See for yourself: From Newport to Malawi
Posted by
Abbie Viveash Guest blogger
2nd Aug 2012
Abbie Viveash was chosen after a UK-wide search to visit Oxfam's projects in Malawi and see first-hand how money donated to Oxfam is spent, meet the local people, ask questions and report back on her experience. She is not an existing Oxfam supporter.
Well, here we go then, bags packed and ready to go. It will be an amazing and very grounding experience, I am sure. I have spent the last few days in a state of surrealism - can this be happening to me? Is it really someone else? No, it's me.
I have to leave the kids soon. This is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do and hurts so much. Hopefully, once on the way I will begin to feel OK again so that the reporting will be accurate and objective.
I have not been given much information about the trip as Oxfam are eager to have impartial and enlightened insights from me regarding the project that I will be visiting and to show whether, or not, the money being donated by people is actually making a difference to the people in Malawi. This will be a positive experience, of that I am determined. The tweets and video diaries will be a true and valid account of situations how I see them, and reported to you, in my own words. Thank you in advance for your support, it is truly appreciated.
Follow Abbie's trip as it happens
You can follow my trip on Twitter @seeforself or www.oxfam.org.uk/abbie
More about Abbie
Abbie is a former psychiatric nurse who has just completed the second year of a Psychology degree at Newport University, is leaving her five children for the first time ever to take part in this once in a lifetime opportunity.