Children unlock secrets of Zomba Mountain

On a bright Wednesday in August, 15 eager children from Zomba rural and urban climbed the Zomba Plateau for a transformative adventure.

Divided into three teams, the young explorers aged eight to 14 took a journey through four imaginative stations—the Forest, Believers Bend Garden, The Shoreline and The Trading Tree.

Experienced facilitators challenged the children to use their imaginations to connect with nature and unlock its secret powers.

Zomba is the country’s second-highest mountain.

The plateau, with its waning forests, stunning waterfalls and mysterious paths stood ready to reveal its secrets to the children who dared to explore it.

Forest Station

The journey began deep in the forest near Mulunguzi Dam where a whisper of wind welcomed the teams into its lush.

The guides asked the children to close their eyes, take a deep breath and imagine themselves as stewards of nature.

As powerful nature elders, some became the Queen of the Forest, others mighty lions and yet others ancient trees.

With their eyes closed, they felt the presence of strange friends, including trees, elephants, monkeys and guinea fowls.

The friends asked questions, shared secrets and advised each other.

“How can we protect our shared home, the forest, from destruction?”  a boy-turned-lion asked his friend personifying a monkey.

They resolved to gather all the animals to discuss ways to save the forest.

As their eyes popped open, the children realised their inner power and confidence to understand nature and solve problems together with their allies.

Believers Bend

At Believers Bend Garden, a mystical portal awaited them.

As they stepped through, eyes closed, they imagined themselves transforming into magical creatures such as unicorns, snakes and loyal dogs.

On the other side, the children stepped into an unexpected future where some visualised a polluted world with smoke choking the air and buildings crumbling as floods rage.

Others glimpsed a land where nature and technology coexisted in harmony as did green trees, tall buildings and clear waterways.

In this future world, the guides turned into a dove, a lion and a sheep, giving each child important messages to the world.

“Tell your people to care for the environment before it’s too late,” the dove told one girl,

Returning to the present, the children knew everything was possible with their belief in a better future.

Power of water

The adventure continued at William Falls, where they waded into the cool, clear water.

They closed their eyes again and imagined their bodies melting into water flowing over rocks and under their feet.

The water was calm on the surface but unstoppable underneath, they said.

As water, the children realised the importance to nature and humanity but felt the pangs of pollution worsened by poor waste management.

One group even created a song they danced to.

“We are the water,” they sang, celebrating transformative power.

The Trading Tree

On the final leg, the young adventurers discovered their unique strengths at the foot of the Trading Tree.

Sitting under the vast branches of the ancient and wise elder of the mountain forest, the children sent imaginary roots deep into the earth, feeling the tree transmitting its strength and wisdom to them.

As they connected with the Trading Tree, they saw that their uniqueness was their greatest power.

“Together, we can protect the environment and change the world,” one of them said.

Back to the promise

As the day came to a close, the children promised to plant trees, protect water and share their experiences with peers everywhere they go.

Their adventure was just beginning, they said.

On return to their schools, they were greeted with excitement from their peers.

Their teachers and parents were amazed by the stories and lessons from the Zomba Plateau.

A month on, the secrets of the endangered mountain are spreading in surrounding communities like the roots of the Trading Tree.

The children have the power to make the world a better place and one can only hope the tales from Zomba’s high point will become a legend passed down from one generation to the next, making each ready and eager to discover its secret powers and wealth for a brighter future for all.

Teaching children the importance of conserving the environment while they are young can safeguard the well-being of the rapidly increasing population and generation to come.