Area 14

P.O. Box 1638

Lilongwe, Malawi

Africa

Telephone no: +265 1 774 233

Email: National Director

akalawe@habitat.mw

info@habitat.mw

Website:

www.habitat.mw

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WELCOME TO MALAWI!

We thank you for your interest and willingness to join HFHM in providing simple, decent and affordable

housing to those in need. We also thank and commend you for having chosen Malawi as your Global

Village destination. We guarantee you a wonderful time during your stay in Malawi!

This handbook contains very important and informative information, which will act as a guide while in

Malawi. Please read it carefully and utilize the information to help you make your trip adventurous and

memorable. We look forward to a pleasant build, not just a house build to an individual, but a community

built, for all involved.

What you are about to endeavor into is a life changing experience, which we hope you will always treasure.

There will be challenges along the way, but the people of Malawi and HFH Malawi team will help you

through.

We are looking forward to hosting you and making your stay wonderful!

Thank You or Zikomo, as we say in our vernacular language, Chichewa.

Amos Kalawe

(National Director)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

WELCOME TO MALAWI! ............................................................................................................................ 2

About Malawi .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Other Common Words or Phrases ........................................................................................................... 9 Week Days ............................................................................................................................................. 10

Useful Information ......................................................................................................................................... 11

Arrival at the airport............................................................................................................................ 11

Visas .................................................................................................................................................... 11

Health & Travel Advisory .................................................................................................................. 11

Required Vaccinations ........................................................................................................................ 11

Banks, currency & credit cards ........................................................................................................... 11

Tipping ................................................................................................................................................ 11

Time difference ................................................................................................................................... 11

Weather ............................................................................................................................................... 12

Electricity/adapters ............................................................................................................................. 12

Business Hours.................................................................................................................................... 12

Taxis and Public Transportation ......................................................................................................... 13

Postal Services & Communication (Internet, international & local calling) ...................................... 13

Shops & Restaurants ........................................................................................................................... 13

Churches ............................................................................................................................................. 13

Tourist attractions ............................................................................................................................... 13

Laundry ............................................................................................................................................... 14

Events .................................................................................................................................................. 14

Cost of regular items ........................................................................................................................... 14 Global Village Experience ............................................................................................................................. 14

What to expect in the specific country? .............................................................................................. 14

Actual Family Interaction ................................................................................................................... 15

Dress Code for Volunteers .................................................................................................................. 15

Type of volunteer work ....................................................................................................................... 15

Accommodation of volunteers ............................................................................................................ 15

Personal Safety Information ............................................................................................................... 16

Site Safety Information ....................................................................................................................... 16 HFHI Policies................................................................................................................................................. 16

Gift Giving Policy HFHI ........................................................................................................................... 16 Minor Policy HFHI .................................................................................................................................... 20

Ambassador for Habitat for Humanity while Volunteering .......................................................................... 21 Emergency Medical Assistance ..................................................................................................................... 22

ACE Travel Assistance Insurance ...................................................................................................... 22

(HFHI insurance –.................................................................................................................................. 22 for teams from US, Canada, EMEA and AP sending programs)........................................................... 22 Zurich Insurance .................................................................................................................................. 22 (for teams from GB, ............................................................................................................................... 22

Northern Ireland and Ireland) ................................................................................................................ 22 Packing List ................................................................................................................................................... 23

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History of Habitat for Humanity Malawi

HFH Malawi was established in 1986 and is registered as a Non-Governmental Organization under the

NGO Act. It is also a member of the Council of Non-Governmental Organizations in Malawi

(CONGOMA). It has a Board of Directors and trustees. The National Office is located in Area 14,

Lilongwe. HFH Malawi exists to address poverty housing amongst the orphans and vulnerable children,

and low income people through the following program programs:

(i) Orphans and Vulnerable Group (OVG),

(ii) Housing Support Services (Construction Technical Assistance (CTA) in partnership with micro-

finance institutions.

To date HFHM has transformed the lives of over 9,500 low income families and OVG in both rural and

urban.

Target Group

HFHM targets low income households living on less than

$120 per month and Orphan and Vulnerable Group

Households who have:

lost one or both parents

Child or grandparent headed households.

Homeless or living in Poverty housing

Households Vulnerable to property grabbing

Households with poor access to health, property &

psychosocial care.

HFHM Strategic Goal

Our strategic goal is to transform the lives of 16,500 families through sustainable decent shelter by 2018.

HFHM Objectives

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To Serve 100 vulnerable group families per year through direct construction: Work with communities and

beneficiaries in providing fully subsidized houses, hygiene friendly toilets and complimentary services

such as trainings on; HIV/AIDS & Malaria prevention, Property and Inheritance Rights.

To Serve 3,000 families every year through housing support services (HSS): Work in partnership with

Housing Microfinance Institutions in providing housing support services i.e. Construction Technical

Assistance (CTA).

To Mobilize 400 volunteers per year to raise awareness on poverty housing, fundraise and participate in

house construction for vulnerable people.

About Malawi

Map of Malawi showing big cities of Lilongwe, Blantyre and

Mzuzu

Malawi has an estimated total land area of 94,080 square kilometers and a total population of

approximately 15.8 million. The country is one of the poorest in the world. According to the Human

Development Index (HDI) ranking, Malawi was ranked 174 out of 187 countries in 2013 (UNDP Human

Development Report, 2013). One of the indicators of poverty is the poor living conditions for most

Malawians in both urban and rural areas that affect the health status of people.

Malawi is a small country in southern Africa bordered by Tanzania to the East and North, Zambia to the

West, and Mozambique to the South, East and Southwest. The magnificent Rift Valley cuts through

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Malawi’s eastern border, holding the country’s most famous natural resource, Lake Malawi. The lake

stretches two-thirds of Malawi’s length, and is responsible for one third of the country’s area.

The Rift Valley caused serious buckling in the land adjacent, which has led to the formation of irregular

and often unpredictable granite mountains. Perhaps the most famous is Mount Mulanje, rising over 3000m

(almost 10,000 feet) and surrounded by some of Malawi’s famous tea plantations. In the northern region,

these upheavals are generally more rolling in nature. Many are covered with acres of pine that were

originally planted by the British.

Malawi's economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for about 38 percent of Gross National Product

and more than 90 percent of the country's export earnings. At least 80 percent of agricultural produce

comes from smallholder farmers on customary land. Commercial farmers on estates produce the remaining.

The main crops grown in Malawi are maize, tobacco, tea, sugarcane, groundnuts, cotton, wheat, coffee, rice

and pulses.

Malawi is an exporter of primary produce and net importer of industrial goods. Its major exports include

tobacco, tea, sugar and groundnuts while its major imports are intermediate (chemical and allied) goods for

industry.

The capital of Malawi is Lilongwe, which is also the administrative city. Lilongwe replaced Zomba as the

capital in 1975. Blantyre is a well-known commercial city.

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Malawi Housing Needs

Unsanitary, temporary housing

conditions, such as mud floors,

thatched roofs, poor ventilation

and no windows characterize 78%

of houses in Malawi. These houses

need constant repair and re-

thatching because of the natural

materials used.

One of the problems in the rural

areas is that grass for thatching is

becoming less and less available

due to pressure on the land for

agricultural use. Many families

have sleepless nights during the

rainy season due to leaking roofs.

Can you imagine what it would be

like to have a roof that leaks into a

house with a dirt floor and no

windows? It creates a very damp and unhealthy atmosphere. Such housing is conducive to the spread of

diseases like respiratory and gastro-intestinal infections, particularly among children under five years of

age and those with HIV- weakened immune systems. Further, when parents die the basic security and

health afforded by a home are lost due to the interrelated issues of inheritance rights and inability to afford

rents or home maintenance.

Houses in which the poor live in the urban areas are slightly better, but often rented, have leaky roofs and

are in crowded, unsanitary conditions.

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Cultural Hints

Malawi Courtesies

Malawians always extend greetings and it is considered rude not to greet someone, especially an elder.

Muli bwanji, is the appropriate greeting. It is customary to greet everyone with a handshake and a greeting.

In rural areas, it shows respect if you lightly grasp your right forearm with your left hand. This can also be

accompanied by a slight dip at the knees, accompanied by bowing down the head. The same goes for

handing things. It should be done with the right hand, preferably held with the left hand.

Religion

Most people (80%) in Malawi are Christian, and mostly belong to one of the Protestant churches originally

founded by the missionaries who came to Malawi in the late 19th

century. There are Muslims, particularly

along the lake, a legacy of the Swahili-Arab slave-traders who operated in this area. There are also other

religions like traditionalists, Hindus and Buddhists.

Traditional food

There is variety of traditional food in Malawi, but below is our staple food.

Nsima (made from maize flour)

Mfutso (dried pumpkin or bean leaves)

Chambo (Fish from Lake Malawi)

Thobwa (Sweet Beer)

Language

The national language is Chichewa. English is the official language; however each tribe speaks a different

language.

Following are some Chichewa and Tumbuka words, which might be useful to you while in Malawi.

Greetings and Phrases

English Chichewa Tumbuka

Good morning Mwadzuka bwanji Mwauka uli

Good afternoon Mwaswera bwanji Mwatandara uli

Good evening Madzulo abwino Mise iwemi

Good night Usiku wabwino Usiku uwemi

Welcome Takulandirani Tampokererani

How are you(How is it) Muli bwanji Muli uli

I am fine Ndiri bwino Ndiri makora

Nsima with beans and pumpkin leaves

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Thank you Zikomo Yewo

I am sick Ndikudwala Naluwala

Is it okay Chabwino Chabwino

Good bye Tapita Taruta

Go well Yendani bwino Rutani makora

Later Nthawi ina Nyengo inyake

What is your name? (How

are you called)

Dzina lanu ndinu ndani ?(for someone

older) Dzina lako ndiwe ndani (for a

young person)

Zina lanu ndimwe anjani? (for someone older)

zina lako ndiwe njani? (young person)

My name is…..Or am

called….

Dzina langa ndine….. ine ndine…. Zina lane ni…..ine ndi

Very much Kwambiri Kwambiri

White person Mzungu Mzungu

Boy Mnyamata Mwanarume

A man Bambo Badada

A woman Mai Bamama

Girl Mtsikana Mwanakazi

Please Chonde Chonde

Friend Mzanga Mnyane

Help! Ndithandizeni! Novwireniko!

Other Common Words or Phrases

Can I have…? Ndingapezeko…. ? Ningasangako

Where are we going to? Tikupita kuti? Tikuluta nkhuni ?

I am tired Ndatopa Navuka

I am leaving/going Ndikupita Nkhuluta

I am going to work Ndikupita ku ntchito Nkhuluta ku ntchito

I am going to the house Ndikupita ku nyumba Nkhuluta ku nyumba

Today Lero Mwanyahuno

Tomorrow Mawa Machero

White person Mzungu Mzungu

Me / You / Us Ine, Iwe (Inu), Ife Ine, iwe, (imwe), ise

Come....Come here Bwera……..Bwera kuno Zanga….Zanga kuno

Go Pita Luta (nga)

Yes / No Eya/ayi Inya / yayi

Stop Ima Yimilira (yima)

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English Chichewa Tumbuka

One Modzi Chimoza

Two Wiri Viwiri

Three Tatu Vitatu

Four Nayi Vinayi

Five Sanu Vinkhonde

Six Sani ndi chimodzi Vinhkonde na chimoza

Seven Sanu ndi ziwiri Vinkhonde na viwiri

Eight Sanu ndi zitatu Vinkhonde na vitatu

Nine Sanu ndi zinayi Vinkhonde na vinayi

Ten Khumi Vikhumi

People usually use English, even in rural villages.

Week Days

English Chichewa Tumbuka

Sunday Lasabata Pasabata

Monday Lolemba Pamonday

Tuesday Lachiwiri Pachiwiri

Wednesday Lachitatu Pachitatu

Thursday Lachinayi Pachinayi

Friday Lachisanu Pachinkhonde

Sit down Khala pansi Khala pasi

Eat Idya Ilya

Speak/Talk Yankhula Yowoya

Sleep, Gona Gona

Write Lemba Lemba

market, shop Nsika, Golosale msika, golosale

Latrine Chimbudzi Chimbuzi

Water Madzi Maji

Drink Imwa Imwa

Brick Njerwa Njerwa

Cold weather Kuzizira Kuzizima

Sand Mchenga Mchemwa

Motor Thope/Matope Thipa/Mathipa

Sun Dzuwa Ziwa

Soil Dothi Dongo

House Nyumba Nyumba

Hot Kutentha Kuthukira/Kotcha

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Saturday Loweluka Pachisulo

Useful Information

Arrival at the airport

At the airport, the team will be met by an HFH Malawi representative at the arrival terminal.

The representative will wear a Habitat T shirt or raise a sign written “Habitat for Humanity”

at the arrival terminal. Thereafter the team will be driven to their lodging place.

Visas

Each GV team participant is responsible for obtaining and paying the cost of his/her on passport

and visa if required. The expiration date on the passport must be at least 6 month beyond the date of

departure from the host country. It is advisable to plan well in advance if you need a visa. For

current information regarding visa matters, visit the web site of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malawi

at www.malawi.gov.mw

Health & Travel Advisory

Following is a synopsis of information compiled from the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) Web

site (www.cdc.gov/travel and or www.who.int/en). Both sites list much more information than we

can include here, so we encourage you to take the time to check them out online.

Required Vaccinations

Recommendations/comments can be found on the CDC website listed above.

Discuss your travel plan and personal plan with your health care provider to determine which

vaccines you will require.

Banks, currency & credit cards

Use the global website www.oanda.com

Tipping

Tipping is welcomed in Malawi and in restaurants, 10% is acceptable where no service charge is

levied. Drivers can be tipped on one’s own discretion according to the quality of their service.

Time difference

Please check online for the time difference from you home country. The following link can be used:

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html

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Weather

Malawi has a sub-tropical climate, which is relatively dry and strong seasonal. The warm-wet

season stretches from November to April, during which 95% of the annual precipitation takes place.

Annual average rainfall varies from 725mm 2,500mm with Lilongwe having an average of 900mm,

Blantyre 1,127mm, Mzuzu 1,289mm and Zomba 1,433mm. Extreme conditions include the drought

that occurred in 1991/92 season and floods of 1988/89 season. The low lying areas such as Lower

Shire valley and some localities in Salima and Karonga are more vulnerable to floods than higher

grounds. A cool, dry winter season is evident from May to August with mean temperatures varying

between 17 and 27 degrees Celsius, with temperatures falling between 4 and 10 degrees Celsius. In

addition, frost may occur in isolated areas in June and July. A hot, dry season lasts from September

to October with average temperatures varying between 25 and 37 degrees Celsius. Humidity ranges

from 50% to 87% for the drier months of September/October and wetter months of

January/February respectively. Light-skinned people should exercise sensible precautions against

sunburn and dehydration.

Because Malawi is fairly close to the equator, the days are generally 12 hours long year-round, with

the sun setting between 6 and 6:30pm.

Electricity/adapters

The electricity supply is 220-230 v single phase or 380-400 v 3-phase. Plugs for appliances are the

square 3-pin British pattern. Take adaptors and transformers if necessary.

Business Hours

Government Departments: 7:30am - 12:00 Mornings Mon - Fri

12:00 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 17:00 Afternoon

Parastatals & NGOs: 07:30 - 12:00 Mornings Mon - Fri

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch

13:00 – 16:30 Afternoon

Banks 08:30 – 15:00 Mon – Fri

08:30 – 11:00 Saturday

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Taxis and Public Transportation

Minibuses 5:30 – 20:00 Daily ($1 per person per trip)

Taxis 24 hour service Daily ($14 per person per trip)

Postal Services & Communication (Internet, international & local calling)

The Malawi postal system is fairly reliable, but slow. Letters or cards sent to the U.S. take about 2

weeks to arrive.

International calls can be made from public phones. A country code and area are required when

making an international call; e.g. (00265 phone number) when calling New York City; while for

local calls area codes are not required.

There are Internet cafés in the country to access your email but you have to pay a small fee.

Shops & Restaurants

Shops are available countrywide and within walking distances. In restaurants, all types of food are

available and generally safe to eat unless you have a queasy tummy. It is often advised that all raw

vegetables in hotels be avoided. Fruits, which can be peeled, are okay and anything cooked will

generally not cause problems. The restaurants which we have included in the itinerary meet Habitat

standards. It is encouraged to take bottled water and please do not drink the tap water.

During your stay at a Habitat affiliate, it is likely you will be served a meal. A hand washing

experience will accompany any meal and is necessary because you will probably eat with your

hands. A basin with water and sometimes soap are brought. You will wash your hands in the basin.

A towel is seldom available and "drip dry' is probably best. This is done before and after the meal.

The meal will vary from area or home to another but mainly will consist of a corn meal dish called

nsima, or rice accompanied by cooked beans, greens, eggs or tomatoes and perhaps cooked meat.

All of this is well cooked, safe to eat, and is usually quite tasty. However be prepared for a limited

diet, there is not much variety in traditional Malawian cooking.

Churches

The local churches available are Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Adventist and Pentecostal.

Tourist attractions

Whilst Malawi cannot offer the wide expanses of savannah and large herds of animals that have

developed the mass tourist market in other countries in Africa, her national parks and reserves are

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silent jewels, veritable retreats, often of splendid isolation, each with its own special attractions

readily appreciated by true lovers of nature, yet most of them are easily accessible from the major

urban centers.

The museum of Malawi at Chichiri is a great place of interest. Mandala House, the original African

Lakes Corporation manager’s house, is attractively situated in beautifully kept grounds. Day trips to

the tea estates in Thyolo and Mulanje and Mwabvi Wildlife Reserves, Lengwe National Park, the

Elephant Marsh in the Lower Shire valley; Mulanje Mountain and its rivers and pools at Likhubula;

to Mpatamanga Gorge or to Zomba are all recommended. For more details on tourist attraction

follow the link below.

www.malawitourism.com.

Laundry

The lodges or hotels will do your laundry for a fee. Individuals are expected to wash their own

undergarments, and these should not be hung outside in public view.

Events

These are usually advertised in the local papers. These activities take place in all the big cities of

Malawi.

Cost of regular items

Bottled water – $0.87 per 500ml

Small snacks- $1.5

Global Village Experience

What to expect in the specific country?

Main City

The main cities are Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu cities you will find supermarkets and general

stores where you can buy assorted food items. You will also find banks and money bureaus where

you change money. In the cities there are also places where you can buy curios.

HFHM is currently building in Salima and Mulanje Districts.

Mulanje

In Mulanje, you will find tea estates where you can do tours. You will also find tourist attraction

areas at Mulanje mountain which is the highest mountain in central Africa. The most famous place

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at Mulanje Mountain is Likhubula Falls where it has a beautiful water fall. There are also grocery

stores and local markets where you can buy different food stuffs.

Salima

In Salima, you will find curio markets, banks and a lot of tourist attraction site like Crocodile farm

and a visit to Lake Malawi. In the rural community you will find a lot of grass thatched houses with

a lot of children as drive through the communities. The people in the villages are very friendly and

will mostly wave at you with a smile. You will also come across a lot of animals like chickens,

pigs, goats, cattle and dogs.

Actual Family Interaction

In most instances homeowners will be available for the entire period of the build. During this period

GV team members have opportunity to interact with the family. Sometimes when the build is town,

the homeowners may be present only during the first and last day of the build because of the nature

of their work. However, in their absence they send a representative who is always part of the build

for the entire build period.

Dress Code for Volunteers

Dressing in Malawi is generally casual. Women can wear long shorts, sundresses or trousers.

Cotton clothes that are easy to wash and line dry are recommended. On work sites women should

wear loose-fitting pants (trousers). In winter, jackets or sweaters are needed and dressing in layers

is helpful. Jackets are needed in morning and evening. Casual footwear or sandals are

recommended, and steel capped boots for the work site.

Type of volunteer work

Mixing mortar Carrying water Passing bricks

Laying bricks Cleaning the area Plastering walls

Passing mortar Sorting brick

Accommodation of volunteers

Stay in a Lodge

2 or more people per room sharing (upon request)

Hot shower and a toilet per room

Air conditioned/ Fan & TV set

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Personal Safety Information

Do not ride in the back of the truck

Do not be in isolated groups of less than 4 people.

Use mosquito nets at night

Wash hands and use anti-bacterial gel (Wash before and after meal)

If you are (or have been) taking Malaria tablets, remember to take them as prescribed every day

Always carry your valuables i.e. passport, money, phone, laptops

Site Safety Information

Make sure to wear head protection when building a wall higher than shoulder height

Wear gloves as appropriate

Wear steel toe cap safety boots

Wear sun cream throughout the day

Drink a lot of bottled water at least 2 litres per day, and 4-6 litres a day in very hot conditions

Lift stone on the ground away from you to give reptile/rodent a place to run

Attend to cuts and scrapes immediately

HFHI Policies

Gift Giving Policy HFHI

GV team members tend to be generous; they often want to give gifts, make donations and sometimes

sponsor children while in country. Sometimes gifts, donations and sponsorships are even solicited by the

community members they encounter away from the work site. Although the team leader has already

addressed these issues in the pre-trip communications with the team, it is the team leader’s responsibility to

reinforce the team members’ understanding of the GV Gift-giving Policy and even enforce it if necessary.

Teams’ funds should not be used to purchase any gifts. The ―Gift-giving Policy‖ (see Appendices) should

also be addressed in the team orientation. As a general rule:

• Personal gift giving is not permitted. Do not give gifts to:

Local masons/volunteers

On-site construction supervisor

Partner family

Host GV coordinator

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Host affiliate staff

HFH national GV coordinator

HFHI Volunteer Engagement specialist and Logistics coordinator

GV team leader

• Giving of gifts to individual children is not permitted.

Team members may bring small items to the work site to share—soccer ball, Frisbee, bubbles,

crayons, pencils, paper, colouring books—as long as team members take the items home to their

lodging every evening.

Any items brought to play with at the work site that a team member would like to donate should be

given to the host GV coordinator who, after the team departs, will see that they are appropriately

distributed in the community.

• Any tools and clothing team members bring and plan to donate should be given to the host GV

coordinator on the final day of building.

The host GV coordinator can advise the team leader on the appropriate tools needed by the host

program.

Donated tools are retained by the host program and used on future builds.

Clothing should be clean or team members should include a small donation to pay for the

laundering of any donated clothing.

Donated clothing is distributed by the local host program or through local charities and

churches, to those most in need.

• Team members should not agree to any type of sponsorship while a member of a GV team.

Team members are sometimes approached about the possibility of ―sponsoring‖ children in the

host country. They might be the partner family children, children of a host program staff member,

of an extended family, or simply a local resident befriended by a team member.

It is against Habitat policy for any Habitat staff member to solicit personal donations from

volunteers, donors, etc.

Wish List for GV Teams to HFH-Malawi FY16

18

Dear GV Team Member

We truly appreciate your willingness to come to Malawi and donate your time and effort to help us reduce

substandard housing conditions in Malawi. Your generosity is truly amazing and it will help us

accomplish the monumental task we face. Some Team Members have asked if there is more that they can

do to help, so we have put together a Wish List of items that can contribute even further to our effort’s

success. This list includes items that identified by GV Teams. We will eventually have to use our funds to

purchase these items, funds that could be spent for housing. A donation of something on the list will allow

us to use the funds for housing improvement instead of organization operations. We know you are already

giving a lot, but maybe you would like to help a little more.

Item Needed Description and

Specifications Value to HFH Malawi

Financial or In-

Kind Support

Priority (1

highest)

Digital Cameras

Color digital

camera(s) with at

least 20 mp

To document GV Team

activity, provide material for

HFH-Malawi newsletters

and other publication or

publicity activities

Provide funds or

provide in-kind 1

Building tools

Poker Vibrators,

Measuring Tapes

in cms, Spirit

Levels 1200 mm

long, Building

Trowel medium

size, Scaffolds

(several pairs),

Building Lines (as

many as possible),

Junter (used for

pointing),

Construction

Gloves, Work

For the work to be

done faster and for

the GV teams

coming to enjoy the

work when all the

materials are

available

Provide

funds or

provide in-

kind 1

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Suits, Wheel

barrows,

Plastering Trowels,

hammers (Very

Important as many

as possible)

Memory

sticks

(thumb

drive)

Any type Keeping data for all activities

taking place within the

offices and other important

information and

communication

Provide funds or

provide in-kind

1

Colour Printers Any type

To have color pictures of

home owner stories and

Provide funds or 1

Cartridge

for printers

Any type To be used in offices when

printing documents

Provide funds or

provide in-kind

2

Hard

caps

Any type For protection Provide funds or

provide in-kind

2

Safety

goggles

Any type For protection

Provide

funds or

provide in-

kind

3

Cooking

utensils

Cups, pots, plates,

spoons, knives and

folks

To be used by GV teams

especially when in the field

Provide funds or

provide in-kind

3

Remember

You are responsible for all shipping and customs expenses.

If you can provide something on the Wish List, please consult with the RD&C Coordinator in Malawi

(Consolata Kambani cchaluluka@habitat.mw ) in advance to be sure that items will meet local

specifications and conditions.

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Again, we really thank you for your willingness to help and we look forward to seeing you in Malawi. We

know you will enjoy the country and the people. We know you will always remember the experience and

the satisfaction of helping improve the lives of others.

Minor Policy HFHI

The following criteria apply to volunteers under age 18 who wish to volunteer with the Global Village

program. These guidelines apply internationally and domestically, unless otherwise specified:

• Minors interested in travelling with Global Village can do so if they are accompanied and supervised

by a parent or legal guardian.

• Minors 16 years of age and older may participate as part of an institutional group, such as a school or

church. HFHI requires the partner organization to submit a memorandum of understanding in which the

partner organization accepts responsibility for all minors.

• Minors who are U.S. citizens and at least 16 years of age may participate in a GV team without

parental or partner organization accompaniment if the team is travelling to a U.S., non-disaster recovery

site and parental permission is given.

• Some projects or hosts may have a higher minimum age requirement. Host programs have the

authority to decide whether to invite minors to participate at their sites. For example, all GV volunteers

travelling to the Gulf Coast or Carter Work Project must be 18 or over.

• All minors and their parents, whether the minor is travelling internationally or domestically, must

complete and have notarized a special GV Waiver of Liability for Minors. Contact the GV registration

coordinator to request a GV Waiver of Liability for Minors.

When considering inviting minors to the team, please keep in mind and communicate to minors and

parents that:

• U.S. child labour laws prohibit minors under 16 from participating on an active construction site.

• Volunteers under age 18 will be restricted to age-appropriate activities (see Appendices, ―Minor and

Age-appropriate Work‖).

Age Guardianship Working conditions Host Setting Documentation required

Below

16

Must be

accompanied by a

parent.

Not permitted on active build site.

Can only perform age appropriate

functions (i.e. landscaping, serving

food; not to include heavy lifting or

Affiliates/host programs

in any country must be

equipped, trained and

willing to handle children

Memorandum of

understanding and

minor waiver releasing

Habitat of liability signed by both

21

construction on or off site). under 18 in order to host. parents.

16 and

17

Must be

accompanied by a

parent or under

care of an

institution.

Ratio must be no

more than five

minors to one

adult.

May work on active

construction site, but cannot:

• Work on roof.

• Operate power tools.

• Participate in blitz builds.

• Work about six feet.

• Be a part of demolition or

excavation work.

• Do heavy lifting.

Affiliates/host programs

in any country must be

equipped, trained and

willing to handle children

under 18 in order to host.

Memorandum of understanding

with partner organization, and

minor release (with waiver and

authority to treat) signed by both

parents.

18 and

older

Treat as an adult. Treat as an adult Treat as an adult. Standard Global

Village documents.

Host programs may not be able guarantee age-appropriate work will be available due to locally-

applicable laws, construction schedules, local program guidelines, and capacity.

Minors must be supervised by the named individual(s) at all times. Minors not allowed on the

active construction site must still be supervised at their alternative location.

Trip costs are the same for minors, regardless of the availability of age-appropriate work.

A youth to adult ratio of no greater than five youth to one adult must be met.

Ambassador for Habitat for Humanity while Volunteering

Global Village Teams reflect the mission and purpose of Habitat for Humanity – to witness to the gospel of

Jesus Christ through loving acts and the spoken and written word. We help to develop communities with

people in need by building houses in partnership with God and people everywhere. Although you are

making a significant contribution of time, talent and money, GV work team members still are guests in the

host country they visit. It is imperative that the actions of team members reflect the values of the Habitat

mission. Follow these suggestions:

Team members are expected to respect the ethics and morals of the country in which they visit.

Equally important to the team’s physical labor in construction is their expression of love through

humility and respect towards the partner families, community, Habitat staff, and each other.

Use of illegal drugs by team members is strictly forbidden at all times.

22

Consumption of alcohol at work sites and official Habitat meetings is prohibited and should be

moderated at all other times.

Consumption of alcoholic beverages is a cultural norm in some places but is frowned upon in others.

HFHI GV has strict guidelines regarding the purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages during a

GV trip.

Alcohol can be used in moderation outside working hours.

No team funds may be used for the purchase of alcoholic beverages of any type.

Ask for separate receipts for food and alcoholic beverages.

Designate a team member to collect money for alcoholic beverages or have each team member pay for

his/her own alcoholic beverages.

If alcohol is included on the receipt, subtract that amount and refigure the total.

Use of tobacco may be offensive to others. Please respect the values of your hosts and fellow team

members. HFHI GV has strict guidelines regarding the purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages

during a GV trip. Note that NO team funds may be used for the purchase of alcoholic beverages of any

type. If alcohol is being consumed ask for separate receipts for food and alcoholic beverages. Designate a

team member to collect money for alcoholic beverages or have each team member pay for his/her own

alcoholic beverages.

Emergency Medical Assistance

ACE Travel Assistance

Insurance

(HFHI insurance –

for teams from US, Canada,

EMEA and AP sending

programs)

PHONE NUMBER

1-855-243-6124 (toll free in the USA or

Canada)

1-240-330-1432 (collect outside the

USA)

Plan Code: 01AH585

Assistance Provider: Europ Assistance

USA

POLICY NUMBER

GLM N10784177

Zurich Insurance

(for teams from GB,

Northern Ireland and

Ireland)

PHONE NUMBER

+44 1489 868 888

Insurance provider: Masterpolicy

POLICY NUMBER

Great Britain: P ZUR10873

Northern Ireland: P ZUR9270

Republic of Ireland: P

ZUR9837

23

Packing List

Passport Photocopies of all important documents,

including passport information

Insurance information and note card detailing

medical conditions/allergies (keep in wallet)

Over the counter medication e.g.: aspirin, anti-

diarrhoea agents, antiseptic ointment, bandage,

etc.

Any prescription medicines you are currently taking Hat

Notepad, pencil or pen Insect repellent

Swimsuit Plastic bags for wet or dirty clothes

Clothes pins to hang clothes up Work gloves (cloth ones work fine)

Waterless hand sanitizer Toiletries

Shampoo Soap (antibacterial)

Fingernail clippers, nail file Light-weight rope or twine (to hang clothes on)

Umbrella or rain gear Sun-screen

Daily work clothes (for construction –no shorts and

tank tops- see above guidelines)

One pair of nice clothes for evenings out

One set of casual clothes for R&R Camera, film, batteries

Shoes: good shoes for walking and work (heavy

work boots are usually not needed), flip flops, one

pair of nice sandals or shoes

Baby wipes and small packages of Kleenex

Flashlight, esp. recommended are the kind you wear

on your head: hands-free flashlight (extra batteries

are good)

Family pictures to share with other team

members

24

APPENDIX 1

Country of Interest: Malawi

HFH Country Office: Lilongwe, Malawi

HFH Address: P.O. Box 1638

HFH Address Cont: Lilongwe, Malawi

Construction

Option

HFH Malawi strives to let families be able to move out of crowded housing

situations, poor sanitary conditions and unstable conditions that characterize

slums in the informal urban settlements in and around Lilongwe, Salima and

Mulanje.

The houses for the orphans and vulnerable children are fully subsidized.

HFH Malawi has several house designs for the OVC project. The house sizes

vary from 2 to 4 roomed depending on the family size. Each house built

under this project has a Ventilated Improved Pit latrine (VIP) and the family

is provided with long lasting insecticide treated mosquito.

Priority Cities

(Community

description)

Mulanje District

Orphans and other vulnerable children project

Mulanje District is situated in the southern part of Malawi. The district has

an HIV prevalence rate of 20%, which is one of the highest in the country,

and over 45,000 OVC accounting for 16% of the total population of

children under the age of 18 in the district (GOM, Mulanje District Social-

Economic Profile, 2008). The district is about 1 hour from city of Blantyre

and about 1 ½ hours from Chileka International Airport. Most people in the

districts are subsistence farmers who earn their income mainly from casual

labour.

It is important to note that for teams that wish to build in Mulanje, there

are connecting flights available in Blantyre, Chileka Airport. It is easy to

travel from Blantyre to Mulanje than from Lilongwe to Mulanje.

According to a needs assessment survey that was done in June 2009,

Mulanje is one of the districts with a lot of orphans followed by Salima and

Mangochi. For this reason, in 2010 HFH Malawi decided started to

implement ―Abwenzi Athu,(Our Friends)‖ OVC project in Mulanje district

with possible expansion to the other areas. Currently, HFH Malawi has

built over 112 houses thus assisting about 440 orphans and vulnerable

children.

The following ranking criteria is used to prioritize beneficiaries in each

area:

No. Criteria Ranking

1. Household with no house to live in 10

25

2. Child headed households 9

3. Children living with HIV/AIDS 8

4. Chronically ill adult/child living in

household

7

5. Caregivers with disabilities 6

6. Elderly caregiver (older than 45 years 5

7. Households with double orphans 4

8. Female-headed households 3

9. Single or widowed caregiver 2

10. More than 3 orphaned children living in

household

1

Salima District

Orphans and other vulnerable children project

Salima District is located in the Central Region of Malawi, 103 kilometers

east of Lilongwe, the country’s capital city. It has a total land area of

2,196 square km, which represents 2.3% of Malawi’s total land area. It

shares boundaries with Nkhotakota to the north, Dowa and Ntchisi to the

north-west, Lilongwe to the west, and Dedza and Mangochi to the south.

The entire eastern part of the district borders Lake Malawi.

According to Social Economic Profile for Salima (2011-2016), Salima

District has an adult population (age group 15 to 49) of 147, 453. The

District has an adult HIV prevalence of 8.9% against a national HIV

prevalence of 12%. High prevalence of HIV in the District has led to

increase in morbidity, mortality and orphan hood. For instance, 10%1 of all

the children in Salima are Orphans. The district faces acute shortages of

house as most the houses are made of mad and are glass thatched with poor

ventilation. This is why in 2012 HFH Malawi started an OVC project in

the Traditional Authority Kalonga with high likelihood of expanding to

other areas with acute housing needs. Currently, HFH Malawi has built

over 59 houses thus assisting about 120 orphans and vulnerable children.

Preferred Build

Months

The preferred months of construction are April through November due to

the rains.

Homeowner

Education

Homeowner trainings include teachings based on the traditional program that

HFH Malawi offers including the basic principles of HFHI’s no-profit loan

policy, HFH Malawi’s beneficiary criteria, the beneficiaries sweat equity,

1 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, National Statistical Office, 2006

26

working alongside their neighbors, etc.

The involvement of partner communities begins with identification of

beneficiary families. Field officers spend a lot of time in the communities in

informal settlements and slum areas, going house to house and sensitizing

residents about Habitat for Humanity and its mission. In essence, the field

officers lay an essential foundation of shared understanding and commitment

to the program by those that are willing to be part of it. Through the insights

gained, they are also able to help screen qualified homeowners. Using a pre-

set selection criteria, the field officers are able to identify eligible families

and recruit those that are willing to participate in the project.

Country

Statistical Data

80% of families in Malawi live in substandard housing characterized by

mud walls and grass thatch houses (Population and Housing Census,

2008).

Malawi has a high rural to urban migration - 5.3% per annum according

to UN Habitat, State of African Cities Report, 2010.

Malawi is one of the world’s least urbanized countries, but is

experiencing the pressures of one of the highest rates of urban migration.

Approximately 21,000 new units are needed every year for the next 10

years to meet housing demand – this far exceeds supply

According to UNICEF (2010), the number of OVC in Malawi has

increased from 937,000 in 2001 to 1,400,000 in 2010, representing a 66%

growth in less than a decade.

It is estimated that there were one million people of all ages living with

HIV AND AIDS and 650,000 AIDS orphans (UNICEF 2010).

Since 1986, HFH Malawi has served over 9, 600 low income families

and Orphans and Vulnerable Groups in both rural and urban areas