Mercy Montessori kids delight in Museums of Malawi education visit
There was excitement and history in the making when over 40 kids of Mercy Montessori Children Centre were given a rare treat at the Museums of Malawi in Blantyre as part of an education visit and recreation activity.
When Nyasa Times caught up with the small kids with the oldest being nine years it was not easy to convince them to pause for a group photo as the artefacts and historical features at the Chichiri Museum kept them too occupied to spare such a time.
And none of them was ready to talk to the reporter not because of age but for fear of missing out some narrations that the staff at the Museums took them through and the merry making that followed.
Unfortunately picking pictures in the gallery was not allowed as it required special clearance from the top manager who was not around at the time of Nyasa Times correspondent visit.
But Director of the Montessori Centre Simon Nkhambale who equally was happy with the goings-on disclosed that the Centre appreciate that preservation of culture and history has no age restriction and that the Centre also believes in teaching children both theory and practical while they are still young.
“We encourage the teachers to bring in some practical elements when teaching the kids for it simplifies their job and the kid also enjoy on the other hand.
“For that reason we thought if they come here they will not only enjoy the environment but also learn some things which though young could be useful at a certain stage,” said Nkhambala, who was of praises of the Museums staff for lecturing the kids and their care givers as they viewed different artefacts and other historical sites within the Museums compound.
Of special interest at the Chichiri Museum is the ongoing Dr. David Livingstone exhibition which started last September and winds up this June.
The kids were also shown the different coins and bank notes that have been in use in Malawi since the colonial days, shown some wildlife and game found in the country’s game reserves and national parks, traditional musical instruments, past weaponry, the genesis of transport system in the country, old hut, the first fire fighting engine, among others.
A Centre of more than 90 kids which also looks after orphans and needy children right from the Nursery, some of which are taken from the streets, Mercy Montessoni is situated in Ndirande and according to the Centre Director they brought just managed to bring half of the school because of financial constraints as they had to hire a coaster to comfortably ferry the kids to and from Chichiri Museum.
“We feel bad that we left many kids behind but we were looking at the transport, food and entry fees which was too much on our side. But we hope that next time we shall have some well-wishers to make it happen for our wish is to take them to Mtengatenga Museum, Mangochi Museum and Lake Malawi Museum,” said Nkhambala.
For stepping on the grounds of the Museums an adult pays K 200 while kids foot K 100 each which was really a fortune on the part of the Centre which according to its Director also provides for meals and other basic necessities for the needy.
“Some are the ones who graduated from the Centre and are learning elsewhere, we still take care of them by providing uniforms and other requirements because there are still our kids,” said the Centre Director.
The Director said that he has the plight of the kids that is why he takes several initiatives to make them feel like any other kid in the society.
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