19th Day Thursday

Today we had arranged with the Public Health Manager Francis, that we would be picked up at 8 o'clock to visit a school.

At 11 o'clock we were finally picked up. (All cars and drivers were on their way and we had to wait ☹️) In Malawi you never know how long something takes. I just hope we'll be on time to the airport tomorrow.

This time we drove to a slightly distant school. It was somewhere in the middle of nowhere, about 30 minutes on a gravel road. Once again, we were warmly welcomed by a group of school children with singing and clapping.

After an introduction round and intensive cleaning instructions: how to brush your teeth, the children were then divided into their classes.

There were 4 classes, 2 grade levels each. 1/2 - 3/4 - 5/6 - 7/8-. The classrooms are completely unfurnished and have no tables and benches, only a blackboard and a few posters on the walls.

The children simply sit on the floor to learn. In one class there are between 50 and 150 students. The lower classes are much fuller than the higher classes, because as the children get older, they go to school less. Class 8 is free here. Unfortunately, the teaching profession is not very lucrative here. A nurse earns more than a teacher and there are too few teachers.

This time the distribution of toothbrushes and toothpaste went much more orderly, as we let the teachers help us form 2 rows.

Then we brushed our teeth together. The younger children didn't know how to use a toothbrush in some cases and had a hard time.

This time we coated the teeth of the children in grade 7/8 with a fluoride varnish.

Finally, we received a big "Zikomo" and made our way home.

In the afternoon, we went to Namitondo to the big clothes market, which always takes place on Thursdays to buy Chitenge fabric. Chitenge is the fabric that women tie around their hips as a skirt or use to carry their babies on their backs.

It was again a huge hustle and bustle on the "streets".

In the evening, we went to the small bar in Namitondo and celebrated a little goodbye. Some of us a little longer 😉.

Tomorrow, we fly home!!!