Inspire children through arts, crafts, dance, and education in regular after school sessions
Our mission
To empower and inspire young people to
express themselves in a safe and creative environment
through arts, dance, sport, creative and educational activities.
Butterfly Space is linked with the Youth Network of Nkhata Bay with connections to community based youth clubs, and primary and secondary school clubs. We have hosted many workshops, sports, and creative activities, which have been delivered both in communities and in our youth club space by our interns and volunteers. There are many ways for volunteers to engage the youth in Nkhata Bay through interactive, educational and creative activities, such as arts and crafts, critical thinking games, dance, sports, treasure hunts, races, obstacle courses, and educational workshops, inspiring and educational day trips, and more!
How you can get involved...
Come and share your ideas and personality to inspire and educate the children of Nkhata Bay. From sports, games, arts and crafts, theatre or dance. The youth clubs and nursery schools always benefit from new ideas, creative flair and a brand new burst of life! We have a youth space on site at Butterfly with a playground area and small outdoor theatre space which can be utilized for youth workshops. Volunteers interested in setting up youth workshops and clubs during their stay can use this space to deliver youth sessions.
Kids love to partake in games, sports, arts, crafts, music, sewing, drama, swimming, educational activities, trips, tuition and an English clubs. Some of the children speak English but for those who don’t, a translator might be necessary. Often the children are able to translate for the volunteers.
Why Volunteer here?
Education is recognised as a primary factor in reducing poverty, helping to advance economic and agricultural productivity for developing countries. It is also known to improve health, reduce infant mortality and morbidity rates. The World Bank recorded more than 50% Malawi’s population are living in poverty in 2020, and in 2022 it is still the 5th poorest country in the world.
This provides limited opportunities for the country to escape the poverty cycle. These are problems where education can be the solution!
Youth sessions encourage free-thinking, brain training and concept application. Sessions about health, environment and global issues, are also encouraged if they are culturally relevant and appropriate.
Volunteering opportunities...
Volunteers need to be confident, enthusiastic, enjoy working with children, appreciate that much learning can be achieved through fun activities, supervise the children regarding health and safety, and bring and share their own skills in a way they feel confident.
It would be welcomed if volunteers could bring useful resources for their chosen skills, sports equipment, paints, paper, craft items, art and games and lots of ideas to entertain for their sessions.
Here are some ideas of how volunteers could get involved:
- Drama groups can work either through the youth club or through different local groups like Vizara drama group, a travelling educational group that tackle pressing issues of Malawi. Previous viewings have received a warm welcome when shown at Butterfly on the a small stage by youth space!
- English Teachers are always welcome as there are no shortages of kids who want to improve their language and reading skills.
- Homework clubs are a great way to utilise the space after dark and many of the topics covered in school here are linked the English curriculum so there is great potential for volunteers to hold extra homework clubs, especially close to exam time. The media room can also be used for this.
- Getting a pen pal is a great way to stay in touch with Nkhata Bay once you have left here, and will provide a great insight to both people involved as to the daily challenges each other faces.
- Escorts for trips are always welcome as we would love to be able to show more of the groups that come through Butterfly some of the beautiful and amazing things that are around in Malawi. Previous trips have been to the Malawisaurus Museum but we would love to take a group to Vwaza National Park.
- Run environmental clubs; plant trees, litter pick, and tech environmental lessons.
- Making resources, as with the nursery school, is always a great way to improve the lessons and activities here and leave behind your ideas.
- Artists can add to the colourful walls at the youth club and also take different workshops with the kids, leaving new skills and techniques.
- Sharing any skill is great for the kids as they love to learn new things, in the past they have learnt to screen print, first aid, mosaics, hula hoop, magic and so much more.
- Organise sports events or swimming lessons as many of the children around cannot swim.
- Take coaching sessions for the football or netball team or organise games both home and away for the kids to take part in.
Donate Now!
Please support our projects. Without the generosity and support we have received over the years, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do!
Thank you, from all of the Butterfly team!
Please see our Wish List for the things we need which would benefit our Youth Club. Thank you!
