On The Ground in Malawi: Francis and Ovarton

Two Future Artists?

Francis Meninji and Ovarton Bomba are two of the children who have discovered their talent for drawing animals during the WWF project. Both are now hoping that in the future, they may be able to make a living as professional artists. 

Animals - a favourite subject

It is a busy day at Chembe Paper Shack. Francis, Ovarton and some of their friends are making envelopes out of hand-made paper. The envelopes are for postcards that will be on sale the following day, when a group of Finnish tourists will visit the facility for the first time.

Often Francis, Ovarton and their friends also help with papermaking. They are especially useful in operating the old heavy tobacco press used for squeezing excess water out of paper sheets during the paper-making process.

During their spare moments, both boys often grab a pencil and one of the newly made paper sheets. Then they sit down in the comfortable shade provided by the grass roof and are quickly absorbed by drawing.

Francis and Ovarton are two of the children who have been taught by artist Joseph Mponda. They also share a favourite subject: both boys most enjoy drawing birds, fish, and other animals.

While instructing how to draw animals, Joseph also talks about them with his students. "We have learnt that some species of fish can help reduce bilharzia, because they eat snails that spread bilharzia", Francis says. "So we have to take good care of the fish."

Open questions about the future

Francis and Ovarton share a dream for the future. “We would like to become professional artists”, Francis says.

At the time of the interview, both boys have just finished the eight grade at school. In Malawi it is the final grade of primary school, and they are waiting for the results of the final exam. Both boys expect their grades will be good enough to qualify them for secondary school, but the next question is money. Primary school is free in Malawi, but in a government secondary school one needs to pay for some supplies. A private secondary school is an even more expensive option.

Ovarton’s mother Grace Josaya is actively involved in briquette-making and earns enough money to enable her son to go to a government secondary school. But Francis’ mother is an unemployed single parent who cannot afford it. Another solution might be possible: at the time of the interview, it seemed that Francis might be able to find some part-time employment in the WWF activities and thus be able to cover his school costs himself.