Charity land deal delight
THE FUTURE of a Mid Argyll charity looks brighter after an offer of land in Zambia.
A CHARITY based in Mid Argyll is looking forward to a brighter future after being offered a plot of land in Zambia.
Operating around the Mthunzi area in the southern African nation, ZamScotEd supports the education of vulnerable young people. The charity is busy building a secondary school in Lusaka West, offering children at four nearby elementary schools the opportunity to reach grade 12. St Columba’s school is run day to day by the Teresian Sisters, a group which runs a number of successful schools in Malawi and Zambia.
One of the founders of the ZamScotEd is Marian Pallister, who told the Advertiser: ‘We now have one and a half blocks up.
‘So far, we are able to offer grades eight and nine, but there should be three to four grades up and running by 2018.’
ZamScotEd currently has a limited term lease on the land for the school property, leaving the charity vulnerable to change in fortunes in the region.
But now a local priest has spoken to the Teresian Sisters and offered to gift land to the school.
Marian explained: ‘This is wonderful news. It would offer security and certainty, which would be terrific.
‘It is not done and dusted yet, because we need to look at the legal and practical options, but it is good news.’
The need for raising funds for ZamScotEd goes on meanwhile, and a coffee morning next weekend aims to boost the charity coffers a little. It all takes place between 10am and noon on Saturday June 24.