Friday 28 October 2016
What an amazing day – nothing better that getting out to schools and meeting the learners!
After all, that is what our project is all about – here and in Glasgow – getting it right for every child.
First stop, the education offices of Blantyre Urban to pick-up Mercy, the other MLOL coordinator and on our way to the first school visit of the day – Stella Maris Secondary for Girls.
One of the first schools that we have worked with, Stella Maris is a school close to our hearts.
It was an emotional reunion with Sr Catherine, the HT – more so when we found out that she is off to pastures new!
A promotion to provide leadership for the Notre Dame order in the Netherlands.
This is wonderful news for her and she was at pains to say that she firmly believes it is due to the MLOL project values and importantly the leadership journey she has been on with us.
It was also time to present the first of our 5th anniversary MLOL partner plaques – very kindly donated by Hobbs Reprographics – our print sponsor in Glasgow.
We got the chance to meet some of the girls that MLOL supporters sponsor to stay in education. A number of the group are orphans or from families that cannot afford the fees.
They were delightful.
Miriam, when interviewed for our video updates was so passionate when asked about how important an education is in Malawi for a girl…”you educate a girl, you educate an nation” she quoted beautifully.
We could have hugged her – they all spoke about the importance of their secondary education and were so appreciative.
We can read the statistics but there is nothing more powerful than seeing and hearing it in person.
Mercy also updated us on the recent inspection success of CI School – an original Holyrood and MLOL school – our MLOLs have worked there and Holyrood have undertaken major building works over the years.
We know that they will all be so pleased to hear how well the teachers and learners are doing.
Then it was on to see two of our new schools – Manja and Bangwe Primary Schools.
They could not have been more different in terms of size, organisation and number of learners!
In Manja we heard about the impact of the recent MLOL work – with Mount Vernon Primary teacher, Ailsa Barr, creating a new library it was wonderful to hear two of the teachers she worked with speak so positively about the changes to their teaching resulting in more participation of children in their learning.
Maureen was straight in to the library and reading with some of the pupils in no time…and repeating over and over the importance of using the library and not for show!
And then there was Bangwe Primary.
In the middle of the sprawling Bangwe township, the school has more than 5,000 learners and operates in multiple sessions as there is just not enough room for everyone.
Mobbed as soon as we arrived to shouts of ‘mzungu, mzungu’…Justin informed us that the children will have rarely met a white person.
They also loved the camera – maybe a bit too much as we had to make a hasty retreat to the HTs office before the children mobbed Fiona!
A trip to the school ‘library’ was disheartening when we found hundreds of books, still in boxes and behind a door that was double padlocked and in what can only be described as a chaotic storeroom.
Maureen made her feelings clear.
“Books need to be dirty with children’s finger prints…not with dust in a forgotten store room.”
We know that Malawian culture is to keep books good as they are precious – but if children do not get access to the books how can they learn and develop a love for books and literacy?
This is something our project is helping with – we have had great success in other schools and Mercy and Justin will help share the good practice with our new schools.
In Bangwe we had to pop in to the Bangwe Youth Project – supported by our Lord Provost’s Malawi fund and for a photo opp at the MYLOL painted mural.
Our day ended with meeting Henry Gwede – the new Education Division Manager (EDM)
A chance to talk about the partnership, the successes and the way forward for Malawi and Glasgow…and of course to hand over another prized plaque.
We saw a difference today, as well as challenges – but that is what we thrive on – making a difference in Glasgow and in Malawi.
