that Mabvuto had not paid the cooks’ salaries as promised. He promptly paid their salaries, after seeking my approval.
He has proven to be an excellent manager. He has sent detailed financial statements which I hope to convert into dollars and post on the website once it is updated. He makes no major decisions without first consulting me and informs me when things happen with the cooks or the children.
This past week the Director of the Social Welfare Department approached the CBO to enquire about the status of the Day Care. He seemed to want to hear that things were not going well under this new management. He was surprised to learn that everyone is happy. This man is an unkind man and made me cry upon meeting him last year. I suppose he feels somehow insulted because he was not involved in the original planning process. Oh well, he’s involved now and he should be happy that the children are well cared for.
Azikiwe is pleased that he will receive a laptop when I return to Malawi. He is fluent in the use of Excel and Word and would like to be able to allow the orphans to use a computer now and then. It is a skill that they can definitely use as they grow up. Leonard, Azikiwe’s son, is very confident on the computer at the tender age of ten.
I have applied for a teaching job at an International School in Lilongwe. The job is that of a grade one and drama teacher. It is in the City Centre, which houses all of the NGOs and international businesses. My friend Kalirani knows one of the administrators. It is scary to think how well suited this job is for me. The drawback is that it will begin in January 2010. That means a lot of quick decisions. I know myself well enough to know that a quick decision is better. I don’t do decisions well. I think it’s best for me to have to decide quickly but I also know that this is something I’ve been thinking of for many years.
Thank you to those of you who let me know that you follow these posts. I am flattered by the fact that some of you still read even though you no longer have a real connection to me. I want to thank you for your words of encouragement and support through the tough times and thank you for believing in this project that I am now, once again, excited about.
