Help sought for cyclone hit Malawi

The devastating winds swept into Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe on March 14-15, killing scores of people with several hundred more still missing and almost a million left destitute and in need of aid and basic services.

The sad news comes as Lockerbie Academy celebrate ten years since they were first twinned with Thawale Primary School in 2009.

Retired teacher Helen Wright, who helped establish the school links, has now set up a funding page to raise money to help heal the community.

She said: “While no lives have been lost at Thawale nor our scholars or their families, almost every house/home has been, with little salvageable, so inevitably school books and materials have been badly damaged.

“We know how little they have and how important their school things are to them.”

She added: “I urge you to do what you can to raise awareness of this at school and if you can, to also help raise money.

“Fees for Mulanje Boma have reduced to approx £8 per term so under £2000 will pay for the now 76 students we are sponsoring.”

The online funding page has a target of £500 but within hours hundreds had already been raised.

To donate visit: www.justgiving.com

HISTORY OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LOCKERBIE ACADEMY AND THAWALE 11 PRIMARY SCHOOL, MALAWI

2009

Feb / March

Partnership began through Link Community Development Scotland

Mark Turner ( PT Humanities) & Oscar Muwawa ( HT) in contact by phone

John Louis – Link Teacher at Thawale

Staff & Pupil Groups established

1^stpen pal letters ( pupils & staff ) received and sent

May

£500 donation to Thawale for stationery

1^stshared project ‘Why do we go to School?’ work exchanged

June

100 donated books sent

Nov

1^stCommunity Coffee Morning

2010

Jan

Pen pal letters arrive

Feb

Replies sent

March

Author Magdalene Sacranie visit – Tales from African Dreamtime

Rights & Responsibilities Whole School Event – shared work

Art Competition – African Mural

Sept

New HT at Thawale Handsen Malefula

Oct

Dance 4 Life – Aids / HIV presentation S3 & 4

Mail to Malawi

Lunchtime Chichewa club started ( soft ware bought in )

Nov

Malawi Exhibition & Trade Event Dynamic Earth Edinburgh HW attended with two seniors – met Jack McConnell

2^ndCommunity Coffee Morning

Mail from Malawi

Became members of the Scotland – Malawi Partnership

Saltire and Malawian flags hoisted

Interviews held with seniors for trip to Malawi Feb 2011 – Ami Kirk S5 selected by GF & HW

Dec

Malawian Staff Lunch inset day– Mara Menzies

Mail to Malawi and from Malawi

Scotland – Malawi pin badges sold in school

2011

Jan

Mail to Malawi

Feb

1^stvisit to Malawi Helen Wright & Ami Kirk ( HW funded by British Council Reciprocal Visit Grant)

Leap for Life event

Mail from Malawi

March

Mail to Malawi

April

Return visit HT Handsen Malefula & Hilda Kudzala made possible by British Council grant – guests hosted by Ami Kirk and Barbara Lewis

Programme of events organised for visitors – ceilidh etc

Mail from Malawi

Library organize ‘A Year in the life of Lockerbie Academy’

May

Donations from MW Plumbing and John Beattie and Son

Mail to Malawi

June

Mail from Malawi

African Link T-shirts for seniors

July

African link raffle at the CoA & Ami Kirk and Helen Wright presentation

Non uniform day and African Karnaval fundraiser

Mail to Malawi

Solar Connect target of £4000 reached

Mail from Malawi

Aug

Sponsored Criffel Climb 24 took part last week of the summer holidays

Focus on Books for Schools scheme for Thawale

Nov

3^rdCommunity Coffee Morning

DFID Xmas Card Competition

Death of Oscar Muwawa