Arun Ashokan and Sumi: The Malayali couple who built an elementary school in Malawi

(May 15, 2024) In the heart of East Africa, 5457 km to the west of Kochi, lies the beautiful nation of Malawi. The landlocked gem, bordered by Tanzania in the North, Mozambique in the East, and Zambia in the West, is home to Kerala Block – a school in Chisasila village, 330km from Lilongwe – built by a Malayali couple, Arun Ashokan and his wife Sumi. A four-classroom concrete structure with a garden is the brainchild of Arun, whose heart was stirred by the image of village children studying under a tree. Driven by the desire to make a difference, he joined forces with the locals to build an elementary school. Eighteen months of hard work paid off as he saw the students take their first steps into the newly constructed building. “It gave me immense satisfaction. I am an Indian who is equally indebted to Malawi – a country that has given me everything. When I came here, I possessed nothing. Today, I am blessed with financial stability and a fulfilling life. I wanted to reciprocate the kindness by giving back to the country to whom I owe so much,” he tells Global Indian.

Arun Ashoka and Sumi at Chisasila School

A scene that triggered it all

It began one rainy February morning in 2021 when Arun, along with his driver, was en route to his worksite for dam construction in Chisasila when he encountered a bunch of rain-soaked children looking for shelter. Upon inquiring from his driver, he found out they mostly study under the tree due to inadequate infrastructure. Along the way, he caught sight of a leaking shed that served as the village’s elementary school. “It broke my heart. My first thought was, ‘How can I help?” says Arun, who reached out to the villagers expressing his interest in helping them build the school.

He was welcomed with open arms by the warm people of Chisasila, who were grateful for the help extended by an Indian – the very first who ever visited their village. “Growing up in Malappuram in Kerala, I witnessed the same situation, and understand their plight. We had similar schools that ran under the trees. But things have changed in the last few years due to progress and proper infrastructure. I wanted to bring the same development to Chisasila,” informs Arun.

Though a proper school wasn’t a part of the initial plan, seeing the kids and the hardworking people of Chisasila who made bricks on their own, he decided to construct a building. “Initially, I wanted to cover the existing shed with a sheet but later decided to add four classrooms to accommodate 144 students.” Motivated to give back to the country that has bestowed prosperity on him, Arun was keen to make the plan work and dialled up his friend Ashif in UAE to share the idea, and asked him to be on standby in case he struggled to finish the project. “I told him that I might need his help financially. But he was happy to join from the go,” reveals Arun, whose colleague Kenneth Francis, a civil engineer, also chipped in.

The children of Chisasila Village

In between, he briefly returned to Kerala for his marriage to Sumi, in whom he found a perfect partner. Along with sharing household responsibilities, Sumi was keen to work with Arun on his dream project. Also, a Malappuram native, she resonated with the cause and was eager to offer help in every way possible. While Arun and locals helped in the construction of the school, Sumi contributed by painting the school’s walls, educating kids, and empowering the local women.

Arun Ashokan and Sum

Malawi – a country that transformed his life

In 2019, Arun moved to Malawi with the help of his uncle to work at a trading company as a warehouse manager, a job he needed urgently in times of financial crisis. Two years later, he transitioned to a construction company, where he currently works as a site administration manager. The move marked a turning point in his life, bringing financial stability and a sense of belonging. “My life transformed completely. I wanted to give back by contributing a part of my salary for the development of villages in Malawi.”

One step at a time

However, he soon realised it wasn’t enough to make the desired impact and started a YouTube channel Malawi Diary to give a glimpse into the lives of people of Malawi. “A popular Indian YouTuber, who was travelling across Africa, met with us in Malawi when we were building the school. He was impressed by our work and even promoted our channel, asking people to subscribe to us,” says Arun, whose channel now boasts of 134k subscribers. “We started making revenue and invested it in school construction.” A stoic believer in social responsibility, he even refused to accept financial help from his subscribers. “It’s my responsibility to give back to a country that has given me so much.”

With 308 videos, Arun and Sumi continuously update their YouTube channel with fresh content, driving revenue that’s often infused into the development of Chisasila village. Along with the building, the funds were used to make school furniture and provide stationery, school bags, and uniforms to the village kids. “No school in Malawi provides shoes to school kids. But we do,” says a proud Arun.

Ask him about his biggest challenges in the journey, and he replies, “It was the procurement of cement as the prices kept increasing every few months due to the devaluation of the currency in Malawi. If it cost 7500 Malawi kwacha, in the next few months, the price soared to 12,500 Malawi kwacha.” Additionally, the voluntary nature of the work led to frequent delays. “Only the bricklayers and carpenters received payment, while others volunteered. This led to villagers’ absence on most days, with even some refusing to help stating their kids no longer attend elementary school. But we had to convince them about the larger cause, and not just personal gain.”

Kerala Block stands tall

The fruits of their labour were evident as the villagers stood in awe looking at the newly constructed building. “Since most of the construction was completed before the Christmas break, villagers left for holidays. Only Sumi and I were left behind, and for 15 days, we plastered the walls, painted, and even worked on making a small garden in the compound. Upon the villagers’ return, their excitement was palpable. They called it a complete makeover,” laughs Arun.

The inauguration of Chisasila School in Malawi

In 2022, Kerala Block saw the light of day when village kids found themselves accessing a proper school. “It was an overwhelming moment,” says Arun, who is currently stationed in Mponela, which is 250 km from Chisasila. “I am here for a new dam construction project. We are now starting to build a secondary school in MPonela.” However, he is still actively involved in the ongoing progress of Chisasila School. Moreover, his dedication to the village transcends academics as he also imparts farming skills to the villagers during the dry season. “We came up with a plan to build a local dam at a river that can hold the water, which can be later used for irrigation.”

Meanwhile, Sumi has been actively engaged in educating schoolchildren and empowering local women in Chisasila by teaching them how to prepare South Indian cuisine using native ingredients like banana, maize, and rice when are available in plenty. “Locals don’t know how to use most ingredients available to them. We have taught them to make banana chips, and even a few women now sell chips, thus generating employment,” beams Arun, who shares a strong bond with the people who Chisasila.

The warm people of Chisasila

Fondly referred to as the “Warm Heart of Africa,” Malawi is renowned for the kindness of its people. “They are lovely, warm and peaceful. Unlike the other countries in Africa which have civil or political unrest, Malawi is a peaceful place, and in fact, has a landscape similar to India.” In the last five years, Arun has admired “a strong sense of belonging and community” in the people of Malawi.

Chisasila Village in Malawi

When Arun arrived in Malawi in 2019, he was surprised to find a thriving Indian community in Malawi. “While Gujaratis mostly run businesses in Malawi, many Malayalis work for companies. Each year many Indians arrive in Malawi for work as many Indian companies have their offices in Malawi,” informs Arun. Revealing the reason behind the influx of Indians in Malawi, Arun points out the benefits provided by the companies. “They take good care of their employees, and provide them a house, cook, guard, a car and a driver and even pay rent. Indians live a peaceful life in Malawi, and mingle together at parties, association events, temples, and at festivals.”

Love for Hindi cinema

Africa’s love for Hindi cinema and music is an open secret, and Arun confirms its popularity extends even to Malawi. “I recently spotted this girl in Mponela singing a Hindi film song, who came running to me inquiring about the film,” he smiles, adding, “They love Bollywood films, and music and even watch Hindi serials. They have small theatres in villages where they play these movies and serials,” informs Arun, who is looking forward to visiting India this year. “We only miss family, festivals, and Malayalam films in Malawi, otherwise everything is great here,” he smiles.

Malawi has been a transformative force in Arun’s life. “My thinking has changed. I was living in lack when I first came here and now, I only see abundance. I have found a purpose in Malawi,” he says. Contemplating the legacy he will leave behind, he says, “When I die, I am not going to take money with me, but the memories that I am making here.”

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