2005 Malawi

Background. Why & What?

It was during a Mission meeting in Jan 2004 that our Church first spoke about the prospect of taking on an overseas project.

Our Church has, in the last two years moved from being an aid receiving Church to being able to help others financially; this wonderful growth enabled us to explore this fantastic opportunity. We contacted a charity called World Exchange in Edinburgh.

They work in partnership with churches in the developing world sending volunteers to work directly with the community. We rang them to see if they had a suitable project for us to support financially, and hopefully to send a group of volunteers from our Church to work. They had just the right project in Malawi in a place called Likhubula, two and half hours from Blantyre.

The project was to rebuild and refurbish a group of buildings owned by the CCAP (Church of Central African Presbyterian) and run by Scottish Churches World Exchange to be used as an outdoor education centre by the youth of Malawi, so they can learn about the surrounding area and environment for themselves, have HIV Aids education and develop positive leadership skills.

It was decided to take on this particular project and in November 2004 we became partners.

What next!?

A group of six people including three gap year students from our church youth group volunteered to go out in September 2005 and an action plan for fundraising began.

The group were all self financed and the fundraising was to fund the rebuilding of the kitchen at the centre. This we felt was a worthwhile section of the project to support as the kitchen is the heart of any centre.

Fundraising Events

Coffee morning
Community table-top sale
Sponsored walk
Several school discos
Pampered chef evening
Church open day
T-shirts printed
Organ recital at St Machar's Cathedral Aberdeen
Edinburgh marathon
Quiz sheet
Donations
Calendar printed with photos from the trip

How much?

By December 2005 we had a total of Ł10,000 completing the amount needed for the kitchen.

The Visit

In September 2005 six women from our church family went out to the project in Malawi. This was an extremely exciting time for all involved. The team consisted of 3 adults and 3 gap year students. They stayed for a period of between two weeks and one month. A lot of preparation and organisation took place before the team left for Likhubula. The jobs that lay ahead for them soon became clear and it was with great enthusiasm that they began to teach creative arts in the local primary school to more than 900 pupils. This was a huge task but the team coped incredibly well and the children loved it.

There were also after school clubs to run where the children came and played games and learnt some Scottish dancing. The team managed to refurbish some of the accommodation rooms and helped to maintain some of the grounds surrounding the centre. They also visited Mulanje Hospital and worshipped at Likhubula Church.

For a short break they managed to climb Mount Mulanje - a height of over 6,000 feet and spent an amazing night at the top in one of the local huts. The views were spectacular and it enabled the team to see for themselves the beautiful scenery and environment, and that the project really has a lot to offer for the youth of Malawi.

Since returning, the team has spoken to many different groups and schools in the community, sharing their wonderful experiences in "The Warm Heart of Africa".

Now

We raised another Ł2,900 in 2006 with the sponsored walk and various donations. We have put it towards a new idea for the project, a story telling house. This will enable the orphans from the area who come up to the centre for Sat school to be protected either from rain or sun whilst they are learning.

Although our financial support has stopped for the moment, we continue to support with prayer.

If you want to know more, contact Amanda Fowlie.