In the Southern Region of Malawi, just outside Blantyre, sits a school that quietly demonstrates one of the most powerful truths in modern education: vocational training changes lives. At DAPP Mikolongwe Vocational School, this truth is not an abstract idea or a policy slogan. It is visible every day in the workshops, the fields, the... READ MORE

I, Nabila, had the wish from when I was 16 to do something for others who need help.  I had the idea of going to Africa and perhaps help people to return to their country after a war. I started to work with a youth organization in Colombia and decided to include development work as... READ MORE

Living in Malawi has shaped me in ways I don’t think I could have understood from a distance. It’s one thing to read about a place, to hear stories or see images, but it’s something entirely different to wake up in it, to move through it, to feel it.  Being here has shown me a... READ MORE

From the grounds of Richmond Vale Academy, the view of La Soufrière is impossible to ignore. Rising quietly above the northern landscape of St. Vincent, she seems calm most days, almost contemplative. For those who live and study here as part of the six-month Climate Compliance program, that view becomes part of daily life, a... READ MORE

Entering Malawi was as smooth as it possibly could have been, made easy by the immense support from HUMANA and DAPP Malawi. Traveling as a group made the journey even more meaningful, as those shared moments quickly became memories for a lifetime. With all the information provided by Richmond Vale Academy, obtaining our visas upon... READ MORE

I had the opportunity to visit schools in the North Leeward area of St. Vincent to raise awareness among children and young people about Climate Change. We all know that Global Warming and Climate Change affect small island. Nations severely, so it is important that the also the next generation knows about this and about... READ MORE

As we all know, education is foundational for all development – whether it is educating all people to read and write or to train carpenters, farmers and teachers.  Classrooms not only lack electricity, but many classrooms are without chairs and desks. During the cold months in Malawi, the temperature can drop drastically. Schools and classrooms... READ MORE

So, the first month, filled with presentations, group tasks, and documentaries have given us a solid foundation — all neatly stacked like the lasagna beds Giorgia taught us about.  But out here, theory steps aside and the practical learning begins. The proof isn’t in the pudding after all… it’s in your blood, sweat and tears,... READ MORE

On those rare days when the timetable loosens its grip and adventure calls, we scatter like marbles. Some into sea sand and sunlight, some into stillness and others into tasks that quietly hold the Academy together. This is when the adventurers, having formed a squad, will find one another waiting at the main entrance to... READ MORE

Arriving recently on Union Island, I’ve started to see firsthand what it means to build climate resilience in vulnerable communities. As the newest participant from Richmond Vale Academy (RVA), I’ve joined a committed team continuing the work of those who came before us, working side by side with local families to grow food, share knowledge,... READ MORE

“Living in the Community” is a 2-months period for RVA’s Climate Compliance students and a highlight. The group has completed two months of theoretical and practical training about climate change, organic farming, permaculture and all the connections and links between them, it is finally time to discover about living on the island, how are the... READ MORE

Here comes Mathias Wold, from Norway, Development Instructor at Richmond Vale Academy, volunteering with the October team 2024 in Malawi.  As a Development Instructor for Humana People to People, I underwent training at Richmond Vale Academy in St. Vincent, where I learned how to combat poverty and work alongside those in need. I was assigned... READ MORE