AYISE GETS MALAWI ELECTORAL COMMISSION ACCREDITATION.

AYISE is among 69 NGOs that have been accredited to conduct civic and voter education in the run up to the 2009 Presidential and parliamentary Elections.

The Chaiperson of the Electoral commission Hon Justice Anastansia Msosa handed over the certificate to the Executive Director of AYISE, MARCEL CHISI at a function held at capital Hotel in Lilongwe.

We will post the pictures of the function in the near future.

JAMES SMITH- BRITISH CITIZEN APPOINTED GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR AYISE.

The Governing Board of Trustees of AYISE have appointed JAMES SMITH as the Second Goodwill ambassador in the UK.

This appointment follows a successful three months work placement with AYISE in which James worked closely with AYISE's Executive Director to develop funding proposals.

Not only that he also worked closely with the Executive Director - Marcel Chisi and the Web Designer Mr Limbani Chaguluka of Ignite Solutions Malawi in developing this website. In essence he reminded the Executive Director more often of the need to have the website and AYISE is indebted to him for without him the website issue would have remained on the AYISE wish list.

His personal zeal and commitment to serving the youth of Malawi made the Board with no option than to honour him with the ambassadorial status.

The first Goodwill amabssador was Alastair Callaghan from Scotland.

AYISE's goodwill ambassadors are entrusted with the responsibility to carry out public relations work and linking AYISE to prospective resource providers.

AYISE'S DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DIES

On a sad note, AYISE lost its beloved Deputy Executive Director - Mr Obert Khowa. He transited on 2nd July 2008 at Mlambe Hospital.

Obert Khowa started work with AYISE on 3rd March 2000 as programme officer responsible for Youth Exchange and Workcamps. In 2002, he was appointed by the AYISE Board to become its Deputy Executive Director.

As at the time of his death he had served AYISE for eight years.

AYISE would like to thank the following individuals organisation for financially and physically supporting us during the time of loss:

The Human Rights Consultative Committee

The NGO Gender Coordination Network

Bangwe and Namiyango AIDS Committee

Women Action Groups Against AIDS

Bangwe Youth Peer Educators

Eye of the Child

Matindi Youth Organisation

National Youth Council of Malawi

The Apsotolic Faith Church

Umunthu Foundation

Centre for Conflict Management and Women Development Affairs (CECOWDA)

Bangwe Police

Student Volunteers Abroad- Glasgow University-Scotland

Women and law in Southern Africa (WILSA)

Bangwe Community leaders

Environmental Concerned Youth Association (ECOYA)

Pan African Civic Educators Network

The AYISE Board, staff, members and volunteers

All former AYISE members notably: John Chikopa, Living Kalimanjira, Grace Ndeule, Moses Mlandu, Malizani Chimbwandira, Mayamiko Jali, Agness Kadangwe, Jean kabango and many others

All NGO leaders who personally attended the burial: Mr Maxiwell matewere, Mrs Seodi White, Mrs Emma Kaliya, Ms Caroline Mvalo, Mr Francis Kalonga, Mr Jones Luanda, Mrs Matewere, Ms Victoria Nyirenda, Mr Khonyongwa (PACENET) and all those who we couldn't register due to the state of sadness which engulfed us.

Thanks to all of you who came but have not been categorically mentioned- we saw and we know you share our sympathy and that of the Khowa family.

Obert Khowa is survived by wife and three children.

May his Soul rest in eternal peace.

AYISE HOSTS THE FIRST VOLUNTEER FROM THE WORLD UNIVERSITY SERVICE OF CANADA (WUSC)

While AYISE has been in the business of youth and volunteer exchange for close to ten years now, it is pleasing to note and share that we have for the first time received a Volunteer from CANADA through the World University Service of CANADA (WUSC).

She is Sonya Herrfort from Humber College. She is on a two week work placement and will be responsible for designing a Programme for sports, physical fitness and other wellness programmes at Bangwe Youth Centre.

AYISE welcomes you to Malawi- The Warm heart of Africa. Wishing you every success in your placement and we hope you will go back to Canada with some good memories of Malawi and Africa.

Thanks to WUSC Malawi Office for the logistical support and for choosing AYISE as a possible placement. Thanks to Joyce Chitsulo for your commitment to making this placement a reality.

AYISE HOSTS 11 VOLUNTEERS FROM SCOTLAND

Once again this year, AYISE is currently hosting eleven Volunteers from the Student Volunteers Abroad (SVA) of the Glasgow University-Scotland

They will be finishing their placement towards the end of September.

Thanks to Hazel Fergurson and Ben Wilson for the leadership.

Congratulations to Hazel for being elected President of SVA. We hope through you more Scottish youth and students will come next year for volunteer placements.