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
1stpen pal letters ( pupils & staff ) received and sent
May
£500 donation to Thawale for stationery
1stshared project ‘Why do we go to School?’ work exchanged
June
100 donated books sent
Nov
1stCommunity 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
2ndCommunity 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
1stvisit 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
3rdCommunity Coffee Morning
DFID Xmas Card Competition
Death of Oscar Muwawa
