TEDxLilongwe

I spent a super inspiring day at TEDxLilongwe yesterday, listening to hemp farmers, solar entrepreneurs, educators, musicians, molecular geneticists, politicians, music festival organisers, helicopter makers and more talk about their ideas for a better Malawi. Thanks to all the organisers and performers for putting on such a great show.

Here's a photo of me sitting in a helicopter made by Felix Kambwiri - one of yesterday's speakers. Felix is a 45-year-old welder, who never went to secondary school. Following in the footsteps of William Kamkwamba, who famously built a working wind turbine out of scrap metal, Felix - having only once before seen a helicopter in real life - decided to build his own using parts from a 125cc motorcycle engine. It doesn't fly yet, but I think it's only a matter of time. Such is his fame, that he's already been featured in the Daily Mail.

Felix's inspiring efforts come against a backdrop of a looming humanitarian crisis here in Malawi, and across much of Southern Africa - as documented by John Vidal in today's Guardian newspaper. Two successive bad harvests are likely to push 8 million Malawians into hunger, malnutrition and greater poverty this year.

Of piglets and penguins

April was busy! As predicted, the three pregnant pigs all gave birth, and all in the space of three days. So we've been busy watching twenty-two pint-size piglets sleeping, playing, fighting, and eating. They're six-weeks-old now and ready to be sold; the first six went today - two to my friend, Hellen, who is well on her way to becoming a full-time pig farmer, and four to my friends, Sam and Abbie. I also learnt the hard way that you shouldn't get too close to the sharp end of a fully grown boar.

Day 1

Piglets

Avoid the sharp end

The rugby season is coming to an end in Malawi. The cessation of the rains in April means the ground will soon be too hard to play on. Lilongwe Rugby Club capped a great season by winning the national rugby championship against Sports Complex Jaguars, before losing in the final minute of a 'friendly' game against arch-rivals, Blantyre Sports Club. I've finally made the move from the backs to the forward pack, where weight is deemed an asset rather than a hindrance. My friend, Luke Coulson, and a small group of committed Malawians and expats continue to drive rugby development in Malawi's Central Region. There are now three development teams in the Region, who are looking increasingly capable! The photo below (courtesy of Luke Coulson) shows some of the boys from the Area 25 Hippos team enjoying some down-time in the Lake during a recent tour to Salima.

In the paper

Celebrating with a traditional ear-licking ritual, with Sam Morris (left)

Area 25 Hippos @ Senga Bay, Salima - photo courtesy of Luke Coulson

In a month of firsts, I killed my first chicken - which should probably have been done outside - and commissioned my first work of art from talented and self-taught local artist, Isaac Chodola. Isaac specialises in painting the birds of Malawi, and is going to paint me a collage of various birds. Below is another painting of his that I purchased - a long-tailed paradise whydah.

Long-tailed paradise whydah

Do it outside

April was also a month of travelling, to Ntchisi Forest - one of the last remaining patches of rainforest in Malawi; Nkhata Bay; and Cape Maclear. Finally, I got to spend a lovely long weekend in Cape Town with Szilvi, full of wine, food, and penguins!

Penguin party

At the end of a beautiful continent with Szilvi - Cape Point, South Africa