Scottish pupils raise funds for a learning partnership in Malawi
A total of 13 Scottish pupils from Glasgow’s Secondary Schools are on expedition to Malawi as part of a learning partnership with the Southern African nation.
The pupils will be joined by a team of construction workers from the Glasgow City Council and City Building on a mercy mission to provide odern medical facilities, according to Glasgow’s’s Evening Times
While in the country, the pupils will work with their peers, the Malawi Young Leaders of Learning (MYLOL), at Blantyre Secondary School on a number of joint projects.
The educational programme is designed to help youngsters sharpen their leadership skills as well as raise their understanding of global issues.
Glasgow Councilor Stephen Curran, Executive Member for Education, told the Evening News he was impressed the young people raised more than £20,000 (over K10 million) in the last year to fund their trip to Malawi.
Curran said: “The young people are to be applauded for their dedication and commitment.”
And Lord Provost Sadie Docherty, whose office is sponsoring the tradesmen’s Malawi trip, said: “It makes me extremely proud that staff from the council and city building are so willing to help the people of Malawi.
“To the new apprentices, I can assure them it will be an experience of a life time. It will be hard work but rewarding. The team has my very best wishes.”
The six-strong apprentice squad, including two Commonwealth apprentices and Glasgow City Councilor, Paul Carey, will transform the former Lilongwe Town Hall into a clinic.
The team will also carry out maintenance work at one of the country’s referral hospitals, Kamuzu Central.
The trip will be the council’s ninth, and is the latest stage in almost a decade of humanitarian work carried out by Glasgow City Council.
It will be the first time that Glasgow apprentices have been given the opportunity to contribute to work in Malawi.
Among those making the trip are Commonwealth apprentice painter Lee Raeburn, 18, and Commonwealth apprentice joiner Lee Thomson, 19.
Thomson said: “Being chosen for the Malawi team has really boosted my confidence, I can’t wait to get started.”
Donations of materials and equipment totaling £200,000 (over K110 million) for the clinic build were donated by various companies while the Glasgow Council will donate two refuse lorries.
The two vehicles have been in service with Glasgow City Council for the past seven years but have reached the end of their working life and will now be used by the Lilongwe City Council for refuse collection.
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