ETHS strengthens collaboration & support for schools in Malawi, Africa
Dec 11, 2017 12:10pm CT
Since the 2016-17 school year, the Evanston Township High School community has been working to help schools in Malawi, Africa where severe drought and famine have impacted sub-Saharan areas. ETHS science teacher Mark Vondracek connected with Andrews Nchessie, a science teacher and agriculturalist in Malawi, to reach out to teachers in U.S. and Australia who all together raised funds so land could be purchased for crops. During the past year, ETHS has sent $6,400 to Malawi (equivalent of 4.64 million kwacha, due to the value of the dollar in that part of the world).
Donations have led to the purchase of eight acres of land, seed and fertilizer for maize and beans, the main staples of agriculture in Malawi, as well as funds to over the drilling of wells and installation of an irrigation system, so they may maintain the crops long-term during future droughts. With this continued support, Malawi has made great strides towards self-sufficiency.
Farming has become an integral piece of the curriculum in Malawi schools so that students who rarely leave the villages will learn from an early age how to thrive in their communities as they get older. Harvest from the initial crops planted last season produced a yield that will feed over 1,500 students for this school year.
With support from the ETHS Community Service Office, the office of the Associate Principal for School Operations & Logistics, and a number of teachers and their classes, the Malawi project exemplifies innovative partnerships and collaboration to make a direct difference in the world. ETHS seniors Elizabeth Sperti, Noni Shelton, Noah Guale, Ben Silverman and Posey Cohen are working this year to continue the project and help lead further efforts.
For more information, please contact Dr. Vondracek in the ETHS Science Department at vondracekm@eths.k12.il.us.