Carole Dick is a co-ordinator at a Midlothian Sure Start and currentlystudying for a community education degree at the University of Glasgow.While she was in search of a work placement, a church contact suggestedthat she visit Ekwendeni, a large town with one of the highest AIDS/HIVprevalence rates in Malawi.
Midlothian Sure Start specialises in family support groups, play therapyand counselling, chiefly provided for families of under-threes.
An adapted centre with a parent-led programme will be built over fiveweeks with Carole's help. The focus will be on improving basic health,teaching basic childcare and encouraging community support andvolunteering.
In an e-mail to colleagues at home, Carole describes her experience.'The government has given a small amount of funding. They are keen onseeing how this works. There are plenty of people who want to use theservice. I have suggested that the priority be the women who have losttheir husbands and have no income, because there is a real need for somenutritional input, so I am thinking that one of the health workers canhelp me set up a programme for this.'
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