11. April 2026

Not Just Writing in Malawi

Malawi wove its way into my heart exactly three years ago. The country had occupied my head for longer than that, as I'd already begun writing a novel inspired by a story told to me on a train journey from York to Winchester...but that's a whole other post! As any writer knows, to do somewhere justice on the page, you have to experience the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile details of the place. So, in 2023 I spent three weeks visiting this beautiful country with my good pal, Shelley. Neither of us had any idea when we embarked on the journey just quite how our trip would change us.

Malawi is known as 'the warm heart of Africa', and it certainly lives up to its name. Although inhabiting one of the poorest countries in the world, Malawians are some of the kindest, friendliest, humblest people I have ever met. They have almost nothing and yet they would happily share their last nothing with you. We can learn a lot from their enduring spirit.

Malawi Revisited

Roll forward to September 2025 when, having finished my novel (not yet published), I revisited the country with my friend of 40 years, Phill. We visited some of the areas south of Lake Malawi, where Shelley and I hadn't been able to go in 2023, due to arriving a week after Cyclone Freddie had hit this part of Africa. Experiencing the diverse landscapes of the country made me love it even more, but revisiting some of the places I'd been to with Shelley became life-changing for me. Two places in particular seemed to be whispering to me that I needed to come back - and for longer than three weeks; Open Arms Infant Home, in Mangochi, and Chankhasi Primary and Canon Hunter Secondary schools in Nhkotakota.

By the time Phill and I returned to the UK, my mind was set and I started to make things happen. Mad? Me? Maybe.

You may ask yourself, well, how did I get here? 

And yes, I do have to keep asking myself that. I'll spare you the boring stuff of all the planning, organising, blood, sweat and tears of the last six months, but I'm finally here in Malawi. I'll be in Nhkotakota until the end of July, spending the summer term helping at the schools teaching English (with particular focus on Creative Writing). I'm installed in a lovely place, courtesy of some generous and kind friends I made here last year, and have received a warm welcome from the local community. Having arrived last Saturday, this first week has been about settling into the rhythms of life by the lake, falling asleep to the sound of the waves and waking to the calls of the cockerels. School starts in a week, which is exciting, but I've already been included in a staff meeting and have met some of the students (boarders who didn't go home for the Easter holidays).

In August (visa allowing), I will be moving further down the lake to Monkey Bay, not far from Mangochi, where I will be spending time with the outreach team of Open Arms.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I'm aiming to write another novel whilst I'm here...exciting times!

How lucky am I?

Blogging Off

This is my first venture into the blogging world, and my aim is to add a new post every Saturday. In the meantime, please feel free to follow me on Instagram @malawi_enjoying_ourselves!

Thanks for reading!

Clare