lesfousd'afrique:Those Who Become Crazy for Africa

Welcome to my Summer 2009 Malawi photosite—Les Fous d’Afrique. Translated, it simply means ‘Those who become crazy for Africa.’ I hope that as you browse, you will enjoy meeting some of the faces and reading a couple of the stories that touched me this summer.

“We only have today, let us begin.” Blessings to you as you go forth and begin…

Always for Africa,

Gabrielle

This was taken on my last day in the villages, at the end of the pathway back to the compound. Daziona refused to get off my shoulders. It was hard saying goodbye to my little friend, she was by far, one of the most favorite parts of my trip.

I took this while working on a service project. That’s my girl mary hand plowing a field.

The photo that Daziona is holding was taken last year. She was so happy to have a photo that had her face in it.

We brought this huge, colorful parachute down to our play date in the village field. The children loved to scurry underneath the fabric as the interns manned the rising and falling edges.

The dust that was kicked up from the parachute was impressive. The children were covered from head to toe in a soft earth color by the end of the afternoon.

Malika dressed to perfection for this afternoon out in the field.

Jason playing in the colors, Mgwayi Village.

In the fields of Mgwayi.

The women in the villages carry some of the most impressive sized objects on their heads. I once went to the pump and carried back a 16 liter tub on my head during a home visit. I learned fast to appreciate how amazing it is to turn on a faucet. The girls are raised to be strong and work from sunup to sundown.

This was a common sight throughout the villages. The women are very hard workers! In the early morning hours I could hear the village begining to stir from my dorm and knew that the women were begining a very long work day…

Mundaise is a doughnut type treat that is sold throughout the villages. It provides a small  means of income to the women there.

Most of the children go barefoot, so to see such a dapper pair of shoes demanded a photo. Shot in Chilombo Village.

Chilombo Village.

Msilitza Village during the start of the feeding program.