Malawi now offers a well thought-out and certainly one-of-a-kind, four-to-six-week language and cultural exchange program. It is not a traditional SYLE, but one that is open to any current Servas member, not just youth.  

Malawi is a long, narrow, landlocked country in east Africa (see map below), surrounded by Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. It is commonly called the 'warm heart of Africa' and has a population of 14 million consisting of Muslims, Christians and Animists. The economy is largely based upon tea, coffee and sugar production. The daily staple is Nsima(maize) with relish (little fish-kapenta, beans, tomatoes, andonions). 

These are the requirements for participation.  

• Be a model Servas traveler 

• Be prepared to give a PowerPoint presentation about your life, your country, your Servas group 

• Buy and pay for your air travel and insurance. 

• Be between the ages of 18 to 80. 

• Pay $25 for four Chichewa language lessons. 

• Pay $100 SYLE fee (50% goes to the NGO that you volunteer with) 

• Be fit and have health Insurance. 

• Be able to communicate comfortably in English. 

• Pay for your own lunches, local buses, and incidental expenses. 

• Pay for the ingredients and cook one meal for each ‘long-stay’ host. 

• Have an up-to-date Servas LOI. 

• Have funds to travel the last week around Malawi. 

 

Arrival: 

You will be greeted at the airport and taken to the home of our National Secretary where you will stay for two nights to settle in before beginning your SYLE. We will present you with a Servas Malawi membership, T-shirt, ID, and an item worth up to $50 for YOU to donate to the NGO you choose to work with (see below). 

 

Week 1: Stay two nights with three or four Blantyre hosts who will: 

1. Take you to work with them for a day. 

1. Show you how to use the local minibuses, etc. to get around. 

1. Help you study and speak Chichewa. 

1. Visit St Michaels, Carlsberg, Thyolo & Mulanje 

 

Week 2 - 3: Stay with two long-stay hosts, one per week while doing daily volunteer work with an accredited NGO’s from the list that follows: 

1. Footprints Africa- agroecology in Mulanje. 

1. Tiyamike – photography work - make a booklet. 

1. Work with 2-6yr old children in a Nursery/Primary sch. 

1. Blood Donor Board – work in Mzuzu/Lilongwe 

1. Garage Workshop. 

1. Housing support. 

Week 4: 1 week of self-funded travel @ lake oraround Malawi & back for debrief with National Secretary. 

For more information CONTACT:  

National Secretary: demelzabenbow@gmail.com  •  WhatsApp +(265) 999-482-983 

SYLE Support: Jacqueline13@hotmail or call +(265) 997-376-475 or 993-920-386