Memorable Mzuzu

The GSE team and Rotarian Gibbs with their Mzuzu coffee!!

After a truly epic mini bus journey up from Lake Malawi we finally arrived at Mzuzu , the most northerly stop on our trip. We were greeted by the Rotarians and treated to a very welcome indian meal. We stayed at the unique accommodation provided by the Hot n Spice lodge.

Solar at Mzuzu University: pumps water to the cafe, & keeps vaccines cool in the clinic 

Our programme included vocational visits for each of the team. I went to the Test and Training Centre for Renewable Energy technologies (TCRET), at Mzuzu University. I met Titus Bwalo who is a Lecturer at the department. We discussed the huge potential of renewable energy to help the 83% of the population who are not connected to the national grid in Malawi. One of the biggest barriers to this happening is cost, but Titus described some of the partnerships the department is involved in which are testing the practicality of small scale solar in low income households. For example, there is a project to provide solar lanterns to 44 households which charge in the daytime and give 8 hours of light. The lanterns mean that the family don’t need to buy kerosene, which is very expensive and also not always readily available. The project has proved a success and there are plans to roll it out to more households. It was very interesting discussing renewable energy and climate change with someone so knowledgeable and to compare the situations in Malawi and the UK. I learnt so much and really could have stayed there all day!

Meeting university lecturer Titus Bwalo at Mzuzu University

Mzuzu is famous for its coffee production so we found a new café set up by a local co-operative and enjoyed some wonderful coffee there. However, Adele managed to get locked inside a toilet by accident - luckily I was there with her and was able to fetch someone to help her escape! (this is why ladies go to the toilet in twos!)

Our presentation to the Rotary Club at Mzuzu was our 10^th of the trip, we are all learning a great deal about public speaking and hopefully with all of this practice we have improved! We enjoyed a dinner with the club and exchanged banners. We’d like to say a big thank you to the Rotarians for their hospitality and the lovely gifts of Mzuzu coffee and beautiful chitengas. We will certainly remember our time in Mzuzu!