Bandawe and lake Malawi at sunset
The Shanti
om symbol
Trust
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Supporting art and culture in Bandawe

Children performing traditional dances for visiting school sponsors

Local museum and cultural centre
We are fortunate to have received assistance from Responsible Travel towards the cost of building a small museum in the village. It is hoped that this will become a centre of cultural learning for the local community as well as a fascinating attraction for tourists. Makuzi Beach offers a cultural tour of the village that allows guests at local lodges to gain a better understanding of the area they are visiting whilst helping to preserve local arts, crafts and traditions.

The late Chief Yakucha with the sign for the new museum
The trust suffered a huge loss in August 2008 when Chief Yakucha (left) passed away. He had been the driving force behind the cultural centre and museum. Howeve, a committee (far right) has been set up to run the museum, the building has been completed and we have begun to plant trees and a garden around the centre.
 The foundations of the museum under contruction The museum committee outside the finished building

The Makuzi tour visits sites of historical importance including the old Mission Church and Graveyard that were founded by followers of David Livingstone, before continuing to the village to meet local people and experience traditional dances and cuisine. There are also demonstrations and opportunities to learn traditional crafts such as grinding millet, pounding cassava and building and paddling dug-out canoes. At the end of the tour guests meet Chief Yakucha to see some historical artefacts and hear stories of Bandawe's history.

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Art and music school
We are keen to support diverse educational opportunities and are in the process of developing an Art and Music Centre. This will be founded and run by a group of five local artists who have already been responsible for re-decorating the schools' classrooms. Our plan is to build two classrooms, and to offer courses to teachers from throughout Malawi, in teaching art and music. Host families will be used to provide accommodation for students helping to bring income to the local community.

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