Update from the ol' U.S. of A.

Meagan has done a great job posting photos and keeping us up to date as to what is going on with the construction in Tchawale. Here's a little update from the U.S.:

Our original plan was to have Park and his brother Gabe, collect new/gently used children's books from their friends, school, family, and community and then have those books shipped over (thanks to a donation from a local company with great shipping rates). Unfortunately, the company we were hoping to work with is no longer able to help us out. We have hit a minor bump in the road but nothing we can't work around.

New plan: raise money (at least 1k) and purchase textbooks and children's books in Malawi. Meagan is already working on contacts in Lilongwe to purchase the books. This way we can avoid shipping costs.

We have written a proposal to tipping bucket and hope they can help us. Their site features a project weekly and allows donations to be tax deductible in the US. It would be a fantastic way to spread the word. But our time is limited, with a September 8th opening, so worst case scenario, we'll just raise the money ourselves.

Many of you have asked if you can send books or cash. For now visit our project here and click "like" to show Tipping Bucket we mean business. And check back soon because we'll begin raising money for books in the next week or two!

Thanks to so many of you that have already offered books. Hold on to them for now. Hopefully we'll be able to collect them once we work out the shipping. But for now let's raise money to buy textbooks in Malawi for the grand opening!

Thanks to everyone for your support!

Walls, walls, walls

Foundations: Check.Half wall: check.happy brick-layer: check.


Standard 2
Standard one.

We start roofing tomorrow!

The bricks are coming!

We broke ground on Thursday! The money has safely arrived in Malawi and we will be purchasing supplies on Tuesday. Enjoy some snaps of the students helping carry bricks.

About to Start

Aunt Meagan here.

The money is raised! Three weeks later and we're making Park's dream a reality. Thanks for helping out the community of Tchawale. Here's a few "bricks" of progress.


Bricks are coming!


The builder breaks ground Wednesday, July 7.

Meet some of our standard 8 students who are staying at the school while they take exams.




They cook for themselves.




Meet the head teacher (principal) Mr. Bisumali.


He is responsible for all 1200 students at the school and has 5 of his own, 4 of which who are also learning there. The last born is this one:

More updates later! Thanks again for the help and be looking for status reports here.

Birth of a Library

This is me and my Aunt Meagan



In September 2008 she moved to Malawi Africa



with the Peace Corps


Soon she began teaching in the village of Tchawale
She noticed the primary school behind her home did not have a library.


She found that the school did own textbooks and other reading books but because they had no way to distribute them, they were collecting dust in storage closets or teachers' homes.

That's when we had an idea
We want to raise money and build a library...this summer...before Meagan completes her contract.

And that's why we need your help.

You can read more about it here but the community of Tchawale has raised a portion of the funds and we are raising the rest. We are already so close to our goal! If the money can be raised in the next two weeks, work can begin immediately! Whether you have 22 cents to give or $2200, we need EVERYONE's help. Every little bit makes a difference! So spread the word to your friends (and employer...matching gifts are also accepted ;) And don't forget, donations made through the peace corps are US tax deductible.

After you make your donation, continue to check back here. We will be reporting our progress and sharing photos of the construction. This is our chance to make a difference immediately!

Click to donate

Thank you for your HELP!