Rose Alzacaren-Apilado is a registered volunteer missionary, cancer survivor and former teacher who spent her retirement traveling the world, but her globetrotting came to a halt when she visited the Republic of Malawi.
“I was a tourist in Africa,” Alzacaren-Apilado said.
“I was planning to just do the travelling and reading and taking it easy when I retire. But when I was in Malawi, in the villages, I saw children playing walking around. I asked people why are they just out there, and they said, generally these children, cannot go to school till they’re able to walk distances of 3 km or more.”
After learning more about the socioeconomic barriers in place stopping parents from sending their kids to school, Alzacaren-Apilado decided to help.
“I was introduced to some leaders in the community when I reached Liwonde,” she said.
“They asked me if it’s possible for me to help put up a primary school….I said, well, my heart says yes.”
That led to the founding of Liwonde New Hope Community School in 2013, a project Alzacaren-Apilado said took lots of time and research to put together.
“When I started the school, I stayed there for more than 8-9 months,” she said.
“I had to study the curriculum of Malawi. Then I observed classes in private schools, in Catholic schools, which are run separately, and also public schools.”
Speaking about how inspiring all the children were, despite their poor living conditions, Alzacaren-Apilado said she hopes education can be the stepping stone they need to uplift their community.
“They are generally poorer than any children on the other parts of the globe,’ Alzacaren-Apilado said.
“But you know what, they’re very happy. They’re singing, they’re jumping they’re playing. My heart just breaks because these children have so much in the future to look forward to. If they go to school, then probably they will one day be the leaders of Malawi and will help the country in its progress.”
Alzacaren-Apilado began with just 5 kindergarten students sitting on mats under the shade of eucalyptus trees. By the end of the first year, 27 children were graduating from Liwonde New Hope. Fast forward eight years, and those students are now getting ready to enter Grade 7, an exciting moment that has been put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unfortunately, travel restrictions have made it impossible for Rose to teach in Malawi right now. Instead, she has been working with other community groups to make sure both students and staff are cared for until she can return.
“Just like Canada, they also had to lockdown, but were able to reopen in September,” Alzacaren-Apilado said.
“Even when there was no school, we were paying the teachers their salaries. So the teachers are now provided with masks, face shields, and we also had to provide masks for children who can’t afford to have masks. So many are very good about it, their parents and mothers would make cloth masks for children. They were so very happy to come back to school. We have water and soaps ready for them, several washing stations before they come to school. That’s how we managed it.”
The work isn’t easy, but Alzacaren-Apilado said it’s all a labour of love.
“That is not work that is considered “work” work; it’s my side voluntary mission,” she said.
“I think I have always been a teacher. Since I was in the Philippines, I love children. That’s the main thing. I love children. And I’d love for them to learn more. Anything, anything teach them anything. Arts, singing, reading, whatever, but I love to teach children.”
“My longing for travel is still there, but I have gone to almost all parts of the world,’Alzacaren-Apilado said.
“I’ve slept in the Sahara, I climbed mountains, you name it, I’ve done that; but what I’m doing now is more important than spending money on travelling.”
Donations to Liwonde New Hope Community School can be made via Emmanuel International Canada.
