International Education

Vanier AIDS Action in Africa

In January 2008, six Vanier students and three staff and faculty members visited the South-East African country of Malawi in order to learn first-hand the impact HIV/AIDS has had on the country.

The study trip took place from January 1 to January 20; it was fun-filled and crammed withlearning - an overwhelming success. Our six students and the threestaff and faculty members quickly became immersed in the life of the village, Makupo.We woke with the rooster, gave greetings to the ladies who were heating the water for our tea, bathed with a bucket in the wash house, played with the constantly visiting children, and enjoyed the singing of the ladies when everything was dark except the shining stars.

Village life gave us the context for what was our work – to try and understand the scope and impact of HIV/AIDS on this very poor country. We divided into groups – political, medical, socio-cultural, and pedagogical – and set about interviewing individuals and organisations in Makupo, in the neighbouring town, Kasungu, and in Llongwe, the capital. We talked to school officials and teachers, a senior chief, politicians, support groups, hospital staff, orphans, individuals with HIV/AIDSand those worried that perhaps they too were infected. The students set up their own interviews and decided on their questions. Their excitement as they reported on their interviews was palpable.

There were so many highlights: one of our students singing in the church choir in Chichewa, visiting Lake Malawi with its sandy beaches, and meeting the former vice-president of the country who held us spellbound with his perspective on the impact of HIV/AIDS.