Malawian trio arrive as ‘the visitors’ but leave as ‘friends’
African guests enjoy warm hospitality during trip to meet with Scottish partners
Dunblane played host to three Malawians this month, members of the Likhubula Committee that co-steers the Dunblane Likhubula Partnership.
The partnership has been active for 13 years, linking the community of Dunblane with a community of villages by the Likhubula river in South Malawi.
For the visitors – Prichard Safari, Akimu Maula and Ruth Simbota – it was not only their first time in Scotland, but their first flight, first taste of Irn Bru, and first time ever to see an ocean.
For many in Dunblane it was a chance to learn first hand about life in Likhubula and the visitors had a full programme, speaking in both Dunblane Cathedral and St Blane’s Church, as well as visiting pupils at Morrison’s Academy. Dunblane High School, Newton and Dunblane Primary Schools.
Bursaries for secondary school pupils in Malawi have long been at the heart of the partnership and young people in Dunblane continue to play an important part in the link.
A return visit by the Boys’ Brigade to help repair classrooms is already being planned for the summer of 2019, therefore there were visits to Dunblane Boys’ Brigade as well as to the Guides.
With three Dunblane bursars in Likhubula already accepted into tertiary education in Malawi and hopes of extending support to more students in the future, the visitors were interested to have the chance to be shown round the Stirling Campus of Forth Valley College.
There were meetings with the Dunblane Committee and discussions about new developments.
The visitors highlighted the importance of Dunblane’s continuing help with fertiliser for the annual maize planting and they also welcomed the chance to visit two farms in the area.
Local Partnership spokesperson Dr Jenni Barr said: “Everywhere they went people stepped forward to be introduced, especially if they had an interest or link with Africa.
“In the Mary’s Meal shop in Dunblane High Street, the visitors spoke of what it meant for Nansato School in Likhubula to provide a Mary’s meal a day in school and they described evidence of improved attendance, punctuality, concentration and learning. The school used to have 1,000 pupils but this has now risen to over 1,600.
“Even in Edinburgh, where they visited the Scotland Malawi Partnership, Church of Scotland and the Scottish Parliament they were greeted wherever they went.
“To be told by the First Minister that she was proud of our partners left them glowing and (almost) speechless. They are going home to tell members of their community to seek out their elected representatives and try to have a greater say about the issues that are important to them.
“In between, there was paddling in the sea, flying kites on the beach, meeting the Dunblane gnomes and laughter, much laughter. In a final gathering, Colin Renwick, minister at Dunblane Cathedral, spoke of people who arrived as ‘the visitors’ but departed as ‘our friends’.”
Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP Keith Brown welcomed the Partnership member to the Scottish Parliament.
He said: “I always enjoy demonstrating how open and accessible our Parliament is and it was great to receive positive feedback from the group – both from the visitors from Dunblane and from Malawi.
“It was interesting to hear more about the work of the Partnership which has gone from strength to strength over the last 15 years and I wish them well in their future endeavours.”
New supporters can learn how to become involved at www. dunblanelikhubulalink.org.uk , or finding the Likhubula Link on Facebook and Twitter.