Peace Corps Malawi Welcome Book - September 2006

THE PEACE CORPS WELCOMES YOU TO
MALAWI
A P E A C E C O R P S P U B L I C ATI O N
FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS
September 2006
A WELCOME LETTER
To Prospective Volunteers:
Greetings from Lilongwe! On behalf of the entire staff of Peace

Corps/Malawi, let me say that Im very pleased that you are
considering becoming a Volunteer here. The Malawian people are
warm and generous, and the countryside is breathtaking. On top of
all that, theres plenty of work to be done!
This is a challenging time for Malawi. The countrys infrastructures

are weak, poverty and hunger are common, corruption is
rampant, crime is on the rise, and the specter of HIV/AIDS casts
a shadow over all aspects of life. As you can imagine, there are
many frustrations for Malawians. But, with challenges come
opportunities, and as our program works in the areas of greatest
need in Malawi, we have many opportunities to make a difference.
If you decide to come to Malawi, youll be making an important

commitment, one that will provide many challenges, frustrations,
and joys in the months ahead. As many returned Peace Corps
Volunteers can attest, rewards include personal growth and the
satisfaction of making a positive difference in the lives of others.
A two-year commitment to serve in the Peace Corps is not made
casually. It is a commitment you will make repeatedly and in many
ways throughout your two years. Many people will depend on
this commitment, from the people in your host community to the
government of Malawi, the Peace Corps, and even the American
taxpayer. You will be challenged in every way imaginable, and in
ways you have not imagined. Our trainers and staff are here to
support you and we have over 40 years of history of an effective
program in Malawi, but you are responsible for your selfyour
work, your health, and your integrity. Please consider carefully
before accepting this opportunity to serve the people of Malawi.
Warmest Regards,
Dale Mosier
Country Director
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Map of Malawi
Welcome Letter 1
Peace Corps/Malawi History and Programs 7

History of the Peace Corps in Malawi 7
History and Future of Peace Corps
Programming in Malawi 7-9
Country Overview: Malawi at a Glance 11

History 11
Government 11-12
Economy 12-13
People and Culture 13
Environment 13-14
Resources for Further Information 17
Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle 23

Communications 23-25
Housing and Site Location 25-26
Living Allowance and Money Management 26-27
Food and Diet 27-28
Transportation 28
Geography and Climate 28-29
Social Activities 29
Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior 29-30
Rewards and Frustrations 31
Personal Safety 32
Peace Corps Training 35
Overview of Pre-Service Training 35
Technical Training 35-36
Language Training 36
Cross-Cultural Training 37
Health Training 37
Safety Training 37
Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service 38-39
Your Health Care and Safety in Malawi 41

Health Issues in Malawi 41-42
Helping You Stay Healthy 42-43
Maintaining Your Health 43-44
Womens Health Information 44-45
Your Peace Corps Medical Kit 45-46
Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist 46-48
Safety and SecurityOur Partnership 48-54
Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk 49-50
Summary Strategies to Reduce Risk 50-51
Support from Staff 51-55
Security Issues in Malawi 55-56
Staying Safe: Dont Be a Target for Crime 56-57
Preparing for the Unexpected: Safety Training
and Volunteer Support in Malawi 57-58
Diversity and Cross-Cultural Issues 61

Overview of Diversity in Malawi 62
What Might a Volunteer Face? 62
Possible Issues for Female Volunteers 62-64
Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color 64-65
Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers 65
Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian,
or Bisexual Volunteers 65-66
Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers 66-67
Possible Issues for Volunteers With Disabilities 67-68
Frequently Asked Questions 71
Welcome Letters From Malawi Volunteers 77
Packing List 87
Pre-departure Checklist 93
Contacting Peace Corps Headquarters 97

PEACE CORPS/MALAWI
HISTORY AND PROGRAMS
History of Peace Corps in Malawi
The first Peace Corps Volunteers arrived in Malawi just

prior to independence in 1963. Most Volunteers worked on
education and health projects, and numbers quickly grew
to more than 350 Volunteers. In total, more than 2,300
Americans have served as Peace Corps Volunteers in Malawi.
Under the very conservative Banda regime, the program was
suspended for several years due to the non-conformist role
of some Volunteers, but the program was restored in 1978.
Since that time, the program has developed a close working
relationship with the government of Malawi.
The change of government in 1994 opened up the possibility

of placing Volunteers in rural villages for the first time (under
the prior regime, foreigners were not allowed to live at the
village level). With the increased flexibility in programming,
the Peace Corps began working with counterpart ministries
to focus programming efforts and identify more appropriate
areas for collaboration at the community level. Currently,
there are approximately 100 Volunteers working in the health,
education, and environment sectors.
History and Future of Peace Corps
Programming in Malawi
Peace Corps/Malawi focuses on three main areas of vital need:

health, education, and natural resource management. These
projects have evolved over the years based on the needs of
the government and communities with whom the Peace
Corps works.
A WELCOME BOOK MALAWI 7

Community Health Project
Malawi ranks among the countries most severely affected by

the HIV/AIDS epidemic and is also severely affected by many
other serious health conditions. The Peace Corps HIV/AIDS
and community health project (CHP) works in collaboration
with the National AIDS Control Program and the Ministry of
Health to address some of the health issues in rural areas.
Volunteers work in areas of AIDS education, orphan care,
home-based care, youth and at-risk groups, child survival
activities, nutrition, disease prevention, environmental health,
and womens health issues. A few Peace Corps Volunteers
work in nursing colleges as educators for health professionals.
For many years, Peace Corps/Malawi had the only stand-alone
HIV/AIDS project in the Peace Corps, and HIV/AIDS continues
to be the cornerstone for health activities.
The AIDS pandemic strikes across all social strata in many Peace
Corps countries. The loss of teachers has crippled education
systems, while illness and disability drains family income and
forces governments and donors to redirect limited resources
from other priorities. The fear and uncertainty AIDS causes
has led to increased domestic violence and stigmatizing of
people living with HIV/AIDS, isolating them from friends and
family and cutting them off from economic opportunities. As
a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will confront these issues on
a very personal level. It is important to be aware of the high
emotional toll that disease, death, and violence can have on
Volunteers. As you strive to integrate into your community,
you will develop relationships with local people who might
die during your service. Because of the AIDS pandemic,
some Volunteers will be regularly meeting with HIV-positive
people and working with training staff, office staff, and host
family members living with AIDS. Volunteers need to prepare
themselves to embrace these relationships in a sensitive and
positive manner. Likewise, malaria and malnutrition, motor
8 PEACE CORPS
vehicle accidents and other unintentional injuries, domestic
violence and corporal punishment are problems a Volunteer
may confront. You will need to anticipate these situations and
utilize supportive resources available throughout your training
and service to maintain your own emotional strength so that
you can continue to be of service to your community.
Secondary Education Project
Peace Corps/Malawis secondary education project (SEP)

provides teachers and teacher trainers to community day
secondary schools (CDSS), which are community started and
supported institutions. Volunteers teach physical science,
mathematics, biology, and English. The Malawi educational
system has undergone serious stress and deterioration in the
past few years. The initiation of free primary education in
1994 has greatly increased the need for schools and teachers.
The project emphasizes girls education and life skills training
and uses community content-based instruction techniques.
Community-Based Natural Resources Management
This project focuses on community-based management

of natural resources in protected areas such as national
parks, game reserves, and forest reserves. Volunteers work
with border communities that want to use protected area
resources more efficiently and sustainably. Volunteers work
is accompanied by the promotion of sustainable agricultural
practices, income-generating activities, and agroforestry
interventions requested by communities bordering parks
and reserves. Volunteers work with community groups by
helping them to identify and prioritize needs via a community
assessment process and then by implementing local projects
that address the identified needs. Volunteers also serve as
liaisons between parks and wildlife and forestry staff and
local communities.

COUNTRY OVERVIEW:
MALAWI AT A GLANCE
History
Malawi is a small country in southeast Africa, and is known

for its natural beauty and its warm, hard-working people.
The first significant Western contact began with the arrival of
David Livingstone in 1859. Fiery sunlight glittering from Lake
Nyasa gave the name Malawiland of flaming watersto an
ancient Bantu empire. Present-day descendants revived the
name when what had once been the British Protectorate of
Nyasaland became independent in 1963.
The country is considered something of a success story

in African political development. In 1994, after 30 years
of one-party, dictatorial rule dating back to independence
from Britain, Malawi quietly and peacefully elected a new
government committed to multi-party democracy. In spite
of the wave of euphoria over their newly won freedom, the
Malawian people continue to face the obstacles of poverty,
drought, environmental degradation, hunger, disease, rising
crime, and illiteracy on their path to social, political, and
economic reform.
Government
Malawi has a parliamentary style of government with the

president as the head of state. The president has many
powers and sets the agenda for parliamentary debate.
Peaceful presidential elections were held in 1999 and again
in 2004, when the current president, Bingu wa Mutharika,
was elected. The national government still centrally manages

most issues, although strides have been made toward a
decentralization of power and greater control at the
local level.
Two parties currently dominate the political landscape.

President Mutharikas party is the Democratic Progressive
Party (DPP), which split off from the United Democratic
Front (UDF), the party of former President Bakili Muluzi. The
Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the party of power during
the 30-year authoritarian rule of former President Hastings
Banda, is also still very much an active player. The capital
has been located in Lilongwe since the mid-1970s. Some
governmental entities still remain in the southern town of
Zomba, the former capital. With the move of the capital, all
ministries, embassies, and support structures for government
shifted, so buildings and facilities in Lilongwe are relatively
new. Lilongwe has grown tremendously following the move,
with a population of roughly 500,000 people.
Economy
Agriculture forms the mainstay of Malawis economy,

accounting for nearly half of its gross domestic product
(GDP). Tobacco, tea, and sugar together generate more
than 70 percent of export earnings, with tobacco providing
the lions share (over 60 percent). The agricultural sector
employs nearly half of those formally employed and directly or
indirectly supports an estimated 85 percent of the population.
Malawi has a narrow economic base with little industry
and mining and no known economically viable deposits of
gemstones, precious metals, or oil. As a landlocked country,
transport costs make imported goods very expensive.
Zimbabwe and South Africa are Malawis most important
trading partners, and the value of the Kwacha, the local
12 PEACE CORPS
currency, is greatly influenced by the economic conditions
in those countries. Currently, inflation is running at about 15
percent per year, and economic growth is in the 3 percent to
4 percent range.
People and Culture
Malawi is one of Africas most densely populated countries

with a population of about 12 million in a land area roughly
the size of Indiana. The African population includes six
principal tribes. Although there are distinct linguistic and
cultural differences among ethnic groups, geographic region
tends to be the predominate means of group identification.
English is one of the official languages, though it is not
commonly used outside major urban centers. More than 50
percent of the people speak Chichewa, the other official
language, and almost everyone understands it.
Malawi is predominantly a Christian country, but it also

has a sizeable Islamic population, mostly located along the
southern lakeshores. Along with the major organized religions,
animist beliefs are still strong in many areas of the country,
and these beliefs often influence the organized religions as
well. Many religions take different forms than what you may
be accustomed to, as local cultures and historical beliefs
influence the practice.
While living and working in this very conservative society,

you will be expected to respect the culture and traditions and
tolerate or adapt to the differences you may find.
Environment
Malawi is a narrow country that hugs the western shore

of Lake Malawi (sometimes referred to as Lake Nyasa). At
places, its land area is barely 50 miles wide. Malawi shares
borders with Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique.

Malawis altitude varies from less than 200 feet above sea
level, at Nsanje in the south, to almost 10,000 feet at the
peak of Mount Mulanje. Lake Malawi, about 1,500 feet above
sea level and 380 miles long, is Africas third largest lake and
Malawis major tourist attraction. Imaginethe lake is larger
than the state of New Hampshire! Malawi has rainy and dry
seasons. The rainy season is from November to April, with the
heaviest rainfall between December and March. The terrain
varies widely and includes grassy slopes, rolling hills, striking
rock outcroppings, and dense forests.
14 PEACE CORPS
NOTES

RESOURCES FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION
We offer a list of Web sites for you to search for additional
information about the Peace Corps and Malawi, or connect
you to returned Volunteers and other invitees. Please keep in
mind that links change. We have tried to make sure that all
these links are active and current, but we cannot guarantee it.
A note of caution: As you surf these sites, please also
remember that you will find bulletin boards and chat rooms
in which people are free to give opinions and advice based
on their own experiences. The opinions expressed are not
those of the Peace Corps or the United States government.
You may also find opinions of people who were unhappy with
their choice to serve in the Peace Corps. As you read these
comments, we hope you will keep in mind that the Peace
Corps is not for everyone, and no two people experience their
service in the same way.
General Information About the Countries:
www.countrywatch.com
On this site, you can learn anything from what time it is in
Lilongwe to information about converting currency from dollar
to kwacha. Just click on Malawi and go from there.
www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations
Excellent site for travel books, maps, and general
travel information.

www.state.gov
This is the U.S. State Departments website, which issues
background notes periodically about countries around the
world. Find Malawi and learn more about its social and
political history.
www.psr.keele.ac.uk/official.htm
This site includes links to all the official sites for governments
of countries around the world.
www.geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm
This online World Atlas includes maps and geographical
information about countries around the world. Each country
page contains links to other sites, such as the Library of
Congress, that contain comprehensive historical, social, and
political backgrounds.
www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/infonation/e_glance.htm
This United Nations site allows you to search for statistical
information for member states of the U.N.
www.worldinformation.com
This site provides an additional source of current and
historical information for countries worldwide.
Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees:
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/peacecorps
This Yahoo site hosts a bulletin board where prospective
Volunteers and returned Volunteers can come together.
www.rpcv.org
This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made
up of returned Volunteers. On this site you can find links to
all the Web pages of the friends of groups for most countries
of service, made up of former Volunteers who served in those
countries. There are also regional groups who frequently get
18 PEACE CORPS
together for social events and local Volunteer activities. Or
skip straight to the Friends of Malawi site:
http://home.att.net/~friendsofmalawi
www.peacecorpswriters.org
This site is hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers.
It is a monthly online publication of essays and Volunteer
accounts from countries around the world.
Online Articles/Current News About Malawi:
http://www.nationmalawi.com/
News from Malawis main newspaper.
http://www.zikomo.net/
A local site with information on related to business in Malawi
International Development Sites About Malawi:
www.unaids.org/
Website for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/
countries/malawi/index.html
Overview of USAIDs projects in Malawi
www.worldbank.org/
World Bank website. Search on Malawi for several
documents related to developmental aid
www.comminit.com/index.html
Site for the Communication Initiative, which includes
information on development in general

Recommended Books:
1. Chanock, Martin. Law, Custom and Social Order: The
Colonial Experience in Malawi and Zambia. New
York, Cambridge University Press, 1985.
2. Msukwa, Louis A.H. Meeting the Basic Health Needs
of Rural Malawi: An Alternative Strategy. Norwich,
England, Geo Books, 1981.
3. Rafael, B.R. A Short History of Malawi. Washington,
DC, Three Continents Press, 1980.
4. Sanders, Renfield. Malawi. (Places and Peoples of the
World Series). New York, NY: Chelsea House, 1988.
5. Young, A. and Young, D.M. A Geography of Malawi.
North Ponfret, VT: Trafalgar, 1991.
Books About the History of the Peace Corps

1. Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs. All You Need is Love: The
Peace Corps and the Spirit of the 1960s. Cambridge,
MA: Harvard University Press, 2000.
2. Rice, Gerald T. The Bold Experiment: JFKs Peace

Corps. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame
Press, 1985.
3. Stossel, Scott. Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent

Shriver. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution
Press, 2004.
Books on the Volunteer Experience

1. Dirlam, Sharon. Beyond Siberia: Two Years in a
Forgotten Place. Santa Barbara, CA: McSeas
Books, 2004.
2. Casebolt, Marjorie DeMoss. Margarita: A Guatemalan

Peace Corps Experience. Gig Harbor, WA:
Red Apple Publishing, 2000.
20 PEACE CORPS
3. Erdman, Sarah. Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two
Years in the Heart of an African Village. New York,
NY: Picador, 2003.
4. Hessler, Peter. River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze.

New York, NY: Perennial, 2001.
5. Kennedy, Geraldine (ed.). From the Center of the

Earth: Stories out of the Peace Corps. Santa Monica,
CA: Clover Park Press, 1991.
6. Thompsen, Moritz. Living Poor: A Peace Corps

Chronicle. Seattle, WA: University of Washington
Press, 1997 (reprint).

LIVING CONDITIONS AND
VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE
Communications
Mail
Few countries in the world offer the level of mail service we

consider normal in the United States. If you bring with you
expectations for U.S. standards for mail service, you will
be in for much frustration. Mail takes a minimum of two to
three weeks to arrive, often longer. Some mail may simply
not arrive (fortunately this is not a frequent occurrence, but
it does happen). We do not want to sound discouraging, but
when we are thousands of miles from our families and friends,
communication becomes a very sensitive issue. We want
you to be aware of the reality of mail service in developing
countries. Advise your family and friends to number their
letters and to include Air Mail and Par Avion on their
envelopes. Packages take six to nine weeks for airmail, and
surface mail packages take around six months. If someone is
sending you a package, its advisable to keep it small and use a
padded envelope so it will be treated as a letter.
Despite delays, we strongly encourage you to write to your

family regularly (perhaps weekly or bi-weekly) and to number
your letters. Family members will typically become worried
when they do not hear from you, so please advise your
parents, friends, and relatives that mail is sporadic and that
they should not worry if they do not receive your
letters regularly.
Peace Corps Volunteers in Malawi may receive packages for

six months after arrival without paying duty and customs

taxes. This privilege is for work-related clothing and
household items. Duty may be charged on food and cosmetics.
Also, valuable items should not be shipped since they
sometimes get lost or held up. If duty is charged, the lower
the valuethe lower the duty.
Your address during training will be:
Your Name, PCT

Peace Corps
P. O. Box 208
Lilongwe, Malawi
Once you have become a Volunteer, you will have your mail
sent directly to your new address at your site.
Telephones
Do not expect e-mail or telephone access during training,

though the training site does have telephones for emergency
use. Generally, long-distance communication via telephone
is available but very expensive. Note that calling cards (MCI,
Sprint, and AT&T) do not work in Malawi. Alternatively,
many Volunteers buy a cellphone locally (if you bring one
from the U.S., be sure it can function in Malawi). These also
have disadvantages, as there is still not coverage country-
wide, and most Volunteers do not have the electricity needed
to recharge a cellphone. While telephone communication
is possible for Volunteers in Malawi, calling the United
States is often a very frustrating experience. Volunteers are
encouraged to establish a system of writing letters as the best
method of regular communication with family and friends and
to schedule periodic calls from family as a special treat.
Having a phone in your house as a Volunteer is very unlikely

due to the rural location of Volunteer sites. The Volunteer
respite houses in Blantyre and Mzuzu have phones where
many Volunteers receive calls from family.
24 PEACE CORPS
Computer, Internet, and E-mail Access
Personal computers/laptops are not needed or recommended,

since only a few Volunteers have electricity in their homes.
Computers with Word and Excel are available at the Peace
Corps office and the two Volunteer respite houses. The three
major cities also have Internet cafs.
Housing and Site Location
Volunteers in Malawi are posted from the far north in Chitipa

to the far south in Nsanje. Volunteers are almost exclusively
posted to rural areasat health centers, community
secondary schools, or in communities surrounding forest or
game reserves. Site placement is made during the training
period after the staff has had an opportunity to evaluate
individual capabilities and strengths. Site placements are
determined primarily by work-related needs.
Housing can vary from mud houses with either thatch or

tin roofs to fired-brick houses with tin roofs. Most likely, a
Volunteers house will be comparable to their co-workers
dwelling. Housing will include basics such as a bed, table,
and chairs, but possibly not much more. Each Volunteer will
receive an allowance to purchase needed settling-in items.
Housing is organized and provided by the hosting site, either
by the school, health center, or community. Volunteers do not
generally live with families during their two years of service
following training, though this is a possibility.
Volunteers might be located anywhere from a half hour

to three days from the capital city. Closeness to another
Volunteer varies from site to site. Your nearest Volunteer
neighbor may be a VSO (British) or JICA
(Japanese) Volunteer.

Most Volunteers do not have electricity or running water.
Water will likely come from a well, and your evenings will be
spent reading by lantern and candlelight. Your flexibility and
adaptability will be important as you adjust to these
new conditions.
During the training period, trainees stay with a host family

and share most meals with their host family. Homestay is
considered one of the most important aspects of the training
program and is required for this period. Generally, trainees
will be placed in a village with three to four other trainees and
one to two staff members.
Living Allowance and Money Management
As a Volunteer, you will receive a modest living allowance,

paid in local currency, which allows you to live on par
with your colleagues and co-workers. The amount for this
allowance is based on regular surveys of Volunteers and costs
of living in Malawi. The living allowance is paid quarterly
into Volunteer bank accounts up-country, so the ability
to manage funds wisely is important. Currently, the living
allowance is equivalent to approximately $120 per month.
Your living allowance is for your food, utilities, household
supplies, clothing, recreation and entertainment, reading
materials, and other incidentals. Included in the quarterly
allowance is a travel allowance, which should be sufficient for
necessary trips to and from Lilongwe from your site for official
workshops, medical appointments, and so forth. Like Peace
Corps Volunteers worldwide, those in Malawi are expected
to live at a level commensurate with that of their Malawian
co-workers. You may find that you will be receiving more
remuneration than your counterpart or supervisor.
26 PEACE CORPS
You will also receive a leave allowance (standard in all Peace
Corps countries) of $24 per month. This allowance is paid in
local currency along with your living allowance.
Volunteers suggest you bring travelers checks, cash, and

credit cards for vacation travel. Note that it is now possible to
access a U.S. bank account with a VISA card at some ATMs in
major urban areas (you may draw only kwacha, not dollars).
The amount of cash or travelers checks that you will need
will depend on the amount of traveling you plan to do while
serving in Malawi. Only a few local establishments accept
credit cards, so they are mostly useful for travel to
other countries.
The local currency is Malawi kwacha. The current exchange

rate is approximately 135.465 kwacha to the U.S. dollar.
Food and Diet
The staple food in Malawi is maize (corn) prepared as a thick

porridge called nsima and eaten with vegetables or beans.
Many fruits and vegetables grow in Malawi, and with a little
creativity, you can enjoy a widely varied diet. Most Volunteers
prepare their own food, although after becoming more familiar
with their site assignment, many Volunteers hire someone
to help with household work, including cooking. Fruits and
vegetables are available in season, which means some things
will not be available at the market year round. Meat and dairy
products are available in the towns, though they can
be expensive.
Trainees and Volunteers who are vegetarians will be able

to eat well in Malawi after becoming familiar with local
food items and their preparation. Most Malawians do not
understand vegetarianism and will not normally be prepared
to serve a vegetarian meal if you are a guest in their home

(even if they themselves do not regularly eat meat because
of the expense). However, a sensitive explanation about your
preferences will be accepted. Most vegetarian Volunteers have
no difficulty once the initial adjustment is accomplished.
Transportation
Volunteers primary mode of transport is public buses and

matolas, usually small pickup trucks loaded with people and
goods. Buses and mini-buses travel among towns on irregular
schedules (i.e., when full), so travel in Malawi is never a
timed affair.
Many Volunteers receive a mountain bike to facilitate their

ability to do their work. If you ride a bicycle, helmets are
required (and provided by the Peace Corps). The bikes we
issue are usually mens-style bikes that can be difficult for
females to ride wearing a skirt. Many females wear shorts
under their skirt to solve this problem.
Volunteers are not allowed to drive and/or operate motor

vehicles or motorcycles (two- or three-wheeled).
Geography and Climate
Malawi is south of the equator, so the seasons will be opposite

of those in the United States. In June, July, and August the
temperatures will range from 35 degrees Fahrenheit (F) in
the higher elevations to 60 to 70 degrees F near the shore
of Lake Malawi. The hottest months are October, November,
and December. Temperatures will range from 70 degrees F
in the high elevations to around 90 to 95 degrees F in the
lower elevations. In the cool season, sweaters or jackets are
practical. In the hot season, loose-fitting cotton clothes are
best. The rainy season starts in November or December and
28 PEACE CORPS
lasts through April. The rest of the year is quite dry, although
rain showers are possible throughout the year. At certain
times of the year, temperatures can drop to a chilly low.
The geography of Malawi is dominated by Lake Malawi, which

stretches down most of the eastern side of the country. The
lake is a beautiful setting for many activities and also provides
approximately 85 percent of the fresh-water tropical aquarium
fish in the world.
Social Activities
Malawis first television station began broadcasting relatively

recently, and it now offers a few local news segments and
programming from South Africa and Europe. There are
several radio stations, some of which play popular music.
Many Volunteers bring shortwave radios so that they can
listen to international broadcasts (BBC, Voice of America,
Radio Deuschewella, etc.). Malawi has no cinemas.
The most common form of entertainment is social interactions

among friends and neighbors. Some Volunteers visit other
Volunteers on weekends and during holidays. We encourage
Volunteers to remain at their sites in order to develop
relationships with their community, but we also recognize that
an occasional trip to the capital and to visit friends is needed
as well.
Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior
Malawians value appearance, and norms for dress here are

much more conservative than in the United States. In the
United States, we view our clothes as a reflection of our
individuality. In Malawi, your dress is seen as a sign of your
respect to those around you. Clothes that are dirty, have

holes in them, or are too revealing are not appreciated by
Malawians. Wearing them will reduce the amount of respect
given to you and your effectiveness. If you need to choose
between T-shirts and blouses, choose blouses. Pants and
shorts for women, while now legal, are not appropriate at
work or in public. Men also prefer to wear nicer pants, shirts,
and even neckties for teaching school or working in an office.
One of the difficulties of finding your place as a Peace Corps

Volunteer is fitting into the local culture while maintaining
your own identity and acting like a professional all at the
same time. It is not an easy thing to resolve, and we can
only provide you with guidelines. You will be working as a
representative of a government ministry, and as such you
are expected to dress and behave accordingly. While some
of your counterparts may dress in seemingly worn or shabby
clothes, this will be due to economics rather than choice. The
likelihood is that they are wearing their best. A foreigner
wearing ragged, unmended clothing is likely to be considered
an affront.
Adhering to appropriate dress is important in Malawi, and

if you have reservations about your ability or willingness to
do so, you should evaluate your decision to become a Peace
Corps Volunteer. Volunteering to work effectively in another
culture requires a certain level of sacrifice and flexibility that
can be difficult for some people. We expect you to behave in
a manner that will foster respect within your community and
reflect well on the Peace Corps. You need to be aware that
because certain behavior may jeopardize the Peace Corps
program and your personal safety, it cannot be tolerated, and
could lead to administrative separation, a decision by the
Peace Corps to terminate your service.
30 PEACE CORPS
Rewards and Frustrations
Although the potential for job satisfaction is very high, like

all Volunteers, you will encounter numerous frustrations.
Perceptions of time are very different from the United
States, the lack of basic infrastructure can become very
tiring, the host agencies do not always provide expected
support in a timely manner, and Malawians generally perceive
all Americans as very rich. These are all very common
frustrations that Malawi Volunteers experience. The Peace
Corps experience is often described as an intense series of
emotional peaks and valleys that occur while you adapt to the
new culture.
As a Volunteer, you will be given a great deal of responsibility

and independence in your workperhaps more than in any
other job you will ever have. Often you will need to motivate
yourself and others with little guidance. You may work
for months with little visible impact and without receiving
feedback on your work. Development is a s-l-o-w process.
You must possess the self-confidence, patience, and vision
to continue working toward long-term goals without seeing
immediate results.
To approach and overcome these difficulties, you will need

maturity, flexibility, open-mindedness, and resourcefulness.
Judging by the experience of former Volunteers, the peaks
are well worth the difficult times, and most Volunteers leave
Malawi feeling they have gained more than they sacrificed
during their service. If you are able to make the commitment
to integrate into your community and work hard, your service
could be a truly life-altering experience.

Personal Safety
More information about the Peace Corps approach to safety

is outlined in the Health Care and Safety chapter, but it
is an important issue and cannot be over-emphasized. As
stated in the Volunteer Handbook, becoming a Peace Corps
Volunteer entails certain safety risks. Living and traveling
in an unfamiliar environment (oftentimes alone), having a
limited understanding of local language and culture, and being
perceived as well-off are some of the factors that can put a
Volunteer at risk. Many Volunteers experience varying degrees
of unwanted attention and harassment. Petty thefts and
burglaries are not uncommon, and incidents of physical and
sexual assault do occur, although many Volunteers complete
their two years of service without personal safety problems.
The Peace Corps has established procedures and policies
designed to help Volunteers reduce their risks and enhance
their safety and security. These procedures and policies,
in addition to safety training, will be provided once you
arrive in Malawi. At the same time, you are expected to take
responsibility for your safety and well-being.
32 PEACE CORPS
NOTES

PEACE CORPS TRAINING
Overview of Pre-Service Training
Pre-service training will provide you with the

essential skills needed to successfully carry out your service
in Malawi. The skills focus on integrating into your community
and developing and implementing an appropriate work plan
with your community and counterparts. Training includes five
major components: technical training, cross-cultural training,
language instruction, personal health and safety training, and
the role of the Volunteer in development.
Pre-service training in Malawi is conducted as a community-

based training, meaning that the bulk of the training takes
place in the community as opposed to in a training center.
Community-based training is a more difficult training model
in some respects, as the learning environment is real, not
artificial. During community-based training, most of your time
will be spent in villages and communities similar to where
you will be placed as a Volunteer. Your instructors create a
learning environment with experiences and meetings designed
to allow you to develop the knowledge and skills needed for
your work as a Volunteer. Throughout your training, you will
live with a Malawian family and work in villages and schools.
Technical Training
Technical training prepares you to work in Malawi by building

on the skills you already have and by helping you to develop
new skills in a manner appropriate to the needs of the
country. Peace Corps staff, Malawian experts, and current
Volunteers conduct the training program. Training places
great emphasis on learning how to transfer the skills you have
to the community in which you will serve as a Volunteer.

Technical training will include sessions on general
environmental, economic, and political situations in Malawi
and strategies for working within such a framework. You will
review your technical sectors goals and will meet with the
Malawian agencies and organizations that invited the Peace
Corps to assist them.
You will be supported and evaluated by the training staff

throughout the training to build the confidence and skills
you will need to undertake your project activities and be a
productive member of your community.
Language Training
As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will find that language skills

are the key to personal and professional satisfaction during
your service. These skills are critical to your job performance,
will help you integrate into your community, and ease your
personal adaptation to the new surroundings. Therefore,
language training is the heart of the training program, and
you must successfully meet minimum language requirements
to complete training and become a Volunteer. Experienced
Malawian language instructors teach formal language classes
five days a week in small classes of four to five people.
Languages are also introduced in the health, culture, and
technical components of training.
Your language training will include a community-based

approach. You will have classroom time and will be given
assignments to work on outside of the classroom and with
your host family. Our goal is to get you to a point of basic
social communication skills so that you can practice and
develop language skills more thoroughly once you are at your
site. Prior to swearing in as a Volunteer, you will work on
strategies to continue language studies during your two years
of service.
36 PEACE CORPS
Cross-Cultural Training
As part of your pre-service training, you will live with a

Malawian host family. This experience is designed to ease
your transition into life at your site. Families have gone
through an orientation conducted by Peace Corps staff to
explain the purpose of the pre-service training program, and
to assist them in helping you adapt to living in Malawi. Many
Volunteers form strong and lasting friendships with their
host families.
Cross-cultural and community development will be covered

to help improve your skills of perception, communication, and
facilitation. Topics such as community mobilization, conflict
resolution, gender and development, and traditional and
political structures are also addressed.
Health Training
During pre-service training, you will be given basic medical

training and information. You are expected to practice
preventive healthcare and to take responsibility for your own
health by adhering to all medical policies. As a trainee, you
are required to attend all medical sessions. The topics include
preventive health measures and minor and major medical
issues that Volunteers may encounter while in Malawi. Sexual
health and harassment, nutrition, mental health, and safety
issues are also covered.
Safety Training
During the safety training sessions, you will learn how to

adopt a lifestyle that reduces risk in your home, at work, and
during your travels. You will also learn appropriate, effective
strategies for coping with unwanted attention and learn about
your individual responsibility for promoting safety throughout
your service.

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service
In its commitment to institutionalize quality training,

the Peace Corps has implemented a training system
which provides trainees and Volunteers with continuous
opportunities to examine their commitment to Peace Corps
service while increasing their technical and cross-
cultural skills.
During your service, there are usually four training events.

The titles and objectives for those trainings are as follows:
Pre-Service Training
Objective: To provide trainees with the technical,
language, and cross-cultural tools to enable them to
build a foundation in their communities for successful
service in Malawi.
In-Service Training
Objective: To provide an opportunity for Volunteers
to upgrade their technical, language, and project
development skills while sharing their experiences and
reaffirming their commitment after having served for
three to six months.
Mid-Term Conference (Done in conjunction with
technical sector in-service)
Objective: To assist Volunteers in reviewing their first
year, reassessing their personal and project objectives,
and planning for their second year of service.
Close of Service Conference
Objective: To prepare Volunteers for the future
after Peace Corps service and to review Volunteers
respective projects and personal experiences.
38 PEACE CORPS
The number, length, and design of these trainings will be
adapted to country-specific needs and conditions. The key
to the training system is that training events are integrated
and interrelated, from the pre-departure orientation through
the end of your service, and are planned, implemented, and
evaluated cooperatively by the training staff, Peace Corps
staff, and Volunteers.

YOUR HEALTH CARE AND
SAFETY IN MALAWI
The Peace Corps highest priority is maintaining the good
health and safety of every Volunteer. Peace Corps medical
programs emphasize the preventive, rather than the curative
approach to disease. The Peace Corps in Malawi maintains
a clinic with two full-time medical officers, who take care of
Volunteers primary healthcare needs. Additional medical
services, such as testing and basic treatment, are also
available in Malawi at local, U.S.-standard hospitals. If you
become seriously ill, you will be transported to either a facility
in the region that meets U.S. standards or to the
United States.
Health Issues in Malawi
Most of the medical issues in Malawi are also found in the

United States, such as colds, diarrhea, skin infections,
headaches, minor injuries, sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs), adjustment disorders, and emotional problems. These
problems may be more frequent or compounded by life in
another culture. The medical problems specific to Malawi are
typical of any developing tropical country. Malaria, HIV/AIDS,
schistosomiasis, gastrointestinal infections, typhoid fever,
and hepatitis are all common health conditions. Almost all
are universally preventable with appropriate knowledge and
interventions. Because malaria is endemic in Malawi, taking
anti-malarial pills is required of all Volunteers. You will also
be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, meningitis, tetanus,
typhoid, and rabies.

It is important that you know there are extremely limited
counseling options in Malawi, and no therapists are available
for extended counseling services. Monitoring mental health
conditions is difficult, at best. There are no Alcoholics
Anonymous facilities, nor are there any support groups for
recovered alcoholics in Malawi. Alcohol is an integral part of
many social interactions, and you may receive pressure to
drink, as there is little understanding of alcoholism.
Malawi is one of the countries most affected by HIV/AIDS.

AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease and concerns all
sexually active individuals, regardless of sexual preference.
You will receive specific information in training related to HIV/
AIDS and prevention of this disease.
Helping You Stay Healthy
The Peace Corps will provide you with all the necessary
inoculations, medications, and information to stay healthy.
Upon your arrival in Malawi, you will receive a medical
handbook. At the end of training, you will receive a first-aid
kit with supplies to take care of mild illnesses and first-aid
needs. The contents of the kit are listed later in this chapter.
During pre-service training, you will have access to basic

first-aid supplies through the medical officer. However, during
this time, you will be responsible for your own supply of
prescription drugs and any other specific medical supplies
you require, as we will not order these items during training.
Please bring a three-month supply of any prescription drugs you
use, since they may not be available here, and it may take
several months for new shipments to arrive.
You will have physicals at mid-service and at the end of your

service. If you develop a serious medical problem during
your service, the medical officer in Malawi will consult with
42 PEACE CORPS
the Office of Medical Services in Washington, D.C. If it is
determined that your condition cannot be treated in Malawi,
you may be sent out of the country for further evaluation
and care.
Maintaining Your Health
As a Volunteer, you must accept responsibility for your own

health. Proper precautions will significantly reduce your
risk of serious illness or injury. The old adage, an ounce of
prevention becomes extremely important in areas where
medical diagnostic and treatment facilities are not up to the
standards of the United States. The most important of your
responsibilities in Malawi include taking preventive measures
for the following:
Malaria is hyper-endemic and is present throughout the year

and in most of the country. It can kill you if left untreated, so
prevention and early recognition of infection are extremely
important. It is mandatory that you take malaria prophylaxis,
and other preventive measures are strongly encouraged. We
will teach you how to do a blood slide to make the diagnosis,
and you will learn how to treat malaria.
Rabies is prevalent throughout the region, and you will receive

a series of rabies immunizations during your training period.
Schistosamiasis, or bilharzia, is a parasitic infection that

is contracted by swimming in infected water. Lake Malawi
and most other bodies of water in the country harbor the
parasite. You can prevent contracting this parasite by avoiding
swimming in known contaminated water. Symptoms and
signs of the infection may take some time to develop, so we
routinely screen for it at end of service physical examinations.

Many diseases that afflict Volunteers worldwide are entirely
preventable if proper food and water precautions are taken.
These diseases include food poisoning, amebiasis, giardiasis,
hepatitis A, dysentery, Guinea worm, tapeworms, and typhoid
fever. Your medical officer will discuss specific standards for
water and food preparation for Malawi during pre-
service training.
HIV is very prevalent in Malawi. In 2005, the National AIDS

Commission reported that 14.1 percent of Malawis adult
population is HIV positive. AIDS is an incurable, fatal disease.
This and other (STDs are far more common on this continent
than in the United States). Abstinence is the only certain choice
for prevention of HIV and other STDs. You are taking risks if you
choose to be sexually active. To lessen risk, use a condom
every time you have sex. Whether your partner is a host-
country citizen, a fellow Volunteer, or anyone else, do not
assume this person is free of HIV or other STDs. You will
receive more information from your medical officer about this
important issue.
Volunteers are expected to adhere to an effective means of

birth control to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Your medical
officer can help you decide on the most appropriate method
to suit your individual needs. Contraceptive methods are
available without charge from the medical officer.
It is critical to your health that you promptly report to the

medical office or other designated facility for scheduled
immunizations, and that you let your medical officer know
immediately of significant illness and injuries.
Womens Health Information
Pregnancy is a health condition that is treated in the same

manner as other Volunteer health conditions requiring
44 PEACE CORPS
medical attention, but may also have programmatic
ramifications. The Peace Corps is responsible for determining
the medical risk and the availability of appropriate medical
care if the Volunteer remains in country. Given the
circumstances under which Volunteers live and work in Peace
Corps countries, it is rare that the Peace Corps medical and
programmatic standards for continued service can be met. In
Malawi, Volunteers who become pregnant are
medically separated.
If feminine hygiene products are not available for you to

purchase on the local market, the Peace Corps medical officer
in Malawi will provide them. If you require a specific feminine
hygiene product, please bring a six-month supply with you.
Your Peace Corps Medical Kit
The Peace Corps medical officer provides Volunteers with a

first-aid kit that contains basic items necessary to prevent and
treat illnesses that might occur during service. Kit items can
be periodically restocked at your Peace Corps medical office.
Medical Kit Contents

Diphenhydramine HCL (Benadryl): 25 mg tablets
Pseudephedrine HCL (Sudafed): 30 mg tablets
Antacid tablets (Tums)
Antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleaner (Hibiclens)
Tinactin cream (Tolnaftate)
Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymycin B ointment
Calamine lotion
Tetrahydrozaline eye drops (Visine)
Cepacol lozenges
Robitussin-DM lozenges (Cough calmers)
Iodine tablets (Water purification tablets)

Lip balm (Chapstick)
Insect repellant stick (Cutters)
Oral thermometer (Fahrenheit)
Oral rehydration salts and Gatorade
Adhesive tape
Band-Aids
Butterfly closures
Ace bandage
Sterile gauze pads
Dental floss
Condoms
Red Cross First Aid and Personal Safety Manual
Scissors
Tweezers
Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist
If there has been any change in your healthphysical, mental,

or dentalsince the time you submitted your examination
reports to the Peace Corps, you must immediately notify the
Office of Medical Services. Failure to disclose new illnesses,
injuries, allergies, or pregnancy can endanger your health and
may jeopardize your eligibility to serve.
If your dental exam was done more than a year ago, or if your
physical exam is more than two years old, contact the Office
of Medical Services to find out whether you need to update
your records.
If your dentist or Peace Corps dental consultant has

recommended that you undergo dental treatment or repair,
you must complete that work and make sure your dentist
sends requested confirmation reports or X-rays to the Office
of Medical Services.
46 PEACE CORPS
If you wish to avoid taking duplicate vaccinations, you
should contact your physicians office, obtain a copy of your
immunization record, and bring it to your pre-departure
orientation. If you have any immunizations prior to Peace
Corps service, the Peace Corps cannot reimburse you for
the cost. The Peace Corps will provide all the immunizations
necessary for your overseas assignment, either at your pre-
departure orientation or shortly after you arrive in Malawi.
You do not need to begin taking malaria medication prior
to departure.
Bring a three-month supply of any prescription or over-the-

counter medication you use on a regular basis, including
birth-control pills. Although the Peace Corps cannot
reimburse you for this three-month supply, we will order
refills during your service.
While awaiting shipmentwhich can take several months

you will be dependent on your own medication supply.
The Peace Corps will not pay for herbal or non-prescribed
medications, such as St. Johns Wort, glucosamine, Selenium,
or anti-oxidant supplements.
You are encouraged to bring copies of medical prescriptions

signed by your physician. This is not a requirement, although
it might come in handy if you are questioned in transit about
your on-hand three-month supply of prescription drugs.
If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs with youa pair and
a spare. If a pair breaks, the Peace Corps will replace it, using
the information your doctor in the United States provided on
the eyeglasses form during your examination. To reduce the
risk of developing a serious infection or other eye disease,
we discourage you from using contact lenses during your
Peace Corps service. Most Peace Corps countries do not have
appropriate water and sanitation to support the use of contact

lenses. The Peace Corps will not supply or replace contact
lenses or associated solutions unless their use has been
recommended by an ophthalmologist for a specific medical
condition and the Peace Corps Office of Medical Services has
given approval.
If you are eligible for Medicare, over 50 years of age, or have

a health condition that may restrict your future participation
in healthcare plans, you may wish to consult an insurance
specialist about unique coverage needs before your departure.
The Peace Corps will provide all necessary healthcare from
the time you leave for your pre-departure orientation until
you complete your service. When you finish, you will be
entitled to the post-service healthcare benefits described
in the Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook. You may wish to
consider keeping an existing health plan in effect during your
service if you think age and/or pre-existing conditions might
prevent you from re-enrolling in your current plan when you
return home.
Safety and SecurityOur Partnership
Serving as a Volunteer overseas entails certain safety

and security risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar
environment, a limited understanding of the local language
and culture, and the perception of being a wealthy American
are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk.
Property thefts and burglaries are not uncommon. Incidents
of physical and sexual assault do occur, although almost all
Volunteers complete their two years of service without serious
personal safety problems. In addition, more than 84 percent
of Volunteers surveyed in the 2004 Peace Corps Volunteer
Survey say they would join the Peace Corps again.
48 PEACE CORPS
The Peace Corps approaches safety and security as a
partnership with you. This Welcome Book contains sections
on: Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle; Peace Corps
Training; and Your Health Care and Safety. All of these
sections include important safety and security information.
The Peace Corps makes every effort to give Volunteers the

tools they need to function in the safest and most secure way
possible, because working to maximize the safety and security
of Volunteers is our highest priority. Not only do we provide
you with training and tools to prepare for the unexpected, but
we teach you to identify and manage the risks you
may encounter.
Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk
There are several factors that can heighten a Volunteers

risk, many of which are within the Volunteers control. Based
on information gathered from incident reports worldwide in
2004, the following factors stand out as risk characteristics
for assaults. Assaults consist of personal crimes committed
against Volunteers, and do not include property crimes (such
as vandalism or theft).
Location: Most crimes occurred when Volunteers
were in public areas (e.g., street, park, beach, public
buildings). Specifically, 43 percent of assaults took
place when Volunteers were away from their sites.
Time of day: Assaults usually took place on the
weekend during the evening between 5:00 p.m. and
2:00 a.m. with most assaults occurring around
1:00 a.m.
Absence of others: Assaults usually occurred when the
Volunteer was unaccompanied. In 82 percent of the
sexual assaults the Volunteer was unaccompanied and
in 55 percent of physical assaults the Volunteer
was unaccompanied.

Relationship to assailant: In most assaults, the
Volunteer did not know the assailant.
Consumption of alcohol: Forty percent of all assaults
involved alcohol consumption by Volunteers
and/or assailants.
Summary Strategies to Reduce Risk
Before and during service, your training will address these

areas of concern so that you can reduce the risks you face.
For example, here are some strategies Volunteers employ:
Strategies to reduce the risk/impact of theft:

Know the environment and choose safe routes/times
for travel
Avoid high-crime areas per Peace Corps guidance
Know the vocabulary to get help in an emergency
Carry valuables in different pockets/places
Carry a dummy wallet as a decoy
Strategies to reduce the risk/impact of burglary:

Live with a local family or on a family compound
Put strong locks on doors and keep valuables in a lock
box or trunk
Leave irreplaceable objects at home in the U.S.
Follow Peace Corps guidelines on maintaining
home security
Strategies to reduce the risk/impact of assault:

Make local friends
Make sure your appearance is respectful of local
customs; dont draw negative attention to yourself by
wearing inappropriate clothing
Get to know local officials, police, and neighbors
50 PEACE CORPS
Travel with someone whenever possible
Avoid known high crime areas
Limit alcohol consumption
Support from Staff
In March 2003, the Peace Corps created the Office of

Safety and Security with its mission to foster improved
communication, coordination, oversight, and accountability of
all Peace Corps safety and security efforts. The new office
is led by an Associate Director for Safety and Security who
reports to the Peace Corps Director and includes the following
divisions: Volunteer Safety and Overseas Security; Information
and Personnel Security; Emergency Preparedness, Plans,
Training and Exercise; and Crime Statistics and Analysis.
The major responsibilities of the Volunteer Safety and

Overseas Security Division are to coordinate the offices
overseas operations and direct the Peace Corps safety and
security officers who are located in various regions around
the world that have Peace Corps programs. The safety and
security officers conduct security assessments; review safety
trainings; train trainers and managers; train Volunteer safety
wardens, local guards, and staff; develop security incident
response procedures; and provide crisis management support.
If a trainee or Volunteer is the victim of a safety incident,

Peace Corps staff is prepared to provide support. All Peace
Corps posts have procedures in place to respond to incidents
of crime committed against Volunteers. The first priority for
all posts in the aftermath of an incident is to ensure that the
Volunteer is safe and receiving medical treatment as needed.
After assuring the safety of the Volunteer, Peace Corps staff
provides support by reassessing the Volunteers work site
and housing arrangements and making any adjustments,

as needed. In some cases, the nature of the incident may
necessitate a site or housing transfer. Peace Corps staff will
also assist Volunteers with preserving their rights to pursue
legal sanctions against the perpetrators of the crime. It is very
important that Volunteers report incidents as they occur, not
only to protect their peer Volunteers, but also to preserve the
future right to prosecute. Should Volunteers decide later in
the process that they want to proceed with the prosecution
of their assailant, this option may no longer exist if the
evidence of the event has not been preserved at the time of
the incident.
The country-specific data chart below shows the incidence

rates and the average number of incidents of the major types
of safety incidents reported by Peace Corps Volunteers/
trainees in Malawi as compared to all other Africa region
programs as a whole, from 20002004. It is presented to you
in a somewhat technical manner for statistical accuracy.
To fully appreciate the collected data below, an explanation of

the graph is provided as follows:
The incidence rate for each type of crime is the number of

crime events relative to the Volunteer/trainee population.
It is expressed on the chart as a ratio of crime to Volunteer
and trainee years (or V/T years, which is a measure of 12 full
months of V/T service) to allow for a statistically valid way
to compare crime data across countries. An incident is a
specific offense, per Peace Corps' classification of offenses,
and may involve one or more Volunteer/trainee victims. For
example, if two Volunteers are robbed at the same time and
place, this is classified as one robbery incident.
52 PEACE CORPS
1The average numbers of incidents are in parenthesis and equal the average
reported assaults for each year between 20012005.

2Incident rates equal the number of assaults per 100 Volunteers and trainees
per year (V/T years). Since most sexual assaults occur against females, only
female V/Ts are calculated in rapes and minor sexual assaults. Numbers of
incidents are approximate due to rounding.
3Data collection for Malawi began as of 2001
Source data on incidents are drawn from Assault Notification Surveillance

System (ANSS) and Epidemiologic Surveillance System (ESS); the
information is accurate as of 04/4/06.
The chart is separated into eight crime categories. These

include vandalism (malicious defacement or damage of
property); theft (taking without force or illegal entry);
burglary (forcible entry of a residence); robbery (taking
something by force); minor physical assault (attacking without
a weapon with minor injuries); minor sexual assault (fondling,
groping, etc.); aggravated assault (attacking with a weapon,
and/or without a weapon when serious injury results); and
rape (sexual intercourse without consent).
When anticipating Peace Corps Volunteer service, you should

review all of the safety and security information provided
to you, including the strategies to reduce risk. Throughout

your training and Volunteer service, you will be expected to
successfully complete all training competencies in a variety of
areas including safety and security. Once in-country, use the
tools and information shared with you to remain as safe and
secure as possible.
What If You Become a Victim of a Violent Crime?
Few Peace Corps Volunteers are victims of violent crimes.

The Peace Corps will give you information and training in
how to be safe. But, just as in the U.S., crime happens, and
Volunteers can become victims. When this happens, the
investigative team of the Office of Inspector General (OIG)
is charged with helping pursue prosecution of those who
perpetrate a violent crime against a Volunteer. If you become
a victim of a violent crime, the decision to prosecute or not
to prosecute is entirely yours, and one of the tasks of the OIG
is to make sure that you are fully informed of your options
and help you through the process and procedures involved
in going forward with prosecution should you wish to do so.
If you decide to prosecute, we are here to assist you in every
way we can.
Crimes that occur overseas, of course, are investigated and

prosecuted by local authorities in local courts. Our role is
to coordinate the investigation and evidence collection with
the regional security officers (RSOs) at the U.S. embassy,
local police, and local prosecutors and others to ensure that
your rights are protected to the fullest extent possible under
the laws of the country. OIG investigative staff has extensive
experience in criminal investigation, in working sensitively
with victims, and as advocates for victims. We also, may, in
certain limited circumstances, arrange for the retention of a
local lawyer to assist the local public prosecutor in making the
case against the individual who perpetrated the violent crime.
54 PEACE CORPS
If you do become a victim of a violent crime, first, make sure
you are in a safe place and with people you trust and second,
contact the country director or the Peace Corps medical
officer. Immediate reporting is important to the preservation
of evidence and the chances of apprehending the suspect.
Country directors and medical officers are required to report
all violent crimes to the Inspector General and the RSO. This
information is protected from unauthorized further disclosure
by the Privacy Act. Reporting the crime also helps prevent
your further victimization and protects your fellow Volunteers.
In conjunction with the RSO, the OIG does a preliminary

investigation of all violent crimes against Volunteers
regardless of whether the crime has been reported to local
authorities or of the decision you may ultimately make to
prosecute. If you are a victim of a crime, our staff will work
with you through final disposition of the case. OIG staff is
available 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week. We may be contacted
through our 24-hour violent crime hotline via telephone at
202.692.2911, or by e-mail at
violentcrimehotline@peacecorps.gov.
Security Issues in Malawi
When it comes to your safety and security in the Peace Corps,

you have to be willing to adapt your behavior and lifestyle to
minimize the potential for being a target of crime. As with
anywhere in the world, crime does exist in Malawi. You can
reduce your risk of becoming a target for crime by avoiding
situations that make you feel uncomfortable and by taking
advance precautions. Crime at the village or town level is
less frequent than in the large cities; people know each other
and generally will not steal from their neighbors. Tourist
attractions, especially in large towns, are the favorite work
sites for pickpockets. The following are safety concerns
in Malawi:

In Lilongwe, the capital, there are certain areas where
robberies and muggings are more frequent. These will be
pointed out to you, and you are advised to either avoid
walking in these areas altogether or making sure you are not
alone if you must travel through these areas.
The most important safety issue is travel on the roads. Public

transport in Malawi is rudimentary to say the least. Vehicles
are often in poor condition, overcrowded, and travel too fast.
The roads themselves are often in a state of disrepair. It is
important to use common sense in these situations, and, if
you are uncomfortable, make sure you voice your concern to
the driver. Motor vehicle accidents, although infrequent, are
the biggest cause of fatalities and serious medical problems
among Volunteers.
Staying Safe: Dont Be a Target for Crime
You must be prepared to take on a large responsibility for

your own safety. Only you can make yourself less of a target,
ensure that your house is secure, and develop relations in
your community that will make you an unlikely victim of
crime. In coming to Malawi, do what you would do if you
moved to a large city in the United States: be cautious,
check things out, ask a lot of questions, learn about your
neighborhood, know where the more risky locations are,
use common sense, and be aware. You can reduce your
vulnerability to crime by integrating into your community,
learning the local language, acting responsibly, and abiding
by Peace Corps policies and procedures. Serving safely and
effectively in Malawi may require that you accept some
restrictions to your current lifestyle.
Volunteers attract a lot of attention in large cities and in

their sites, but receive far more negative attention in highly
populated centers where they are anonymous. In smaller
56 PEACE CORPS
towns, family, friends, and colleagues will look out for
them. While whistles and exclamations are fairly common
on the street, this behavior can be reduced if you dress
conservatively, avoid eye contact, and do not respond to such
negative and unwanted attention. Other methods have helped
Volunteers avoid becoming targets of unwanted attention and
crime. Keep your money out of sightuse an undergarment
money pouch. Do not keep your money in outside pockets of
backpacks, in coat pockets, or in fanny packs. In urban areas,
you should always take a taxi at night.
Preparing for the Unexpected: Safety Training and Volunteer

Support in Malawi
The Peace Corps safety program takes a five-pronged

approach to helping you stay safe during your two-year
service: information sharing; Volunteer training; site selection
criteria; a detailed emergency action plan; and protocols for
addressing safety and security incidents. Malawis in-country
safety program is outlined below.
The Peace Corps/Malawi office will keep Volunteers informed

of any issues that may impact Volunteer safety through
information sharing. Regular updates will be provided in
Volunteer newsletters and in memoranda from the country
director. In the event of a critical situation or emergency,
Volunteers will be contacted through the emergency
communication network.
Volunteer training will include sessions to prepare you for

specific safety and security issues in Malawi. This training
will prepare you to adopt a culturally appropriate lifestyle
and exercise judgment that promotes safety and reduces
risk in your home, at work, and while traveling. Safety
training is offered throughout your two-year service and is

integrated into the language, cross-cultural, health, and other
components of training.
Certain site selection criteria are used to determine safe

housing for Volunteers before their arrival. Peace Corps
staff works closely with host communities and counterpart
agencies to help prepare them for the Volunteers arrival
and to establish expectations of their respective role in
supporting the Volunteer. Each site is inspected before the
Volunteers arrival to ensure placement in appropriate, safe,
and secure housing and work sites. Site selection criteria are
based in part, on any relevant site history; access to medical,
banking, postal, and other essential services; availability
of communications, transportation, and markets; different
housing options and living arrangements; and other
support needs.
You will also learn about the countrys detailed emergency

action plan, in the event of civil or political unrest or a natural
disaster. When you arrive at your site, you will complete
and submit a site locator form with your address, contact
information, and a map to your house. If there is a security
threat, Volunteers in Malawi will gather at pre-determined
locations until the situation resolves itself or the Peace Corps
decides to evacuate.
Finally, in order to be fully responsive to the needs of

Volunteers, it is imperative that Volunteers immediately report
any security incident to the safety and security coordinator.
The Peace Corps has established protocols for addressing safety
and security incidents in a timely and appropriate manner.
In addition to responding to the needs of the Volunteer, the
Peace Corps collects and evaluates safety and security data to
track trends and develop strategies to minimize risks to
future Volunteers.
58 PEACE CORPS
NOTES

DIVERSITY AND CROSS-
CULTURAL ISSUES
In fulfilling the Peace Corps mandate to share the face of
America with our host countries, we are making special
efforts to see that all of Americas richness is reflected in
the Volunteer corps. More Americans of color are serving
in todays Peace Corps than at any time in recent years.
Differences in race, ethnic background, age, religion, and
sexual orientation are expected and welcomed among our
Volunteers. Part of the Peace Corps mission is to help dispel
any notion that Americans are all of one origin or race, and
to establish that each of us is as thoroughly American as the
other, despite our many differences. Our diversity helps us
accomplish that goal.
In other ways, however, our diversity poses challenges. In

Malawi, as in other Peace Corps host countries, Volunteers
behavior, lifestyles, background, and beliefs will be judged
in a cultural context very different from our own. Certain
personal perspectives or characteristics considered familiar
and commonly accepted in the United States may be quite
uncommon, unacceptable, or even repressed.
Outside of Malawis capital, residents of rural communities

have had relatively little direct exposure to other cultures,
races, religions, and lifestyles. What is advertised as typical
cultural behavior or norms may also be a narrow and selective
interpretation, such as the perception in some countries that
all Americans are rich and have blond hair and blue eyes.
The people of Malawi are justly known for their generous
hospitality to foreigners; however, members of the community
in which you will live may display a range of reactions to
differences that you present. We will ask you to be supportive
of one another.

In order to ease the transition and adapt to life in Malawi,
you may need to make some temporary, yet fundamental
compromises with who you are as an American and as an
individual. For example, female trainees and Volunteers may
not be able to exercise the independence available to them in
the United States; political discussions will need to be handled
with great care; and some of your personal beliefs may best
remain undisclosed. You will need to develop techniques and
personal strategies for coping with these and other limits. The
Peace Corps staff will lead diversity and sensitivity discussions
during your pre-service training and will be on call to provide
support, but the challenge ultimately will be the your own.
Overview of Diversity in Malawi
The Peace Corps staff in Malawi recognizes adjustment issues

that come with diversity and will endeavor to provide support
and guidance. During pre-service training, several sessions
will be held to discuss diversity and coping mechanisms. We
look forward to having male and female Volunteers from a
variety of cultures, backgrounds, religions, ethnic groups, and
ages and hope that you will become part of a diverse group of
Americans who will take pride in supporting each other and
demonstrating the richness of American culture.
What Might A Volunteer Face?
Possible Issues for Female Volunteers
The view of equality between the sexes does not exist in

Malawi. Distinct roles and responsibilities are expected to
be fulfilled by men and women in Malawian culture. Female
Volunteers may often meet extremely conservative attitudes
regarding gender equality. Likewise, the behavior of female
Volunteers is more often scrutinized and criticized than that
62 PEACE CORPS
of their male peers. Although the Peace Corps emphasizes
understanding and sensitivity of other cultures, it will be
necessary to occasionally explain and defend why you believe
something or behave a certain way. Women and men in Malawi
are not considered adults until they marry and have children.
This being the case, female Volunteers should expect curiosity
from host country friends regarding their marital status and
whether or not they have children.
Volunteer Comments
Getting people, men in particular, to take me seriously has

been a bit of a challenge. Like all things here, its a learning
experience for everybody. I learn how to get a mans job
done while still being a woman, and maybe my community
learns a little about gender equality.
I need more time for lunch because I have to actually

prepare it myself; the male teachers just go home and eat
what their wives made. So when they complain that I cannot
spend enough time at school after hours, I just tell them
that it is hard because I dont have a wife.
I started wearing trousers (instead of skirts). At the

beginning, everyone stared and even started to give me the
evil eye. All talking stopped and then started up again in
an irritated hush. After a while, people seem to have gotten
used to it, but Ive definitely had my criticism. One older
man yelled at me and said, Women in Malawi dont wear
trousers! Another man started in on a discussion regarding
religion and women wearing trousers.

It is hard to say why you are not married three times a
day. Every Malawian male says that you are to be their first
wife, even though they are already married and have four
or five children. Many Malawians do not understand that
Americans only have one spouse.
Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color
The average Malawian has never had the opportunity to

interact with people from diverse backgrounds. If you are
black, you are called African. If you are Asian, you are called
either Chinese or Japanese. If you are South Asian, you
are called Indian. If you are white, you are called British
or American. If you are Hispanic, you are called Mexican.
The possibility of another ethnicity simply does not occur
to Malawians you will meet in the villages. Be prepared to
tolerate and repeatedly explain that some terms used in
Malawi are considered derogatory in America (e.g., colored,
half caste, or Chinaman). It is also important to be aware
of the long-standing influence of South Africa. Malawi was one
of the only countries to deal openly with the old South African
apartheid government, and some of the racial perceptions
from that era have influenced Malawian reactions to people
of color.
Volunteer Comments
One problem I have had is being truthful about my ethnic

background. I feel that I would not be accepted by my
community if I was truthful.
Walking around my village, I can always expect that as

soon as the children see me they will begin shouting China!!
China!! China!! It makes me feel angry sometimes, especially
on those days where I am already feeling a bit self-conscious
just for being different. That and the fact that Im Korean.
64 PEACE CORPS
I feel really frustrated and disappointed at being asked
by Malawians, What are you? When I answer, African
American or Black American, Malawians are genuinely
shocked or amazed. Often times, Malawians will regard
this with disbelief or they will ask me, But where are your
parents from? or You are not a real American, are you?
Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers
Age also affects how you will be treated. While Malawians

traditionally have a reverence for age, Malawis legal
retirement age is 55. Hence, older Volunteers may be
respected for their wisdom, but may find difficulty in being
accepted at the workplace. Malawians are especially curious
about older female Volunteers. They are puzzled as to why
they have no spouse or children, even if they have the
pictures to prove otherwise.
Volunteer Comment
Being seen as everyones grandmother can be a good

and a bad thing. I find that people are respectful and
accommodating to my lifestyle while Im at home, but tend
to see me as funny or strange in the work environment.
Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers
Gay, lesbian, and bisexual Volunteers must know that Malawi

is still a very conservative society. Many Malawians are in
denial that homosexuality actually exists in their culture, and
it is technically illegal. Thus any display of your sexuality will
be severely frowned upon. Previous Volunteers have decided
to serve their time in Malawi under the cloak of silence. It has
been expressed by some gay, lesbian, and bisexual Volunteers

that if they were to display their sexual orientation, it
would have adverse effects on their relationships with their
community and co-workers.
Volunteer Comments
Being in a country where most people dont know what

homosexuality is has been a huge departure from the Is-he?
Isnt-he? culture of America. Its seen as neither a lifestyle
nor a choice. Homosexuality has taken the role of science
fiction.
To me, coming out in Malawi isnt a question. It wouldnt

make sense here. The deep emotions tied to the same
experience in the States would fall on deaf ears. At first,
I felt alienated because of the white lies I scattered to
cover my trail. I came to realize that most of my stress was
coming from my own fear rather than from an unstated
threat in the community.
Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers
Whether you practice a religion or not, you will probably find

the Malawian practice of religion different than that in the
United States. You will notice how deeply religion is ingrained
into the culture just by walking down a city street where signs
with religious messages punctuate the front of every third
store. Malawians enjoy conversing, and they enjoy religion,
so it makes sense that they love conversing about religion. Be
prepared to tolerate views very different from your own.
66 PEACE CORPS
Volunteer Comments
It cannot be overstated how strongly religion figures into

Malawian culture. Attending church for Malawians goes
beyond spiritual benefits. It becomes one of the few or only
large social gatherings the person goes to all week.
Although Malawians are very shocked initially to discover

that I am not religious, if I am patient and explain my
reasons, they do understand. For many Volunteers who are
not religious but are spiritual (like myself), being labeled a
pagan can be confusing and frustrating.
Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities
Malawians with physical disabilities are treated no differently

than any other Malawian. They are expected to complete
the same work, but perhaps not through the same methods.
Ironically, many Malawians consider the fact that you are
a Westerner a serious disability to doing any manual work.
They do not believe that Americans are capable of strenuous
physical labor.
There is little of the infrastructure to accommodate

individuals with disabilities that has been developed in
the United States. That being said, as part of the medical
clearance process, the Peace Corps Office of Medical Services
determined that you were physically and emotionally capable,
with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform a full
tour of Volunteer service in Malawi without unreasonable
risk of harm to yourself or interruption of service. The Peace
Corps/Malawi staff will work with disabled Volunteers to
make reasonable accommodations for them in their training,
housing, job sites, or in other areas, to enable them to serve
safely and effectively.

Volunteer Comment
I have a slight hearing loss in both my ears. Sometimes

this makes my job a little bit tougher, but in general,
if I tell Malawians they need to speak louder, they will
accommodate me. But I do get frustrated at times. Honestly
though, I think that any frustration I encounter here caused
by my hearing disability would be little different than any
frustration I might encounter back home in the States.
68 PEACE CORPS
NOTES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much luggage will I be allowed to bring to Malawi?
Most airlines have baggage size and weight limits and assess
charges for transport of baggage that exceeds this allowance.
The Peace Corps has its own size and weight limitations, and
will not pay the cost of transport for baggage that exceeds
these limitations. The authorized baggage allowance is two
checked pieces of luggage with combined dimensions of both
pieces not to exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and
a carry-on bag with dimensions of no more than 45 inches.
Checked baggage should not exceed 80 pounds total with a
maximum weight allowance of 70 pounds for any one bag.
Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to take pets,
weapons, explosives, radio transmitters (shortwave radios
are permitted), automobiles, or motorcycles to their overseas
assignments. Do not pack flammable materials or liquids
such as lighter fluid, cleaning solvents, hair spray, or aerosol
containers. This is an important safety precaution.
What is the electric current in Malawi?

Roughly 230 volt, 50 cycles. We say roughly because it may
range from 190 volts to 260 volts when it is on. Less than half
the Volunteers have electricity at work or at home. Batteries
are available; D cells are more easily found than C cells.
How much money should I bring?

Volunteers are expected to live at the same level as the people
in their community. They are given a settling-in allowance
and a monthly living allowance, which should cover their
expenses. Often Volunteers wish to bring additional money for
vacation travel to other countries. Credit cards and travelers
checks are preferable to cash. If you choose to bring extra
money, plan on bringing the amount that suits your own
personal travel plans and needs.

When can I take vacation and have people visit me?
Each Volunteer accrues two vacation days per month of
service (excluding training). Leave may not be taken during
training, the first three months of service, or the last three
months of service, except in conjunction with an authorized
emergency leave. Family and friends are welcome to visit
you after pre-service training and the first three months of
service as long as their stay does not interfere with your work.
Extended stays at your site are not encouraged and may
require permission from your country director. The Peace
Corps is not able to provide your visitors with visa or
travel assistance.
Will my belongings be covered by insurance?

The Peace Corps does not provide insurance coverage for
personal effects. However, such insurance can be purchased
before you leave. Ultimately, Volunteers are responsible for
the safekeeping of their personal belongings. If you wish,
you may contact your own insurance company; additionally,
insurance application forms will be given to you, and we
encourage you to consider them carefully. Additional
information about insurance should be obtained by calling the
company directly.
Volunteers should not ship or take valuable items overseas.
Jewelry, watches, radios, cameras, and expensive appliances
are subject to loss, theft, and breakage, and in many places,
satisfactory maintenance and repair services are not available.
Do I need an international drivers license?

Volunteers in Malawi do not need to get an international
drivers license. Operation of privately owned vehicles is
prohibited. Most urban travel is by bus or taxi. Rural travel
ranges from buses to mini-buses to trucks to a lot of walking.
Volunteers sometimes drive while on annual leave during their
service. For this reason, we recommend that you bring your
U.S. drivers license.
72 PEACE CORPS
What should I bring as gifts for Malawian friends and my
host family?
This is not a requirement. A token of friendship is sufficient.
Some gift suggestions include: knickknacks for the house;
pictures, books, or calendars of American scenes; souvenirs
from your area; hard candies that will not melt or spoil; or
photos to give away.
Where will my site assignment be when I finish training and

how isolated will I be?
Peace Corps trainees are not assigned to individual sites
until after they have completed a portion of their pre-service
training. This gives Peace Corps staff the opportunity to
assess each trainees technical and language skills prior
to assigning sites, in addition to finalizing site selections
with their ministry counterparts. If feasible, you may have
the opportunity to provide input on your site preferences,
including geographical location, distance from other
Volunteers, or living conditions. However, many factors
influence the site selection process and the Peace Corps
cannot guarantee placement where you might ideally like
to be. Most Volunteers will live in small towns or in rural
villages, but may be within one or two hours from the nearest
Volunteer. Some sites may be a 10- to 12-hour drive or even
multiple days from the capital.
How can my family contact me in an emergency?

The Peace Corps Office of Special Services provides
assistance in handling emergencies affecting trainees and
Volunteers or their families. Before leaving the United States,
you should instruct your family to notify the Office of Special
Services immediately if an emergency arises, such as a serious
illness or death of a family member. During normal business
hours, the number for the Office of Special Services is
1.800.424.8580, extension 1470. After normal business hours
and on weekends and holidays, the Special Services duty
officer can be reached at 202.638.2574.

For non-emergency questions, your family can get information
from your country desk staff at the Peace Corps by calling
1.800.424.8580.
Can I call home from Malawi?

Yes, but generally only from larger towns. Calls from Malawi to
the United States are very expensive. We recommend writing
letters and setting up periodic calls from home on special
occasions. Phone cards do not work in Malawi, though it is
possible to make a reverse charge (collect) call.
Should I bring a cellular phone with me?

No. The systems are different from those used in the United
States. Many Volunteers buy a cellphone in Malawi. However,
the costs are very high for service, and the coverage area for
cellular phones is limited. Key Peace Corps staff members
carry cellular phones to ensure availability at all times for
emergency contact.
Will there be e-mail and Internet access? Should I bring

my computer?
There are now cyber-cafs in the three major towns that
provide both e-mail and Internet access. At the Peace Corps
office in Lilongwe, there is e-mail and Internet access for
programmatic needs (finding resources for your work).
It is not recommended that you bring a computer, as few
Volunteer sites have a stable electrical supply, surges are
common, and maintenance and repair options are extremely
limited. Also, due to the high value of a computer, owners
significantly increase their risk of becoming a victim of crime.
74 PEACE CORPS
NOTES

WELCOME LETTERS FROM
MALAWI VOLUNTEERS
The following excerpts are from Volunteers who currently
serve or recently served in Malawi.
Getting StartedTraining
An overwhelming periodnew culture, new language, and

new people. Living with the host family is as hands-on as it
gets in order to practice everything learned. An opportunity
to get to know your fellow Volunteers, because soon after, you
may be a two-day mini-bus ride away from each other.
Jake Farnum
Dont worry about the languageyoull learn it. Dont

worry about the cultureyoull find a way to accept it, and
it will accept you. Malawi is a wonderfully welcoming place
and youll grow to love it! It is a good idea to bring some fun
things to do with your host family like Frisbee and cards, and
pictures of America and your family to share.
Laura Lanwermayer
It is important to remember that the Getting Started

process may seem slow by the standards that you have set for
yourself. It is normal to enter your time of service with a lot of
enthusiasm, energy, and willingness to get things done. Keep
in mind, however, that you will also need to have an initial
period of gaining the trust of your community, adapting to a
new culture, and learning a new language. These things take
time and patience, but they are essential to a
successful assignment.

Your pre-service training will help you to gain the skills that
will be necessary for this process. If it feels like the beginning
of your service is getting off to a slow start as far as work is
concerned, remember that you are doing some of the hardest
and most important work of your two years. When you
enter your community, take the time to learn about yourself
and those around you. It makes a world of difference, and
eventually it can make a difference in the world.
Kristof Nordin
Training prepared me well for life in Malawi, especially

living with my host family. This is a very intense period.
Before I left the States, I left self-addressed stamped
envelopes with my family and friends and stressed how much
mail Id need at first. Dont expect to be in touch with people
via telephone during this time.
Naomi Bremer
Brace yourself. Training is a challenge! But your days

with your village family are a once-in-a-lifetime experience
and will form some indelible memories. How will I ever forget
that one evening when my village family and I playfully
balanced mangoes on our heads while walking home along the
dusty path in the fading colors of the day? Believe me, the
challenges are well worth the journey. Just open yourself to
the experience, let it happen, and youll know what I mean.
Patricia Wundrow
Working in Malawi
Working in Malawi comes with its own unique set of

rewards and frustrations. It is a beautiful country with a
beautiful culture. The success of your service will depend
upon how willing you are to learn about this culture and to
78 PEACE CORPS
reassess your own. This type of understanding will allow you
to easily adapt to some things, compromise on others, and
stand your ground when needed. If you can open your mind
to a new way of thinking, learning, and living, then you will
undoubtedly gain more in your two years than you will ever
be able to give back.
Kristof Nordin
As a health Volunteer, my day is full of people with myriad

health-related problems and questions. Because I have a
university degree, they call me doctor and expect me to
diagnose. I am very careful about what I do. I give hands-on
patient care, and I also teach. I have found that my co-workers
(who have become my students and I theirs) are eager to
learn from me. And what makes them open to learning is the
friendships we have developed, the love we share. That is all.
Because we cook together, eat together, clean up together,
work together, and laugh together, we are learning from
each other.
Debbie Gordon
Job satisfaction is something that you may not see every

day and that can be really stressful. Just remember you will
touch a few lives, but you probably wont save the village. Be
creative, have fun, be serious when its needed, use the skills
you have, and you should be fine.
Angie Sanders
Punctuality is not high on the list of priorities. Know this

ahead of time and be patient. Your punctuality may be noticed
and soon followed.
Jake Farnum

The mentality of a workplace has a river of intricacies.
What I have discovered is the impact of culture on ones
mode of working is not a river but a SEA!! Malawis workplace
requires FLEXIBILITY(!) by the American worker because
concepts of job, deadlines, and reliable work are far more
amorphous than initially meets the eye.
Patricia Wundrow
Every day there are frustrations and disappointments.

Every month I wonder what I have accomplished. But when
I need it most, I encounter a grateful and motivated student
or a welcoming and humorous neighbor, and I realize that
not only my job but my life is my work here. And that is
overwhelmingly rewarding.
Laura Lanwermeyer
Life Issues
Think about the images that you have of Africa and where
they come from. The media often gives us a very skewed
and negative perspective of African life with its portrayal of
wars, pestilence, disease, famine, or starvation. What we dont
often see is what you will experience by living in Malawi. It
is a peaceful and wonderful place to call home. The larger
cities have the things that you would find in America...grocery
stores, Internet services, restaurants, etc. Day-to-day living
comes with its own unique circumstances, and like every
other country in the world, Malawi is working to address the
problems it faces.
Your skills as a Peace Corps Volunteer can be a valuable
contribution to the countrys progress. If you are willing to
avoid making opinions of life in Malawi based on Western
concepts such as material resources or money, and instead
focus on the things that really matter in life, you will quickly
realize that you are living in one of the richest countries
in the world.
Kristof Nordin
80 PEACE CORPS
Your life will be very different here; face it. But thats part
of the reason youre joining the Peace Corps. And youre
going to go through some changes. But be yourself, read a lot
of good books, write your daily thoughts frequently, take a
walk, a bike ride, chat, or play cards, have a few beers when
needed, and dont forget why youre here or who you are.
Angie Sanders
I am representing what people know/think about the

United States, so my actions have to be carefully thought out.
Jake Farnum
AIDS is huge. Youll see it everywhere. One of the teachers

at my school died during my site visit after suffering for
several months. Perhaps you should study up on HIV/AIDS
before you come and be prepared to help educate
your community.
Allison McGough
As I prepared to enter the Peace Corps, I heard various

stories about life in Africa for African Americans. Some
positive, some negative. Well, I probably have a slightly
different cut from any of the stories. I have uncovered a
special sense of pride in being African American. It is now
clear that though I am of African heritage, in the absence
of tribal and/or country identity, that heritage doesnt mean
much to anyone except me (and other Americans). But as I
am more conscious that I am 100 percent American, it does
not trouble me to not know the particulars about something I
cannot know. Instead, perhaps that gives me a
special flexibility.
Ella Lacey
Malawi may be the Warm Heart but it sure isnt for the
Faint of Heart!
Patricia Wundrow

Food and Other Things
A recurring theme in Malawian dishesstarches! Of course

there are also many new and interesting foods to try, so smile,
chew, and swallow, and youll do fine.
Jake Farnum
Get ready to fantasize about food from home, and relish

the moments when you are blessed with a package of candy
from home.
Miranda Buck
Im constantly amazed at how much variety I can create

out of my village foods. Upon learning to bake in my bathing
bucket, that variety even doubled! Because Volunteers
generally dont have refrigerators, its difficult to keep veggies,
dairy products, and, of course, ice cream for any period
of time. In other words, if youre a cheese fiend, pack the
parmesan!
Patricia Wundrow
Daily Life
In no time youll be able to use a chimbudzi (pit latrine)

with the most accurate aim, master the art of bucket-bathing,
and prepare your favorite American dish over a three-
stone fire.
Jake Farnum
I remember hearing this and not believing it, but its true:
You dont need to pack a lot of clothes. You can always get
things here (especially if you love the adventure of open-air
thrift shopping). Also pack tons of underwear, a swimsuit, and
that one outfit that makes you feel 100 percent cozy and 100
percent you.
Patricia Wundrow
82 PEACE CORPS
The intensity that I experience here on a daily basis is
much stronger than anything I could have imagined nine
months ago, when I too held a Peace Corps manual in
my hands and tried, somehow, to prepare. But there is a
lighthearted side to all of this, also.
Malawians, as a whole, are very friendly, happy people.
We are always laughingat and with each other. Everything
that I say is listened to and everything that I do is observed.
Everything. This is part of being a Volunteer in Malawi. Just as
I laugh out loud when I pass a muscular young man wearing a
frilly pink T-shirt that says Mom to be, I hear people laughing
at me. What am I wearing or doing that seems so humorous to
these people? Have I become such an odd creature overnight?
No. Im just a person from another country that is very, very
foreign to my new friends and neighbors. When we discuss
America they shake their heads and say: Ah, it is a very
strange place, madam!
Debbie Gordon
Your life will probably be much more relaxed now. My days

revolve around clean laundry and going to buy vegetables. Life
is calm and happy in Malawi.
Naomi Bremer
The people in my community have been my family; we

have laughed together and we have cried together. The chiefs
and the villagers around Vwaza have been my friends; we
have planted maize together, brewed beer together, harvested
termites and caterpillars together (and then we ate them),
and searched for shooting stars together. And the children are
my entertainment; some of my best memories are sitting on
the stoop outside my hut chatting with my Kazuni kids under
a full moon.
Stephanie Jayne

Health in Malawi
You will get sick, but you will also get over it. If you take
care of yourself, Malawi is not an unsafe place for your
health. However, youll be surrounded by students getting
malaria, friends with tuberculosis, and many neighbors and
counterparts with HIV or AIDS. After living in Malawi, Ill
never again take good health for granted.
Laura Lanwermeyer
The healthcare, both preventive and treatment, is

wonderful. The Peace Corps teaches you how to prevent
illnesses very well. My health is actually better than it has
been in years. You can get any needed healthcare products
either from the Peace Corps or in the shops.
Naomi Bremer
A lot of Volunteers find value in basic exercise equipment

for workouts inside the home. Lets face ityoure going to
be a local attraction outside. Camping mats, jump ropes, and
good music provide ways to exercise indoors without the
audience you get during that morning jog.
Patricia Wundrow
In General
Have fun, relax your mind, be creative, and enjoy the

Warm Heart of Africa.
Jake Farnum
The music...get ready for the drumming and dancing land of

Malawi. I dont think in my two years I can get enough of the
beautiful, heartfelt singing. And no matter how disheartening
the students progress may seem, I am grateful for their
84 PEACE CORPS
eagerness to learn, which surpasses American students by
far. Though statistically Malawi is a very poor country, I have
found it a land full of people with spirits richer than
most Americans.
Rob Martin
Although it is not the Africa I imagined as a child (How

could it be? That Africa was full of lions, giraffes, elephants,
zebras, hippos, rhinos, hunters, and not much else), it is
definitely more exotic than I could ever have pictured. Malawi
is a land of sharp contrasts between poverty and wealth,
breathtaking beauty and its opposite, incredible joy and
heart-wrenching sorrow. There is ignorance and knowledge,
weakness and strength, warmth and incredible cold.
Debbie Gordon
Expect to have terrible moments and expect to have amazing

moments. Those should be your only expectations.
Miranda Buck
Malawi is truly a beautiful and diverse country. The people

are some of the warmest people youll ever meet (both
Volunteers and Malawians). But the poverty is staggering. The
AIDS epidemic can be shocking. Bring a couple of comforts
from home, find a couple of comforts here, and get to work.
Angie Sanders

PACKING LIST
This list has been compiled by Volunteers
serving in Malawi and is based on their experience. Use it as
an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind
that experience is individual. There is no perfect list! You can
always have things sent to you later. You obviously cannot
bring everything we mention, so consider those items that
make the most sense to you personally and professionally. As
you decide what to bring, keep in mind that you have an 80-
pound weight restriction on baggage. And remember, you can
get almost everything you need in Malawi.
The three key qualities for clothing in Malawi are dark colors,
many pockets, and easy to wash and care for. Overall, dress
conservatively. Remember that it does get cold so bring warm
clothes. Rainy season means just thatyou will get wet and
splattered with mud. We recommend quick-drying,
breathable clothes.
General Clothing
One set long underwear
Lightweight, all-weather jacket
Hooded sweatshirt or fleece
Knit hat and gloves
Sleeveless dresses and shirts (note that Volunteer
teachers cannot wear these in the classroom)
Swimsuit (one piece); very sturdy
Bandannas or handkerchiefs
Sun hat (baseball cap or straw hat)
Good-quality raincoat

Heavy-duty poncho and quality umbrella
Durable, easy-to-wash pants
Shorts and other clothes like drawstring pajama pants
for lounging around (doctors scrubs are ideal)
Women can and do wear trousers for traveling and in
the cities
Teachers need dresses/skirts that go below the knee
(no slits above the knee, and not tight-fitting)
Cotton slips (waist to knee and waist to ankle)
Men do not need full suit, just a tie and a button-down
shirt for special occasions
Very durable, practical clothes (not nice,
dressy clothes)
Some nicer clothes for in town (dancing, restaurants)
Lots of underwear, bras, socks
Heavy-duty sports bra
Belt
Money belt
shorts (longer, knee-length shorts for women) for
biking
Sturdy work gloves (if you garden)
Overall advice: do not bring a lot. Just three to four outfits

for staging and beginning of training. You can find just about
everything in the markets.
Shoes
Durable shoes are an essential investment

Teva or Chaco sandals
Sneakers and/or hiking boots (two pairs) (Boots are
handy for rainy season)
Shoes (close-toed and good to stand in all day; for
Volunteer teachers)
88 PEACE CORPS
House shoes (slippers); you can get flip-flops in Malawi
Dress shoes
Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items

Favorite brand of tampon
Face lotions
Deodorant
Shampoo (just a 2-in-1 to get through training)
A few toothbrushes
Toothpaste (just one for training)
Hand sanitizer
Multivitamins (low-concentration vitamins available
in-country)
Razor and extra blades
Sunscreen (just one to get started)
Manicure set
Hair-cutting scissors
Prescription drugs (three-month supply)
Kitchen
Heavy-duty non-stick frying pan
Good knives
Vegetable peeler
Thermos
French press (if you appreciate good coffee)
Kitchen towels
Ziploc bags (surplus)
Plastic containers (e.g., Tupperware)
Mess kit cooking set
Set of silverware

Send foodstuff to yourself before leaving: kool-aid
packets, cheese powder packets, power bars, granola
bars, soup mixes, gravy mixes, chocolate, etc.
Miscellaneous
Sturdy water bottle (e.g., Nalgene)
Lightweight, travel, waterproof tent w/ground cloth
Leatherman/Swiss Army knife
Compact sleeping bag for cold weather
Indiglo watch
Bungee cords or backpack straps
Chair that folds out into sleeping mat (e.g., Crazy Creek
or LL Bean)
Flashlight or headlamp with extra bulbs
Shortwave radio
Solar-powered rechargeable batteries with recharger
Duct tape
Scissors
Good envelopes
Elmers glue
Good dictionary
U.S. stamps (so you can send letters home
with travelers)
Lonely Planet Guide to Malawi
Camera (35mm point-and-shoot)
Field guide for flora and fauna of sub-Saharan Africa
Seeds for herbs and vegetables
Battery-powered alarm clock
Double size, flat sheets and a couple of towels
Sewing kit
Sunglasses
90 PEACE CORPS
Personal money (you can keep it in the safe at the
Peace Corps office)
Games (Scrabble, cards, chess, Frisbee, etc.)
Walkman and variety of tapes (Discman uses much
more battery power)
Musical instrument (harmonica, guitar, etc.)
A few novels (to swap after reading)
Hobby materials like sketching pads and pencils
Day pack
Luggage (should be tough, lightweight, lockable, and
easy to carry)
Hiking backpacks without frames are practical

PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST
The following list consists of suggestions for you to consider
as you prepare to live outside the United States for two years.
Not all items will be relevant to everyone and the list does not
include everything you should make arrangements for.
Family
Notify family that they can call the Peace Corps Office
of Special Services at any time if there is a critical
illness or death of a family member (telephone number:
800.424.8580, extension 1470; 24-hour duty officer:
202.638.2574).
Give the Peace Corps On the Home Front handbook to
family and friends.
Passport/Travel
Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork
for the Peace Corps passport and visas.
Verify that luggage meets the size and weight limits for
international travel.
Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after
your service ends. (Your Peace Corps passport will
expire three months after you finish your service, so
if you plan to travel longer, you will need a regular
passport.)
Medical/Health
Complete any needed dental and medical work.
If you wear glasses, bring two pairs.

Arrange to bring a three-month supply of all
medications (including birth control pills) you are
currently taking.
Insurance
Make arrangements to maintain life insurance coverage.
Arrange to maintain supplemental health coverage
while away. (Even though the Peace Corps is
responsible for your health care during Peace Corps
service overseas, it is advisable for people who have
preexisting conditions to arrange for the continuation
of their supplemental health coverage. If there is a
lapse in supplemental health coverage, it is often
difficult and expensive to be reinstated for insurance.
This is especially true when insurance companies know
you have predictable expenses and are in an upper age
bracket.)
Arrange to continue Medicare coverage if applicable.
Personal Papers
Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce.
Voting
Register to vote in the state of your home of record.
(Many state universities consider voting and payment
of state taxes as evidence of residence in that state.)
Obtain a voter registration card and take it with you
overseas.
Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to you
overseas.
94 PEACE CORPS
Personal Effects
Purchase personal property insurance to extend from
the time you leave your home for service overseas until
the time you complete your service and return to the
United States.
Financial Management
Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or
loan service.
Execute a power of attorney for the management of
your property and business.
Bring necessary banking/routing information for
deductions from readjustment allowance to pay
alimony, child support, student loans and other debts.
These deductions may be set up after swearing-in as a
Peace Corps Volunteer.
Place all important papersmortgages, deeds, stocks,
and bondsin a safe deposit box or with an attorney or
other caretaker.

C O NTA CTI N G P E A C E
C O R P S H E A D Q U A RTE R S
The following list of numbers will help you contact the appropriate
office at Peace Corps headquarters with various questions. You
may use the toll-free number and extension or dial directly using
the local numbers provided. Be sure to leave the Peace Corps toll-
free number and extensions with your family so they have them in
the event of an emergency during your service overseas.
Peace Corps Headquarters

Toll-free Number: 800.424.8580, Press 2, then
Ext. # (see below)
Peace Corps Mailing Address: Peace Corps

Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters
1111 20th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20526
For Direct/
Questions Toll-free Local
About: Staff Extension Number
Responding to Office of
an Invitation Placement
Africa
Region Ext. 1850 202.692.1850
Programming or Desk Officer Ext. 2302 202.692.2302

Country Information Email: malawi@
peacecorps.gov
Desk Assistant Ext. 2308 202.692.2308

Email: malawi@
peacecorps.gov

For Direct/
Questions Toll-free Local
About: Staff Extension Number
Plane Tickets, Travel Officer Ext. 1170 202.692.1170

Passports, (Sato Travel)
Visas, or Other
Travel Matters
Legal Clearance Office of Ext. 1845 202.692.1845

Placement
Medical Clearance Screening Nurse Ext. 1500 202.692.1500

and Forms Processing
(including dental)
Medical Handled by a
Reimbursements Subcontractor 800.818.8772
Loan Deferments, Volunteer Ext. 1770 202.692.1770

Taxes, Readjustment Financial
Allowance Withdrawals, Operations
Power of Attorney
Staging (Pre-departure Office of Staging Ext. 1865 202.692.1865

Orientation) and
Reporting Instructions
Note: You will receive
comprehensive information
(hotel and flight arrange-
ments) three to five weeks
before departure. This in-
formation is not available
sooner.
Family Emergencies Office of Special Ext. 1470 202.692.1470

(to get information to Services 95 EST
a Volunteer overseas)
202.638.2574
(after-hours
answering service)
98 PEACE CORPS
P EAC E C O R P S
Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters
1111 20th Street NW Washington, DC 20526 www.peacecorps.gov 1-800-424-8580

Peace Corps Malawi Welcome Book - September 2006

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Peace Corps Malawi Welcome Book - September 2006

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THE PEACE CORPS WELCOMES YOU TO

Greetings from Lilongwe! On behalf of the entire staff of Peace

This is a challenging time for Malawi. The countrys infrastructures

If you decide to come to Malawi, youll be making an important

Peace Corps/Malawi History and Programs 7

Country Overview: Malawi at a Glance 11

Resources for Further Information 17

Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle 23

Your Health Care and Safety in Malawi 41

Diversity and Cross-Cultural Issues 61

Welcome Letters From Malawi Volunteers 77

Contacting Peace Corps Headquarters 97

The first Peace Corps Volunteers arrived in Malawi just

The change of government in 1994 opened up the possibility

History and Future of Peace Corps

Peace Corps/Malawi focuses on three main areas of vital need:

A WELCOME BOOK MALAWI 7

Malawi ranks among the countries most severely affected by

Secondary Education Project

Peace Corps/Malawis secondary education project (SEP)

Community-Based Natural Resources Management

This project focuses on community-based management

A WELCOME BOOK MALAWI 9

Malawi is a small country in southeast Africa, and is known

The country is considered something of a success story

Malawi has a parliamentary style of government with the

A WELCOME BOOK MALAWI 11

Two parties currently dominate the political landscape.

Agriculture forms the mainstay of Malawis economy,

People and Culture

Malawi is one of Africas most densely populated countries

Malawi is predominantly a Christian country, but it also

While living and working in this very conservative society,

Malawi is a narrow country that hugs the western shore

A WELCOME BOOK MALAWI 13

A WELCOME BOOK MALAWI 15

General Information About the Countries:

A WELCOME BOOK MALAWI 17

Online Articles/Current News About Malawi:

International Development Sites About Malawi:

A WELCOME BOOK MALAWI 19

Books About the History of the Peace Corps

2. Rice, Gerald T. The Bold Experiment: JFKs Peace

3. Stossel, Scott. Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent

Books on the Volunteer Experience

2. Casebolt, Marjorie DeMoss. Margarita: A Guatemalan

4. Hessler, Peter. River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze.

5. Kennedy, Geraldine (ed.). From the Center of the

6. Thompsen, Moritz. Living Poor: A Peace Corps

A WELCOME BOOK MALAWI 21

Few countries in the world offer the level of mail service we

Despite delays, we strongly encourage you to write to your

Peace Corps Volunteers in Malawi may receive packages for

A WELCOME BOOK MALAWI 23

Your address during training will be:

Your Name, PCT

Do not expect e-mail or telephone access during training,

Having a phone in your house as a Volunteer is very unlikely

Personal computers/laptops are not needed or recommended,

Housing and Site Location

Volunteers in Malawi are posted from the far north in Chitipa

Housing can vary from mud houses with either thatch or

Volunteers might be located anywhere from a half hour

A WELCOME BOOK MALAWI 25

During the training period, trainees stay with a host family

Living Allowance and Money Management