A helping hand in Malawi

This week's column is by Online Editor Mike Pilewski.

Having been to Africa several times, I can tell you it is fascinating beyond belief. The continent is full of strong colours, strong fragrances and strong contrasts. It's also full of strong people, many of whom face enormous challenges in doing everyday things that we Westerners take for granted.

Travelling around rural Africa, you see very few Westerners. Those you do see always have interesting stories to tell. They want to be there — to help and teach, or to observe and learn.

The February Spotlight introduces us to one such individual: Paddy Austin from Ireland. Austin works for two European organizations that help disabled people in Africa. In our monthly section A Day in My Life, he takes us through a typical day's activities in Malawi, Zambia or Zimbabwe — from waking up at 4.30 a.m., when he hears the call of the muezzin, to enjoying an evening meal of cassava and coconut.

Development aid worker Paddy Austin. Photo: Eamonn Fitzgerald

In between, he's out learning about the challenges the local people face and working on ways to help them. For example, his organizations set up microfinance banks so that people can start small businesses. About 4,000 people already benefit from these low-interest loans.

You'll find the full story, in Austin's own words, in the February magazine.

You'll also find part of it on Spotlight Audio. Listen here to the track on which Paddy Austin explains another project in which he helps African children.

*Each month, A Day in My Life takes us to another country to meet another fascinating person. In addition:

• A special Info to Go box explains concepts, idioms and expressions presented in the interview.
• You can usually hear the interviewee speaking his or her own regional variety of English on Spotlight Audio.

Don't miss it!