Flat Stanley Learns About Roofing a Malawian House

Flat Stanley, best friends with the First Lady of Arkansas, Ginger Beebe, was curious about why these strong Malawian women were carrying these bundles of tall grass.

So, we stopped to talk to the women and they gave Flat a ride and an education about building the rooftops of their houses with grass as protection.

Fay and Flat found out how very heavy the bundles of grass were. We could not carry them alone!

Oh, so this is how the grass is used! Here's a beautiful grass-roofed house.

Zomba CCAP Community Day Secondary School

Fay Kelle, Ph.D., who is in Malawi for 2 ½ months from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service performing her International Public Service Project (IPSP), spoke with students on July 27th about “Learning to Build Character and the Skills of Democratic Citizenship in Difficult Circumstances in Malawi.”


Misheck Munthali, Country Director for Civitas Malawi and Project Citizen Malawi, the organization that sponsored Dr. Kelle’s IPSP work, also pointed out to the students how promoting their own individual development could also help them build a prosperous democratic society in Malawi.


Students Listen Intently at the Zomba CCAP Community Day Secondary School


Students Learn to Question at the Zomba CCAP Community Day Secondary School


Main Buildings of the New Suburban Zomba CCAP Community Day Secondary School


The Facilities of the New Suburban Zomba CCAP Community Day Secondary School

Mzuzu University American Corner on August 2, 2007

Misheck Munthali, Civitas Malawi (CM) Co-Founder and Country Director, and Dr. J. Fay Kelle from University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service gave a presentation at the Mzuzu University American Corner on August 2, 2007.




The topic was: The Goals (Agency, Civility and Equality or ACE) and the Essential Competencies (Emotional/Social, Political and Intellectual Competencies or EPIC) of Democratic Citizenship for a Democratic and Prosperous Life in Malawi. Several participants commented after the presentation that it was very “eye opening.” The talk focused on the work of Civitas Malawi, specifically Project Citizen Malawi, which is a democratic citizenship secondary curricular program designed by Center for Civic Education, Calabasas, CA and funded by the USA Department of Education and USAID, and coordinated through Civitas Africa and Civitas International.

Dignitaries at Project Citizen Malawi Finals, June 21st

Mrs. Matrida Kabuye from the Education Ministry and U.S. Ambassador Alan Eastham have their picture taken with Dr. Chakwera, Principal of Domasi College, and, Misheck Munthali, Civitas Malawi country director and organizer of Project Citizen Malawi, underneath the large Civitas Malawi showcase banner.

Project Citizen Malawi National Team Announced on June 21st

This final Project Citien contest was an unqualified success, especially because it was attended by the U.S. Ambassador Alan Eastham, who watched part of the Chichiri team’s oral defense and all of the Ekwendeni Girls team’s defense. The Deputy Minister of Education sent her lead negotiator, Mrs. Matrida Kabuye, to make the Keynote Address. There were four Education Division Managers who attended, and in the end, Ambassador Eastham had the honor of bestowing the honors and the Project Citizen National Team Trophy to the Ekwendeni Girls.

It was apparent that Misheck Munthali and the rest of his Civitas Malawi team were exhausted after the last 9 days of traveling and organizing for the regional and national contests, and this on top of 10 months of preparation. However, what was even more apparent was how proud they were that their program helped these students develop into the kind of citizens who now have learned the values, attitude and skills needed to take the responsibility and initiative to make their communities and county the best that they can be.

Mrs. Kabuye said in her speech indicate “One of the main goals of Project Citizen Malawi is the need to strengthen democracies, especially emerging democracies like ours in Malawi. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it must also be remembered that without educating citizens to take part in the democratic affairs of their nations, no democracy can flourish. It is for this reason, that the participation of these students and the great display of their talents like this is quite encouraging for us Malawians.”

Here are some priceless memories for all who were present.

Likuni Boys Secondary (Central) Defend their PC Portfolio at the Finals, June 21st

Central Regional Winners: Likuni Boys Secondary School (near Lilongwe): “Poor Road Infrastructure to Likuni Primary School, its Causes and Far Reaching Consequences”

Project Citizen Malawi Contest, the NATIONAL FINALS, June 21st

Project Citizen Malawi Contest, the NATIONAL FINALS, located at Chinsapo Secondary School (near Lilongwe, the capitol city), June 21, 2007

Three secondary schools participated in the finals, representing their regions. The following were the regions and the topics of their research, policy analysis and action proposals:

Central Regional Winners: Likuni Boys Secondary School (near Lilongwe): “Poor Road Infrastructure to Likuni Primary School, its Causes and Far Reaching Consequences”

Southern Regional Winners: Chichiri Secondary School (near Blantyre): “Refueling Minibuses while Passengers are on Board Resulting in Fire and Personal Injury and Public Endangerment”

Northern Regional Winners: Ekwendeni Girls Secondary School (near Mzuzu): “Poverty and its Effects, A Case Study of Ekwendeni Community”