Ashleigh Stafford
Volunteer: Ashleigh Stafford
Bio:
I am 23 years old from Tulsa, Ok. I am currently serving in Malawi, East Africa as a Community Health Advisor. My bachelor's degree is in Social Work and I love helping people and working with youth.
I'm also an aspiring writer and love writing poetry. I am an avid reader, shower singer, food eater, and music listener. I love to laugh and eat ice cream on a cold day. All the world is my stage.
Contributions from Ashleigh Stafford
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Africa's Fallen Angels
Their crumpled, lifeless bodieslitter the cold cement floorAn unlikely graveyardRemnants of a long, overnight battle,a struggle to survivea fight for fooda buzzing debacle of sorts.Fallen soldiers,ripped limb from limbSilent, sleeping amputees,With no more song left to sing.The casualties were highon every side.Each army’s dismembered comradescreating a eery obstaclefor their gods to tip-toe by.No one gives a second glanceto their twitching,spazzing appendages.We cannot entertain the thoughto...
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Third World Super Women
You haven’t seen a silent strength like this beforeThe long hours of physical labor“women’s work”I wonder if their necks aren’t made of steel orTheir hands of thick, soft kevlar.I’ve seen these women accomplish impossible featscarrying so much water atop their heads, a friend must help to hoist it up there.I’ve seen them grab angry, red coals with bare handsand hold the edges of cooking pots with no complaintsThese women come complete with night-visionas they walk calmly with ease besidemy st...
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The Road Home
Some ladies strolling down a beautiful tree lined road with their market goods on their heads.
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The Lions of the Gule Wankulu
The Gule Wankulu, means "Big Dance" in Chichewa, the main language in Malawi. It is a dance performed by men who dress up in eleaborate costumes to conceal their identities. Legend says they are possessed by spirits so women and children run away from them. The members of the Gule Wankulu usually perform for ceremonies like funerals, weddings, pillar ceremonies, etc. Towards the end of the dance there are large "animal" costumes that come out as a finale of sorts. These ar...
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Even Chickens Ride the Bus
These are just a couple of young girls I sat next to on a mini bus who had a live chicken with them.
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Everyone Loves to Dance in the Rain!
One day during rainy season, we had a particularly heavy down pour so I was just sitting in my house, reading and enjoying the thundering cacophony emanating from my tin roof. I was laying on my sofa when I thought I heard laughter and singing drifting in my open front window. When I sat up to investigate, I discovered a few neighbor children dancing and singing outside my house, half-naked in the pouring rain. Needless to say, it brought a huge smile to my face and was a great photo op!
