Moving Windmills!
Moving Windmills!
w. 12 | Retreat, community, and connection
When we moved to Malawi in 2021, there was a lot happening in my life. Within the span of a month I graduated from my doctoral program, moved out of and got our home ready to rent, and quit my full-time job to join my family in Lilongwe. And I needed to start my own job search!1
While finding a job was important, I also wanted to find ways to start fresh and build a new (chapter of :) life. So, I put all of the job search tips and tricks that I was coaching graduate students on in my previous role into practice to try and build a community around me in Malawi from the ground up.
In anticipation of my move, I put a request out on a (now defunct) networking app and asked if anyone knew of any education or tech companies in Malawi to see if I could meet people in Malawi that way. A brand strategist in New York responded that he did and to email him so he could put me in touch. He connected me with another American who was also getting ready to move to Malawi - Olivia, the Executive Director of Moving Windmills.
I’ve noticed that if they’ve heard of it, other Americans know about Malawi in one of three ways:
They’ve heard that Madonna adopted kids from Malawi;
They’re Christian and have either been on a mission trip here or someone from their church community has;
They’ve watched/read The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
I checked boxes 1 and 3 before moving here. And if you haven’t watched or read it already, please put The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind on your Netflix queue! It’s the true story about William Kamkwamba and how he built a windmill in 2001 to help his family survive a drought. My kids and I love the movie and it never fails to spark conversations about innovation, resilience, and the power of community.
After the brand strategist put us in touch (thanks, Chris!), Olivia graciously accepted my request to chat before we both moved to Malawi - she and her husband, William (the boy who harnessed the wind :), were moving here around the same time to fully focus on their growing non-profit. It was wonderful talking with someone who understood where I was coming from (literally and figuratively) before the move and to have a friendly face to meet once we both settled in.
Over the next couple of years, I visited Moving Windmills with friends and family a few times to see what they’re building in Kasungu and to visit Olivia. It’s truly inspiring to witness how they’re empowering a generation of change makers through their community hubs and different initiatives like their agtech and solar programs (learn more here!).
On one of my visits, I shared with Olivia that I wanted to host a retreat and that I would love to do it at Moving Windmills since they have space for people to stay in their headquarters. With her blessing and encouragement, I designed a flyer on Canva, reached out to invite some of my favorite change makers that I had met in my time thus far in Malawi, and crossed my fingers that people would be available.
Ultimately, 11 folks came together with a true diversity of life experience in art, architecture, agriculture, mental health, yoga, finance, and more (one of the participants was my Lost Luggage Lady Friend™!!).
We had a long weekend filled with collaboration, creativity, and community over fireside chats, a hike, yoga sessions, and delicious meals. Everyone who joined is inspiring in their own way - whether they’re leading organizations like Green Growth Development, hosting a book club, bringing together photographers to access creative opportunities, or being a curious human!
Looking at these photos I feel wrapped up in gratitude. Three years ago, I was emailing strangers to find friends and here I am now with a whole group of people that I felt comfortable enough spending a weekend with dreaming about a better world - even though I was meeting some of them for the first time!2
And it was fun to see how people always have talents you never know about until needed. I put yoga on the retreat agenda but was going to play a YouTube video - it turned out we had two certified instructors with us so our yoga sessions were very official!
One of the highlights of the retreat was a mural-painting session at one of Moving Windmills’ community hubs. The mural was designed during the trip by one of my favorite Malawian artists, Amabel, and honestly, I could watch the video of it coming together on repeat. (If you want to see it too, hit play below!)
Even six months later, I find myself thinking about our retreat and what a special opportunity it was to come together with people who are making real magic happen in Malawi and beyond. The retreat was a chance to do some of my favorite things - ideate, connect, and dream about the future. I’m so grateful everyone on the trip made the time for the adventure and am already looking forward to the next one - who’s in??
There are SO many ways to get involved with Moving Windmills. Check out their ‘Take Action’ tab on their website to learn more. And let me know if you have any questions - if I don’t know the answer I’m happy to dig and help you find it :)
With love and lemons,
Jennifer
Oh yeah, and it was still Covid-19 time :/
I didn’t know anyone on the retreat except for our dear Hyattsville neighbor, Nicola, who was visiting my family and me while the retreat happened and graciously joined in!