Malawi is a very small country located along the western shores of Lake Malawi in southeast Africa. Its landscape is varied and presents four types of terrain: the Great Rift Valley, highlands, mountains and the central plateau.

Lake Malawi is the third biggest lake in Africa. The climate in this country is sub-tropical with a rainy season from November to May -- when the majority of farming activity is done -- and a dry season from June to October.

Malawi's population of 11 million counted some 850,000 living with H.I.V. infection or AIDS at the end of last year. The granny's left to care for their orohaned gran-children has reached staggering proportions.