February 02, 2010: Music Club and Theatre Club at the Jacaranda School
Volunteers have put their energy and enthusiasm into developing the Arts at Jacaranda. David Drengk and Jonas Petrenz (both from Germany) use their free time from their one-year stay as Weltwärts volunteers in Malawi to put together the Jacaranda School band. Using the drum set donated by our great friend Harlan Steinberger, and the guitars donated by students from the Shanghai American School in China, David and Jonas are teaching the children how to play the instruments, while our teachers are in charge of the school choir. David and Jonas have also transformed, after a thorough clean-up, our old house garage into a music room (see the pictures below, and read David's interview for more on his experience in Malawi and at Jacaranda).

Meryem Korun (from Germany) and Danielle Kummer (from the UK) have launched the Jacaranda school drama club. They started writing together with the students a musical based on the children's everyday lives, and their visions of the future. They also engage the children in games, dances and improvisation (for more, please read Meryem's interview, below.)

* David Drengk, 19 year-old volunteer, speaks about his experience in Malawi and at the Jacaranda school:

"There are so many possibilities here, because the children are very open-minded. They are very happy to play music with us. What I find very nice is that they are trying to tell us about their lives, through their interactions with us. Some of them showed me songs they wrote, these songs talk about their way of life here, but also about themes young people around the world talk about, like love."

"The children are very talented in music, many of my friends in Germany are not that good, actually! And the kids are really having fun when playing."

"In Germany, I started playing music in primary school. There was a music school where kids could go and play any instrument they wanted. I loved banging up the drums, so I ended up being a drummer! Then we had a band in high school, playing different styles of music. To me, the most important when playing in a band, is to listen to the other musicians. Then you can do anything, you can improvise. That's what we do here with the Jacaranda band."

"I really feel that for someone like me, who just finished high school in my country and is spending a year in Malawi as a volunteer, the best place to be is a school or an orphanage. I don't have any real qualifications yet, so what I can do best is spend time with children, interact with them, be here for them. To me, education should be the number one priority in Malawi, because children are the future of their country. If they receive a good education, they can develop their country."

"When I go back to Germany in September, I want to go to university to study political science, with a link with Africa. Africa really gets into your skin. I want to do presentations about Malawi for my high school, my soccer club, my university, etc. I want to show the other side of Africa, or the other side of Malawi, because Africa is so huge. Here I experienced the opposite of what I was seeing on the news about Africa. As soon as I greet people in chichewa, peole open up, they smile, and they start talking about anything. They invite me to share their food, even though they hardly have enough for themselves! When they first meet me, they always think that because I am from Europe, I have lots of money; but when they realize I'm 19, I just finished high school and I am here as a volunteer, they understand."

"Back in Germany, I would like to organize a fundraising concert to help. I'll invite several bands, and we'll have a clear goal. I really feel I can contribute to the development of the Jacaranda school."

Jonas and David assemble the drum set and paint the garage (top right, with Mada), to turn it into a music room.

* Meryem Korun 19 year-old volunteer, talks about theater at the Jacaranda school and her stay in Malawi.


"The students are very good actors and dancers, and very enthusiastic too. Our plan is to put together a musical, based on the children's real lives, every day lives, and their dreams and visions of the future. We are collecting scenes right now, and then we will put them in order. One of the scenes, for instance, will be: the walk to school. The children have also written songs, some in English, some in Chichewa. The musical will start with actors making statements such as: "I want to be a pilot, because I want to fly high in the sky", then a solo song will start, and then the whole choir will join in."

"I started acting in primary school. In high school, we performed several musicals: Chicago; Monthy Python; Tommy (from the Who); and the White Album (from the Beatles). Then I worked for a few months as an entertainer at Legoland in Duisburg. That was a fun experience, I spent a lot of time with children, dressed as a pirate!"

"I feel at home here in Malawi because I now know a lot of people and a lot of different places. It's easier here to meet people than in Germany, you just need to talk to them! I had an interest in Africa for a long time because my aunt spent 25 years in Uganda and she was sending us letters, pictures. From a young age, I dreamt of Africa."

"I would like to study intercultural communication and then work with NGO's or the UN. I'm even thinking of spending more time in Malawi, after my one-year stay as a volunteer. And then travel in Africa."


"People should come and experience Malawi, they should just come and see it by themselves. Wherever you go, people invite you in their homes. So you don't feel homesick at all!"