Pupils’ trip to Malawi
Volunteers for project
A group of pupils from Blairgowrie High School were delighted to receive a cheque for £1000 from the Rotary Club as part of their fundraising efforts for a trip to Malawi later this year.
Ten pupils from the school are heading off to the African nation for two weeks in June to volunteer at a primary school attended by 600 Malawian children.
It is the fifth time that a group of senior pupils from Blairgowrie has worked at the school, and the Blairgowrie and District Rotary Club has supported their endeavours on each occasion.
Ross Marshall, a community link worker at the high school, is leading the group on the trip, which will see them help update existing buildings at the Geisha Primary School in Mzuzu as well as play sports with the Malawian children.
Blairgowrie High has supported the school for nearly 10 years.
Ross explained that it has grown over the last few years from a small grass-roofed hut to a complex of buildings with several classrooms, a garden area, a toilet block and a watering hole.
Mary’s Meals is also on site providing porridge to the children every day.
He said: “Due to the elements there is a regular need to lime and paint the buildings and carry out any other repairs as required.
“Throughout the year clothes, books and games are also shipped over to Geisha Primary School from Blairgowrie High School.
“We are hoping that the trip this year might finally finish the project and ensure education for primary children in Mzuzu for years to come.
“Without the support of community groups like the Rotary Club and members of the public who attend events such as charity shops and bingo teas it wouldn’t be possible to run such school trips nor build a school in Malawi, so we are very grateful.”
He continued: “For the Blairgowrie High School pupils, the hope is that they will gain valuable work and life experience away from home while helping a community in the developing world.
“It’s all character-building stuff. Often the groups are without water, electricity and the range of food we have at home.
“There is no television, wifi or phone reception either so it can be a real test for young people from Scotland who are used to these things!”
Presenting the donation to the group last week, president of the Blairgowrie Rotary Club, John Gray, wished them well on their adventure, adding: “Hopefully this cheque will go some way in helping to complete the project so that the classrooms can be used as soon as possible.”
The pupils are also holding a coffee morning in the Airlie Street Hall in Alyth on Saturday morning this week.
It gets unde way at 10am and will also feature a raffle and a tombola.
The winner of a raffle for an iPad Mini in the run up to Christmas was a second year pupil at the school, Gregor Graham.
Other findraising events that the group has planned include a disco at Clunie Hall in March and a week-long charity shop in Coupar Angus during the school holidays at Easter.
Donations for the charity shop can be dropped off at the school office on Beeches Road during school hours.
If you would like any more information on the project or would like to support the trip in any way, contact Ross Marshall at Blairgowrie High School by calling 01250 871200.