What is a typical day like for a young girl in Malawi? We gave a camera to Esther Jackson, just turned 15, who is in Standard 8 at Matandani Primary School. Here Esther tells us about an ordinary day in her life through her pictures!

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Esther (left) with her best friend Elisha.

– I wake up around four in the morning and usually start the day reading homework. Every morning I go to the well to draw water. Sometimes I eat breakfast, porridge made from maize or rice. Esther says that she lives with her ​​older sister Esnat and her children Tandizo and Sonia in Napwanga village. Esther grew up in Mulanje in southern Malawi with her ​​mother, father and five brothers and one sister. When her sister got married and moved to her husband’s village, Esther went with her. – “I like to stay here! I like to talk with my friends.”

– From Esther’s home, it takes about 25 minutes to walk to Matandani School where she currently is completing her final year of primary school. Esther says that her favorite subject is Maths and English and in the future she wants to become a nurse. To be able to study at secondary school, it requires very good results. Last year, only 13 students from Matandani School were selected to secondary schools.

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Esther helps her neighbour to lift a bucket of water on her head.

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Esther uses these to fetch water.

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Esther’s niece Tandizo helps to wash the dishes.

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In the classroom waiting on the lesson to begin. In Esther’s class there are 84 pupils. In the average Malawian classroom there is 92 students to a teacher.

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Today, Esther’s class are given the task of building a fence around a newly laid flower bed in the schoolyard.

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Break! Here are playing some students ‘Bao’, a popular board game in Malawi.

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Home again! With nieces Tandizo and Sonia, eating thick corn porridge called ‘Nsima’ and ‘Bonya’- little fish.

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Village chief (with white cap), a traditional village leader, visiting to discuss land issues with Esther’s uncle.

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Time to wash clothes in the nearby Domasi river.

Esther says that she in her spare time like that and to go to church and playing netball, a popular sport in Malawi similar to basketball.

Esther says that she in her spare time like that and to go to church and playing netball, a popular sport in Malawi similar to basketball.

Before it gets dark Esther reads and does her homework. If she has candles she can continue reading after it gets dark. Only 8.7% of befolkningnen in Malawi have access to electricity at the moment.

Before it gets dark Esther reads and does her homework. If she has candles she can continue reading after it gets dark.
Only 8.7% of people in Malawi have access to electricity at the moment.

More of the pictures Esther took with her camera!