Soccer star sets goal for Africa
By Mimi M. Maddock
Mimi@TheColumbiaStar.com

Lauren Wingo plans to use her energy to help students in Malawi, Africa, this summer.

"I'm going to be a doctor, and nothing is going to stop me," said Lauren Wingo.

The average life expectancy in Malawi, Africa, is 37 years, and Wingo is determined to change this. She decided last spring semester, while attending the University of Otago in New Zealand, to change her major from health care to premed.

Wingo, a graduate of Dreher High School and a four year starter on the soccer team now attends UNC, Asheville, on a soccer scholarship. She is proud of her team for playing in its first NCAA Tournament. Wingo maintains a 3.9 GPA.

During spring break, Wingo will participate in building a home in New Orleans with Habitat for Humanity.

Wingo feels it is her moral responsibility to use her skills, abilities, and resources to act on the tragedies that plague the world. She hopes her experience in Malawi will help her with her new career choice.

Malawi, which is landlocked between Zambia and Mozambique, has one of the 10 highest infant mortality rates in the world and many diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS. In Malawi, almost 25% of adults are HIV positive. Tribal practices enhanced the spread of HIV/AIDS; however, the people are slowly taking simple steps to prevent the disease. Very few people in Malawi can afford proper medical care and die from curable diseases.

Wingo will be part of a five week program sponsored by the Non- Governmental Organization (NGO) World Camp (WC). She and her friend Martha Spell, also a Dreher graduate and presently a USC student, will live in the capital, Lilongwe, in an American- style house with two guards and attack dogs to ensure their safety. They will spend three days in each village. They will begin each day playing games with the children and then spend the rest of the morning in the classroom teaching HIV/AIDS information and prevention. The classrooms have no electricity; some have no roofs.

Afternoons will be spent teaching about environmental problems, especially deforestation. The people have cut down so many trees in Malawi that the average citizen has difficulty obtaining firewood to cook meals. The group will show the children how to make simple solar ovens. A typical school day lasts only until one o'clock so the children can go home and do work for their families.

A large majority of the population of Malawi live in mud houses with thatched roofs. If they are lucky, they get their water from a hand pumped bore hole. If not, they obtain water from shallow wells. Only four percent of the country has electricity.

Many of the people speak English, but the native language is Chichewa, which the two volunteers will have to learn.

After the five weeks, Wingo plans to stay in Malawi and do research on the healthcare system after which she hopes to tour parts of South Africa.

The program costs $2500, and a plane ticket is approximately $2500. Wingo needs donations to make this experience possible. To donate, send a check to Lauren Wingo, World Camp, 367 Paul Presnell Road, Sugar Grove, NC 28679 or Lauren Wingo, 3116 Wheat St., Columbia, SC 29205. Wingo will send those who donate a tax deductible receipt.