馬拉威有超過90%的人口居住在未發展的農村，四分之三的人每天收入不到台幣38元。每次提到世界上貧窮的國家，馬拉威總是榜上有名。然而，很多去過馬拉威的人都說，馬拉威就像是60年前的台灣，一切都正在起步，到處都充滿希望。
和傳統「非洲印象」不同，馬拉威國度裡，柏油路上跑著汽車、四處可見現代水泥房宅，假日人潮湧進大型購物商場。隨著電信資訊業發展，手機電腦逐漸普及，許多學校也開設電腦資訊課程。
馬拉威人不只生活型態日新月異，經濟、教育和健康的議題，也因為國際合作資源接軌而慢慢改善。其中，台灣也曾經派遣醫療團進駐馬拉威提供醫療協助與合作，直到今天也有許多基金會挹注資源支持各項社區發展計畫。非洲印象正從貧窮和落後逐漸轉成發展和希望呢！
More than 90% of Malawi’s population lives in rural areas. 75% of people earn less than NT$38 per day. When someone talks about the world’s poorest countries, Malawi is always on the list. However, many people who visited Malawi say it is like Taiwan 60 years ago. Everything is just getting started, and everywhere is full of hope.
It is also different from the impressions we normally have of Africa: In Malawi, cars run on paved roads, modern concrete houses are everywhere, and holiday crowds pack the large shopping malls. Thanks to the development of the information industry and telecommunications, the popularity of cell phones and computers in Malawi is increasing. Many schools have also set up computer courses.
Malawians are not only changing their lifestyles. The economy, education and healthcare are also improving because of better access to international resources. Taiwan is one of the countries that have sent medical teams to Malawi to provide medical assistance. Today, many foundations still pour resources into various community development projects. Africa is shaking off its image as a poor and backward land and turning into a land of development and hope!
精選單字與詞彙
- rural (adj.) 農村的；鄉下的
- impression (n.) 印象
- development (n.) 發展
- resource (n.) 資源
- foundation (n.) 基金會
實用句型
More than…% of… 超過…百分比的…
A: More than 60 % of the students in my class are boys!
我的班上有超過百分六十的學生是男生!
B: Wow, that’s a lot.
哇! 這麼多!
圖．文／畢嘉士基金會
英文翻譯／Sean O’Sullivan & TOEIC900工作團隊