October 24, 2019
Change of plan
One thing that Mel learned a long time ago in business is that, if circumstances dictate, you change the plan – but never the goal! The plan has changed
September 11, 2019
Precious Plastic
On my first day in the factory I saw one of the workers drilling holes into the small and big valve and – having built a CNC router at home a few years ago – I thought it is a waste of time if she
August 21, 2019
Arrival of Mel’s new bike
If you are restless enough to be wandering the hills of Kinsale at 5.30 am one of these mornings, you might see Mel emerge from the early morning mist on his new bike. A handsome touring model custom built by bike builder-cum-philosopher Richard Dalacour of
August 8, 2019
Mel’s Tour d’Afrique 2020
Mel Bendon will undertake the original trans-continental journey and flagship TDA cycling expedition crossing Africa from north to south, covering almost 12,000 km in four months. A test of mind, body, and bicycle.
June 14, 2019
Girl Child Student Excel Spreadsheet
For the last few weeks, I have been busy working on the girl child student excel spreadsheet, updating and proofreading information on each of the girls Wells for Zoë provides secondary school fees for.
June 8, 2019
Girl Child Student Form 4 Graduation 2019
I was very lucky to be the ‘Guest of Honour’ at the Wells for Zoë Form 4 graduation ceremony on Saturday 8th June. Not only was it an incredible celebration of the girl child students and the challenges they have overcome to reach their final
May 6, 2019
Caregiver Preschool Training at Kachere CBO
Attending the preschool training workshop for caregivers at Kachere CBO has been one of the highlights of my stay in Malawi (so far!). It was so inspiring to see how much encouragement and confidence the preschools team give the caregivers – I learned that caregivers
April 27, 2019
Trip to Mphompha, Rumphi
Last Tuesday, I was lucky enough to go on the trip with John, Rose, Harisen and Adamson to Mphompha in Rumphi district, to attend a function for the celebration of the Wells for Zoë #1millionTrees project in the area. Malawian radio and television company MBC
April 11, 2019
Child Marriage
Looking back on my first three weeks in Malawi, one thing that has really stood out to me in particular so far is the amazing amount of care and support the girl child students receive from everyone at Wells for Zoë. In Malawi, education for girls
March 27, 2019
Enyezeni School Visit
This week I arranged a visit to Enyezini CDSS to see how the #1millionTrees planting was going, take some videos and pictures of the students and meet Janet, the Guatemalan Peace Corps volunteer teacher working there who initially paid for the seedlings from her own
March 23, 2019
Kirsty’s first week
After the long journey from Ireland to Malawi, I arrived at the airport in Lilongwe on Sunday afternoon, where I was warmly welcomed by Harisen who had come to collect me. The scenic drive from Lilongwe to Mzuzu through the many towns and villages was
February 13, 2019
Bell Time Article
Bell Time Schools Magazine Article Feb 2019 Only 4 out of 100 Girls in rural Malawi complete Secondary school! As you sit in your comfortable classroom today, you might wish you were somewhere else, but I bet you’d never switch places with one of the girls in