Follow up with Paul Titterington

What news and updates have you received from the project since you left? And would you give us an update on any progress from the various projects you were involved in over there?

While in Malawi I met a lot of wonderful people that I plan on staying in touch with for as long as possible.  The sad part about that is I’m not sure if I will be able to stay in touch with all my new friends and family in Malawi for the rest of our days.  I recently found out that Marcus Gorman, Planet Aid’s MIT from Columbus, Ohio, will be working at Amalika when he goes to Malawi.  This news made me really happy because I will be able to send letters to all of the people I met through him and it is another was to stay in touch and hear from all of them again.  I haven’t received any feedback on the book donations that we gave out to local elementary schools for Christmas, but unless you visit the schools in person it is almost impossible to get feedback.  At Amalika, the Teacher Training College is very blessed to have some access to the internet and some electricity, but in the villages this is not the case, so direct feedback from the schools is nearly impossible.  My hope is that Marcus can update us all on the progress of the different projects I started, improve projects from where I left off, and create a new long lasting project that will help the people at Amalika for years to come.

What are your thoughts on the MiT program, from your current perspective?

Planet Aid’s MiT program is so unique.  I highly doubt there is another program like it in the US.  Having the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of an international non-profit is a truly amazing experience, but also working with managers and brilliant minds from around the world adds to the uniqueness of the program.  During my MIT program I worked for Lawrence Muntali.  Lawrence was the Operations Manager in Kansas City and he was from Malawi.  By working side by side with Lawrence, I not only learned new perspectives on problem solving, but was able to learn about his culture and understand how his family style of managing was a directly related to his upbringing in Malawi.  Working with Lawrence gave me invaluable experience about Malawi before I went to work there.  If there is one thing that stands out about the MIT program and working in Planet Aid after the program, it is the opportunity to work with so many people from around the world.  In my two years with Planet Aid I have worked with Operations Managers from Brazil, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, and my regional manager from Denmark.  I have also gotten the opportunity to meet and talk with Planet Aid’s President and General Manager on a few occasions.  There is no other place I could work with so many people from around the world, and there is no other place that has such a diverse, welcoming, and caring upper management tier like Planet Aid.  I am excited for the future of Planet Aid in Dallas/Fort Worth and I am excited to continue to follow the new MITs on their journey.