Arts Teacher Makes Impact with Recycled Costumes

In the heart of Lilongwe, Malawi, Desiree Namachotsa, a multifaceted force of nature, is leading a silent revolution in the realm of education and sustainability. As an actress, a sustainable fashion designer, a climate justice advocate, and an educator, she has seamlessly woven together her passions to create a unique and impactful teaching methodology that is changing the lives of her students and making a positive contribution to the environment.

Desiree, a full-time teacher, dedicates half her day to nurturing young minds.

Recognising the diverse learning styles among her students, she embarked on a mission to leverage their interests and creativity as powerful tools for education.

She tapped into her artistic background, incorporating drama, music, art, and dance to teach literature, breathing life into the pages of Western books that once felt distant to her students.

However, Desiree noticed a glaring gap in her students' ability to connect with the literature they were studying. Most of the prescribed books were Western in origin, leaving her students feeling disconnected from the narratives. In response to this challenge, she posed a simple yet profound question to her students: "How do you believe you would easily learn?" Their collective answer was illuminating—seeing and doing.

This revelation led Desiree to develop a groundbreaking teaching methodology. She began crafting costumes and props that mirrored the settings and time periods of the books they were studying. The twist? These costumes were made entirely from recycled materials such as plastic bottles, plastic bags, old bedsheets, curtains, and discarded clothing.

Her mission goes beyond just teaching literature; it's about instilling a sense of environmental responsibility in her students.

“My main goal is to help students receive quality education that is lifelong while also gaining skills in protecting the environment,” Desiree asserts.

She firmly believes that education alone cannot sustain their lives; they need a clean and healthy environment as well.

To create these eco-friendly costumes, Desiree and her students scour the local markets and school grounds for discarded materials like cardboard, plastic bags, and plastic bottles. They also collect fabric waste from homes and receive clothing donations from the community, repurposing them into wearable works of art.

Notably, this initiative has had a tangible impact on the cleanliness and hygiene of her school. By collecting plastic bottles from the school premises, Desiree's efforts are contributing to a cleaner and healthier learning environment.

Desiree's transformative teaching methodology first took shape during her tenure at Lilongwe Girls Secondary School.

One of her former students, Alinafe Hannah Kapaza, recalls how the recycled costumes made a significant difference.

“The costumes were made from bedsheets, cartons, and people learned many things like sewing to come up with the costumes, making the play enjoyable,” she shares.

Perhaps more importantly, many students excelled in their English papers thanks to this innovative approach. As Alinafe points out, "Using recycled materials helped us maintain a clean environment at our school."

Alick Malaika Mweso, another one of Desiree's students, highlights the creativity and resourcefulness that the costumes instilled in them. “It helped us be creative enough and use things that would have been discarded,” he remarks, underscoring how Desiree's initiative not only enhanced their academic performance but also cultivated valuable life skills.

Desiree's commendable work is part of the Shifters Project, a grassroots initiative being implemented in Lilongwe, Neno, and Ntcheu districts in Malawi. This project, funded by Save the Children, is a self-mobilized group affiliated with the National Youth Network on Climate Change (NYNCC). Comprising young people aged 18 to 25, some of whom are still in college, while others are university graduates, their mission is encapsulated in the motto: “A clean city where everyone takes responsibility for their waste, starting with market vendors and minibus drivers as role models.”

Desiree's innovative approach to education and sustainability aligns perfectly with the Shifters Project's objectives. Her dedication to teaching through creativity and recycling is not only transforming her students' lives but also inspiring future generations to take ownership of their environment.

In the midst of Lilongwe's bustling streets and busy classrooms, Desiree Namachotsa is a shining example of how one person's passion, creativity, and commitment can make a profound impact on education and the environment.

Her story serves as a reminder that transformative change often begins with a simple question and a willingness to embrace unconventional solutions. In the process, Desiree is fostering a generation of eco-conscious learners who are poised to shape a cleaner, more sustainable future for Malawi and beyond.