First few days in Malawi - May 2026

Malawi 2026 – First Days

(IMPORTANT NOTE - PLEASE DO NOT SHARE OR FORWARD THE PHOTOS ATTACHED. I was given consent to take the photos, but not the share them out on social medies. Thank you)


Hello everyone!

Thank you again for your support, both financially and through your encouragement. Because of you, I’m writing this from a hotel room in Blantyre, Malawi!

After several days of travel—from New York to Geneva, Johannesburg, and finally Malawi—our group of seven students and two professors arrived tired but excited to begin this journey.

We were welcomed by our hosts, Ken and Avisha Mpbemba. Ken is the founder and Executive Director of Malawi Children’s Mission (MCM), an organization that began as a feeding center and has grown into a school and community support program. MCM provides education, food, healthcare, and social services for vulnerable children while working within Malawi’s strong community-based support systems.

On our first day at MCM, we met the staff and toured the school. One of the highlights was the incredible welcome from the students. The children greeted us with songs, dances, skits, and endless enthusiasm. It was impossible not to feel moved by their joy and excitement.

Starting this week, I’ll be working with a Grade 6 classroom alongside their teacher, Eric. We’ll also be visiting local villages, meeting families in their homes, and supporting a community hypertension clinic.

Over the weekend, we had the opportunity to explore more of Malawi. We visited Zomba, hiked to a beautiful waterfall, saw our first monkeys, and learned more about daily life from local guides. We also attended a service at Blantyre Baptist Church, where we experienced an incredibly warm sense of community and hospitality.

Tomorrow marks our first full day in the classroom. In the evenings, we’ll participate in courses and discussions led by our professors and students. My focus is exploring how Malawian culture understands and responds to trauma and mental health challenges among young people.

Alongside the trip, I’m also taking an online summer course to prepare for my upcoming field placement at an integrated mental health and substance use clinic in New York. The days are full, but the experience has already been incredibly meaningful.

Thank you again for helping make this journey possible. I’m looking forward to sharing more as the trip continues!






















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