Looking back on the trip of a life-time: the October trip to Malawi by Fern Graham
In October 2024, the 10th Malawi trip set off on the 18,000 mile round trip to the ‘warm heart of Africa’.
Fern Graham, one of the students, captures some of the highlights of the trip for us.
Just getting there took nearly 24 hours, with multiple layovers, coach journeys, and questionable airplane food. Finally stepping onto Malawian soil, the group quickly acclimatised to its tropical charm, with temperatures soaring to 32°C interspersed with unexpected downpours.
Alongside us on the journey travelled 103 suitcases, with the majority of these being donations. These includes the sort of items our partners find it hard to buy locally, such as sewing machines, sports kits, lots of educational resources, medical resources, knitted maternity clothing for new-borns, shoes and trainers for 500 miles charity, and water bottles for the sports teams we support.
Our first evening was spent at the Grace Bandawe Conference Centre in Blantyre. There we were visited by members of STEKA, a family home supporting vulnerable children and young adults. Many of these young people have been rescued from living alone on the streets, an experience known all too well by its founder, Godknows Maseko. They offered us traditional Malawian items, including chitenge (long skirts) and trousers.
I found the time with the STEKA residents an incredibly meaningful experience, full of thought-provoking discussions ranging from women’s rights to nature conservation. We split into smaller groups and got to know our peers from Steka who led these discussions. These conversations were incredibly helpful for us to get to know Malawi culture, traditions, and just the day-to-day life on a deeper level.
Dancing and singing is a huge part of Malawian Culture; and at each new place we visited, we were met with songs and performances. The musical welcome at the Mvuu camp in Liwonde National Park was particularly memorable in my opinion! While we attempted to prepare performances of our own, our rendition of ‘I’m Gonna be (500 miles)’ struggled to compete.
Meeting Charity Salima, the founder of the Achikondi Women's Community Birth Clinic in Lilongwe, was inspiring. Established in 2008, her clinic addresses critical maternal health challenges in a country where maternal mortality rates remain alarmingly high. Through her dedication, Charity has significantly improved healthcare access for countless women, offering essential services that have saved numerous lives.
Our first evening was spent at the Grace Bandawe Conference Centre in Blantyre. There we were visited by members of STEKA, a family home supporting vulnerable children and young adults. Many of these young people have been rescued from living alone on the streets, an experience known all too well by its founder, Godknows Maseko. They offered us traditional Malawian items, including chitenge (long skirts) and trousers.
Each group discussed different topics with different conversations being led surrounding, sport, conservation, jobs, school, women's rights, and daily routines. At each of these stations we similarly had the opportunity to talk about the topics regarding Scotland. This fostered a deep connection and left a lasting impression on us and hopefully also on our hosts.
The group then split in two - going separate ways: one travelling to Mount Mulanje, and the other to Zomba plateau. I was bound for Mount Mulanje, which was a great
chance to see the stark beauty of Malawi's landscapes. At 3,000 metres (more than three munros) Mount Mulanje is the highest point in Malawi - with Malawians calling it ‘the island in the sky’. Whilst our target was not the very top, it was still a gruelling expedition.
chance to see the stark beauty of Malawi's landscapes. At 3,000 metres (more than three munros) Mount Mulanje is the highest point in Malawi - with Malawians calling it ‘the island in the sky’. Whilst our target was not the very top, it was still a gruelling expedition.
During our ascent, we learned about the unique flora, notably the Mulanje cedar—a tree endemic to the mountain, (meaning it can only be found on Mulanje) with the species becoming endangered due to vast levels of forest fires and deforestation. We met Raheela who had a lasting impact upon the group, with her having first hand worked on the mountain side for many years, implementing schemes in an attempt to protect the extremely unique ecosystem found on the ‘island in the sky’.
While in Mulanje we visited a local enterprise scheme focused on investing in small business in the area, with the group having the opportunity to visit a honey farm located nearby. This was great to have the chance to visit, as it showed how local efforts are helping local business thrive, with a couple of the group leaving with a bottle or two of honey.
The second group headed North to Zomba, the former capital city of Malawi. Here the group met with their local guide Issac who took them around the city to explore the markets. The following day, it was time to make the journey up to the plateau. Despite a couple of wrong turns, the group eventually made it to their camping spot for the night. From this vantage point, the beauty of Malawi was clear.
On their way down, they stopped to meet Tom and Petal and the rest of the team at Zomba Treez. This is a conservation group that works closely with local football teams to protect the plateau from fire. And there was even time for a football match with one of these teams which culminated in a tense penalty shoot out!
During our time at the Mvuu safari camp, we had the chance to get to see some of the ‘big 5’ animals, with certain groups being lucky enough to catch a glimpse of lions, elephants, buffalos, hippos, and zebras.
One of the other experiences I particularly enjoyed was the chance to visit primary schools, such as Bolera Palms, located on the shores of Lake Malawi. We arrived just in time for an impromptu extended break which gave us plenty of time to join in with the usual school yard games. 
We then moved on to some paired reading activities and enjoyed spending some one-on-one time with individual children. A few of the Watson’s girls engaged in a discussion with the children from Bolera Palms on menstruation and female bodies, which was a rewarding experience to all those involved.
Meeting Charity Salima, the founder of the Achikondi Women's Community Birth Clinic in Lilongwe, was inspiring. Established in 2008, her clinic addresses critical maternal health challenges in a country where maternal mortality rates remain alarmingly high. Through her dedication, Charity has significantly improved healthcare access for countless women, offering essential services that have saved numerous lives.
Our journey through Malawi was profoundly enriched by the people we met as can be seen by some of the individuals we have already mentioned. However, we feel as though we need to give a special mention to a few more. Aaron, Paul and Reeves were so much more than our bus drivers; they personified the warmth of Malawi and their genuine kindness and willingness to share stories provided us with deep insights into Malawian culture and daily life. We were extremely lucky to have them.
Overall, the trip offered a unique introduction to Malawi's rich culture, stunning landscapes and amazing people. It left a lasting impact on me, and I think on everyone who was lucky enough to be part of the trip. I returned with a renewed perspective, feeling grateful for the opportunities I've been granted.