Strong Malawi links in EK

I went along to Greenhills Parish Church yesterday morning for the Sunday service.

It was good to see old friends gathering together in these difficult times, although of course not yet able to get together for the usual social gathering afterwards.

The church seats were set at the required distance and the congregation were all wearing face coverings.

In the absence of being able to sing hymns, we listened to praise by a group of lads from Malawi, as well as the famous Phoenix Choir based in Glasgow.

Reverend Brewster spoke with enthusiasm of the many friends who had visited Greenhills Church from across the world – including Pakistan, China, Nigeria and of course Malawi.

Malawi of course has a very special relationship with Scotland. On Saturday this was to the fore at the AGM of the Scotland Malawi Partnership.

We listened to addresses from the new President of Malawi, Dr Lazarus Chakwera, and Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

They spoke of the need to continually reassess how best to maintain the Scotland/Malawi relationship to the benefit of Malawians and Scots.

These Malawi links date from way back to David Livingstone’s journeys from Blantyre to Lake Malawi in the 19th Century; to the establishment of the Church of Scotland Mission; to the Scottish campaign to maintain Nyasaland as a nation independent from‘the Rhodesias’leading to the formation of Malawi in 1964.

The links continue – from Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament level to school-twinnings, church-twinnings, University and business partnerships.

That special Scotland Malawi relationship means that today more than 109,000 Scots and 208,000 Malawians are actively involved in community-led partnerships between our two nations.

In fact the Scotland Malawi Partnership reckons that 46 per cent of Scots – almost half the country – can name a friend of family member with a connection to Malawi, making this one of the world’s strongest north-south people-topeople links.

There are volunteers in East Kilbride, for example, who have worked tirelessly over the years to improve nutrition and

Our world is facing severe hardship just now.”

education in the country.

That’s what makes the relationship so special – person to person, community to community. Funds going directly to where they’re needed, to build capacity in local groups, rather than through the Malawian Government. Our world is facing severe hardship just now – I don’t believe there is anywhere which is not affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here in Scotland of course we’re living under restrictions that are new to all of us. Extremely difficult for many, especially those with underlying health conditions that mean contracting the coronavirus would be particularly dangerous.

Hard for families with loved ones in care-homes who are unable to properly visit because of the risks.

All of these things are constantly monitored by the Scottish Government, with the best available advice taken about what’s best for public health.

Meanwhile, keep safe in Scotland, and khalani otetezeka in Malawi.