Location
The program is based in the capital city Lilongwe. World Camp volunteers live in a centrally located house on the new side of “Old Town,” Lilongwe. The World Camp house is a base where volunteers can return each evening after long hours of travel and teaching in the African bush. The house is a comfortable haven, complete with six bedrooms, six bathrooms, and large kitchen and living areas. There are also recreation areas complete with ping pong, a reading room, and a swimming pool. The World Camp house is secure, surrounded by high fences and guarded by security personnel 24 hours a day.

A Volunteer Day in Malawi
Getting There
A typical day at World Camp Malawi begins as early as 5 AM, to allow volunteers time to eat breakfast and prepare for the day's travel. Travel time typically averages two hours each way, depending on distances to scheduled schools and road conditions. World Camp vehicles are kept in good repair and only trusted to safe and experienced drivers. As visitors to rural Malawian villages are infrequent, volunteers are often greeted by hundreds of excited school children running alongside the approaching vehicles, shouting to welcome the Azungu, the foreign volunteers.

Set Up
World Camp volunteers take specific roles at each camp. Two volunteers work with school officials, teachers and villagers to manage the camp. An additional two volunteers are assigned to conduct a teacher workshop encouraging the World Camp mission of education to continue after volunteers have left Malawi. The remaining volunteers will pair off in teaching teams assigned to groups of students. Teachers typically stay with their groups for the duration of the three-day camp. The roles of World Camp volunteers rotate from camp to camp. 

Introductions
The day begins as World Camp volunteers form a big circle outside with all the students and teachers who will participate in the camp.  After greeting the group, World Camp facilitators introduce songs to engage and entertain students. This is an excellent ice breaker and establishes early rapport with students and teachers.  Students are then divided into smaller groups and introduced to a series of leadership and teamwork activities to get to know each other and their World Camp instructors.  Classes start after these morning activities.

Classes
Teachers and students retreat to individual classrooms to begin the World Camp HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention curriculum. Curriculum activities include games to introduce the basics of HIV/AIDS education, interactive demonstrations to illustrate how the disease develops in the human body, and question and answer periods for students to speak freely about their concerns. World Camp works with translators from a Malawian university to ensure teachers and students get the most out of each meeting.  

Presentations
World Camp takes a break at lunchtime to serve all participants a beverage and traditional meal. Groups return to the classroom after lunch to begin work on presentations. World Camp stresses the need to teach individuals how to teach others. To this end, students have the opportunity on the third day of camp to present what they've learned to other student groups, as well as to teachers, community members and tribal elders. Classroom time is interspersed with planning and preparation for the presentation, which may be a skit, song, game, or other appropriate activity. Class days end around three o'clock, when the whole school reunites for more games and songs to end the day on a high note before volunteers return to Lilongwe for the night.

Return to House
Back in Lilongwe, World Camp volunteers can make a quick grocery stop, check email if needed, change money, and run any other important errands. World Camp volunteers are generally back at the house by 5 or 6 pm to prepare materials for the next day and then relax, take showers, and cook dinner. Most evenings World Camp volunteers participate in a camp evaluation. This is a time for volunteers to discuss the day's successes and challenges and work together to make improvements.  

Getting to Know Malawi
In addition, World Camp hosts local guests at the house to speak to volunteers about Malawian life. Guests in the past have included individuals living with HIV and primary school teachers from rural and urban schools. Volunteers are given the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about life in Malawi. WC also conducts Chichewa lessons to volunteers in order to encourage communication between volunteers and villagers. Volunteers should make the most of their volunteer experience through exploring Malawian culture and life. After a full day of work, many volunteers sack out before 9 or 10 PM.

Leisure Time
When the schedule allows a day off from teaching, World Camp volunteers may visit beautiful Lake Malawi or go on hikes in the mountains outside of Lilongwe. Once a session, volunteers take an extended teaching break and go on safari in Zambia.

For a complete description of the Malawi program, please download our Malawi program volunteer packet.    

Volunteer :: Frequently Asked Questions :: The World Camp Curriculum Tested Success :: 2007 Annual Report

Malawi Program Volunteer Packet