AEI Open today

Andiamo Education Institutions (AEI) opened for the third term today. Students began arriving at the campus on Sunday 15 April.

“Last term I did not perform well but this term I will work hard so that I can pass my Junior Certificate Examinations with good grades,” says Annastanzia Kadziwe, a Form two student. She says hopes teachers will help her realise her dreams.

One of the instructors at Andiamo Technical College, Ernest Nyomela says that their Motor Vehicle Mechanics department has prepared well for this term and he hopes that their students will be empowered with good technical skills.

According to the school calendar, the third term is expected to close on 13^th July, 2012.

Early Easter Gift

Fr. Mario, Franco and some of the girls of AEI.

Students of Andiamo Education Institutions will go for Easter Holidays, knowing that they have a big Easter gift.

Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust with the help an association called Seconda Linea Missionaria from Ostia in Rome has built a two-block girls hostel that will be fully functional this September.

AEI start Exams

Andiamo Education Institutions schools have started End of Term Exams today. According to the time table made available to Andiamo Website office, students are expected to live the campus 22 March, 2012 for Easter Holidays.

Schools are expected to open 16^th April, 2012.

AEI Wishes them all the best during their exams.

Girls Hostel at roofing level

After working only for a month and half, the two blocks for the new Girls’ Hostel are at roofing level.

Hostel blocks at roofing level

The building of the hostel has been made possible with the help from an association called Seconda Linea Missionaria from Ostia in Rome.

Marandimo Building Contractors and Civil Engineering under the supervision of Franco Fiorina are working tirelessly to make sure that they finish in time.

Fr. Mario has asked students to love prayer

Fr. Mario Pacifici, the founding trustee of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust has asked students from Andiamo Education Institutions to love prayer.

Fr. Mario:We expect you to be examples

Speaking during the Sunday Mass that is celebrated every Sunday in the AEI Cafeteria, Fr. Mario bemoaned the tendency of some students who are either late for mass or chose to stay in the hostels not attending mass altogether.

He also stressed on the need for management to see that all the students have time to pray in their respective denominations.

“You must make sure that these students have time to pray,” advised Fr. Mario.

This follows another chat he had with some students who are on scholarship on Friday 2 March 2012.

Fr. Mario asked the students to be exemplary, as they should consider themselves ‘lucky’ for getting the sponsorship.

“We expect you to be examples to other students in our campus, as you should be aware of the privilege you have for being sponsored,” Fr Mario said this after receiving reports that the behaviour of some supported students leaves a lot to be desired.

He asked them not to miss the opportunity ‘given with sacrifice’ by Italian friends of Andiamo, but to use the scholarship for their future and that of the nation.

During the 30 minute meeting, the founding trustee shared with the students two readings from the Bible from II Peter 1:10 and I Thessalonians 2:19.

About thirty-one students from different denominations get sponsorship from Italy through Andiamo’s twin Italian association “Orizzonte Malawi Onlus”. Through this many students who could not afford to get Secondary Education are able to do so.

A Judicial Officer Lectures form One Pupils

His Worship Damson Banda, an experienced Balaka Magistrate, gave a lecture on Judicial Systems to a form one class of Andiamo Secondary School at the invitation of the school’s Department of Human Sciences. The lecture, which lasted nearly 2 hours, was invoked by a Social Studies topic on Judicial Systems in the Junior Certificate syllabus.

Damson Banda, First Grade Magistrate of Balaka (sitting on a chair) posing with Form 1 students after presenting a paper on "The Judicial System in Malawi"

Much of the talk focused on the types of laws implemented by courts in Malawi, the roles of various judicial officers, and the hierarchy of courts in Malawi and the function of each of them.

Speaking at the end of the lesson, the Head of Department of Human Sciences, Mr. J. Banda, expressed gratitude to His Worship Banda for a well prepared presentation, which he believed, would leave an academic imprint on the pupils. He further urged magistrate Banda to do the same with other form one classes in offing.

One of the pupils, a 12 year old Immaculate Chingota, did not hide her joy for being taught by a “visiting lecturer.” She implored the school to invite more professionals to provide such lectures.

Last year, a form two class had an education visit to Balaka Magistrate Court where they had an opportunity to listen to three cases (one criminal and two civil) heard by Magistrate V. Sibu. This was followed by a brief introduction of the judicial processes in Malawi.

His Worship Banda’s visit complements the school’s regular invitation of highly experienced professionals in different fields to talk to the pupils to shape their careers.

Hostel block at roofing level

After 23 days the girls hostel block has reached the roof level and contractors have started working on the second hostel block. Thanks to Franco and Marandimo Building Contractors for their dedication.

girls hostel

The construction of the second hostel has started

AEI in tree planting

Andiamo Education Institutions (AEI) students planted 1000 trees in Balaka at Andiamo Campus on 11 February 2012 as one way of restoring the natural beauty which was carelessly destroyed. The function was organized by Wildlife Club of AEI, and in attendance were representatives from all the sections of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust.

one of the student planting a tree

Isaiah Kaliponda, the Chairperson of the club said that it is the aim of the club to make sure that the natural resources are being taken care of and where trees were cut down should be replanted. He added that trees play a very important role in human beings by providing good oxygen and also makes our country looks beautiful.

Balaka District Forest Officer Mr Kamwendo, who was the Guest of Honour at the function, thanked the students and Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust for being concerned with the way people have carelessly cut down trees.

“40 years back people were living healthy lives. Trees were everywhere and they were breathing clean oxygen but because of industrial revolution, the good air has been polluted and people are not protected to this bad air.Because of this problem, babies are being born with different abnormality and people are experiencing some strange health problems but we can restore the good environment we had years back by planting more trees in our areas,” said Mr Kumwenda.

Andiamo Executive Director Andrew Galeta, encouraged youths to continue taking part in tree planting as it also attracts tourists and also help in the formation of rain. He took time to advise those who are pursuing Carpentry and Joinery course to be in the forefront in planting more trees as their job involves the use of timber which comes from these trees.

Also present at the function was Don Cesare and the Coordinator of AEI.

In a related development, Fr Mario lost his cool on 13 February when he noticed that some of the ground workers mistakenly cut down a big mango tree that had survived for some years in the AEI campus. Like in the “Lost Sheep” parable, Fr. Mario wondered how some people could think of cutting a matured mango tree when the Trust is busy planting more trees.

Let’s share

Students from different areas playing on BAMABA Basketball court

When Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust thought of naming the street kids project “Tigawane” (Let’s share) the name made sense. We surely must share the little that we have.

But little did we know that “tigawane” would spread to everything. In the picture, primary school students from the surrounding areas playing on the new basketball court of Andiamo Education Institutions without even asking for permission.

Such is life here. Everything that Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust has belongs to the community around!

Not mere bricks

We were told that Andiamo Education Institutions would have a new girls’ hostel. When we saw trucks bringing bricks, sand… we were sure we would have it. Obviously, it was good news. Good, because the hostels we have right now would not be enough for girls from both the college and secondary school.

The future was alarming too. In September, this year, we shall have a Form IV class. This meant we would not have enough accommodation for girls. In Malawi, we say, “If you educate a girl, you have educated the whole nation”. By not allowing girls to come to the school because of lack of accommodation, we were doing injustice not only to the girls themselves but also to the nation as a whole.

Today the hostel is taking shape. In September, we will be able to house all the girls in the campus. We may be worried that ‘where are we going to get the beds?’ but the fact is that the hostel is now there.

The presence of Franco, an Italian volunteer, at the building site is enough for us to thank those that continue to collaborate with Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust. Some we have seen them because they have travelled all the way from Italy to see us. Others, we have not seen and met them. However, their invisible hands are becoming more visible through their support to us.