This summer I have decided to do some volunteering in Malawi with Hooke Court; a charitable trust, which aims to help improve the standard of primary education in 9 schools in the Bandawe District.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. The latest data shows an average income of less than US$ 1.25 per day. It is ranked 8th poorest out of 185. The average life expectancy in the Bandawe area of Malawi is 38 because of a high infant mortality rate, AIDS/HIV and Malaria. A few years ago the government made primary education free for all, but no additional resources were provided. This means that class sizes increased hugely and quickly, class sizes of 120 are common!

I am funding the trip myself but am hoping to raise funds to purchase resources to take with me. With such huge classes, and very minimal resources (a blackboard and copying are the norm) differentiation and more creative ways to teach and learn are needed.

Hooke Court have, over the past 7 years managed to equip the 9 schools they support with basic resources; pens, books and individual chalk boards amongst many others. They are also sending over a container of schematic learning texts that are now virtually redundant in most UK primary schools.

As I have limited baggage, and want to demonstrate a different approach to whole class teaching, I would like to take across some talking buttons and spare batteries. These devices can be used in a variety of ways: recording tasks for children to do independently; allowing children to talk into them and then write (rather than having to try and hold a whole sentence in their heads) and for interactive displays to support the teaching of phonics. The buttons cost around £35 for 5 and my aim is to supply a minimum of one pack for each school – not ideal, but enough to get things going.

I am therefore undertaking the task of trying to run, walk, row, swim or cross trainer the length of Lake Malawi between now and July 26th - a grand total of 365 miles (587 km!!!) Any contributions will be gratefully received.