Water and the Chichewa Language
A huge goal of Tufts EWB’s experience in Malawi was to connect with our community, learn their language, and interact and build relationships with their culture. In three days, we took multiple Chichewa lessons, learning everything from basic phrases, to greetings and possessive nouns! The chichewa phrase written above is explained below.
In learning the language of the Malawian people, we were able to easily carry short conversations with community members, and never shied away from a “Muli Bwanji” when passing by. Considering the community had not seen foreigners in 6 years, we initially seemed intimidating, but this simple greeting put a smile on every Malawian’s face.
We also conducted WASH training with the community, discussing handwashing, showering, and cleaning clothes through a simple skit with an ample amount of Malawian words. Though we seemed a bit silly while performing, the community loved hearing our encouragement. After we presented, multiple community members stood up to vouch for the importance of health and sanitation in their community, giving a short speech to the team.
