CHILDREN at two East Kilbride primaries can look forward to having close links with their counterparts at schools in far-off Africa following a visit there by two of their teachers.
Caroline Gibson, a teacher at Castlefield Primary School, in Greenhills, and Victoria Tyler, who teaches at St Leonard’s Primary School, spent two weeks during the summer taking part in an education study trip to Malawi organised by the League for Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers (LECT).
The pair spent the first couple of days in Lilongwe, the capital city, meeting with the Ministry of Education, union officials and Voluntary Service Overseas coordinators and volunteers, who were able to give them a good insight into the education system of the country and the challenges it faces.
Caroline and Victoria then travelled to Blantyre, which is the main city, and spent time in schools working with staff and pupils.
Pupils at Caroline’s and Victoria’s schools had written to the children in Malawi and had sent them large books of photographs and information about their schools and about Scotland.
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This delighted the African youngsters, who Caroline and Victoria described as “very welcoming and excited about making friends with the children in East Kilbride and keen to respond to their letters”.
Victoria and Caroline explained that, while Malawi is known as ‘the warm heart of Africa’, it is one of the ten poorest countries in the world.
The average life expectancy is around 37 years and the population suffers from one of the worst HIV/AIDS epidemics in the world, which has created around half a million AIDS orphans.
Malaria, cholera and diptheria are also common and particularly dangerous to infants.
The two East Kilbride teachers said that, at first, they found the poverty overwhelming.
They added: “But it was inspiring to see how motivated the teachers were and how much the children valued their education despite the difficult conditions.
“Classes had about 140 pupils in them. The children sat on the stone-cold floors, many windows were without glass and there were no resources for the teachers to use, apart from one chalkboard.
“There was limited space in the schools and children would often be taught outside. However, the weather was very cold, even for their winter, and they were forced to further double-up classes inside.
“The lack of glass and the cold floors meant that children were huddled up or used plastic bags to keep warm.
“Despite all of these problems, the lessons were delivered enthusiastically by the teachers and the children were motivated to learn. This was helped with singing and lots of praise.”
Caroline and Victoria said that another potential problem in schools was of children being too hungry to learn.
However, in the schools they visited, they found the problem is being tackled by a Scottish charity called Mary’s Meals, who organise and provide food for every child who attends the school.
The charity’s philosophy is that education is the way out of poverty and they are currently feeding 200,000 children a year — and hope to double this by next year.
Since returning to their own schools here, Caroline and Victoria have found that all of their colleagues and pupils have been keen to learn more about Malawi and global citizenship.
The schools now hope to build a link with Caroline’s and Victoria’s host schools in Malawi and remain friends with the children and teachers there.
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Malawi groups fail to agree on poll candidate
Malawi's embattled President Bingu Wa Mutharika prospects of survival were given a shot in the arm on Tuesday after the opposition failed to agree on a joint candidate in the next election.
John Tembo, leader of the largest opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), rebuffed calls that he should serve as former president Bakili Muluzi's running mate and intended to spearhead his own quest for power.
"My party will approach the 2009 elections single-handedly. I will not be a running mate to anyone," Tembo told the private Zodiak Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) radio station.
Muluzi, who stood down in 2004 after two terms in office, has already made clear that he intends to stand against his ally turned rival Mutharika as head of the newly-formed United Democratic Front.
Gwanda Chakuamba, who lost to Mutharika in 2004, has already thrown his support behind Muluzi, telling a rally at the weekend: "If we are not united, we will not be able to oust Mutharika from office."
Elections are not due in the impoverished southern African nation until 2009, but Mutharika's governing coalition is in danger of collapse after a court ruling that is likely to lead to the expulsion of pro-government lawmakers who have switched their loyalties since the last election.
John Tembo, leader of the largest opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), rebuffed calls that he should serve as former president Bakili Muluzi's running mate and intended to spearhead his own quest for power.
"My party will approach the 2009 elections single-handedly. I will not be a running mate to anyone," Tembo told the private Zodiak Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) radio station.
Muluzi, who stood down in 2004 after two terms in office, has already made clear that he intends to stand against his ally turned rival Mutharika as head of the newly-formed United Democratic Front.
Gwanda Chakuamba, who lost to Mutharika in 2004, has already thrown his support behind Muluzi, telling a rally at the weekend: "If we are not united, we will not be able to oust Mutharika from office."
Elections are not due in the impoverished southern African nation until 2009, but Mutharika's governing coalition is in danger of collapse after a court ruling that is likely to lead to the expulsion of pro-government lawmakers who have switched their loyalties since the last election.
Madge to adopt Malawi orphan
MADONNA has been given the green light to adopt a second orphan from Malawi — a 13-month-old girl called Mercy.
She’s been told she can take the “smiling angel” as a sister to David Banda, her first child from the African nation.
It follows months of legal wrangling over the adoption of 22-month-old David.
And to ensure all goes smoothly this time, Madge, 49, has told her lawyer in Malawi, Alan Chinula, to “cover all legal bases” before she collects Mercy next April.
Madge insisted she wanted to adopt a sister for David “to redress the balance”. Officials asked her to view up to TEN girls before deciding.
She saw Mercy, Grace, Jessica and Fanizio last October at the Kondanani Orphan Care Centre at Blantyre.
She “had her heart” set on Grace, but the tot’s extended family objected. Madge has been back several times since and was said to be “thrilled” to be told she can take Mercy.
She will file papers in February, a month after David’s adoption is finalised.
A close family source said yesterday: “Madonna’s over the moon that she’s been told she can take Mercy. She didn’t want another complicated adoption.”
The source added: “Mercy is a beautiful baby girl. She’s so joyful and happy and giggles every time she’s picked up. Madonna just loves the way she claps her hands and laughs constantly. She has huge, dancing eyes. Madonna calls her her smiling angel.”
Mercy has some family, including an aunt, but they were too poor to keep her, so left her at the orphanage.
She is healthy, unlike David who was desperately ill after arriving in England.
She’s been told she can take the “smiling angel” as a sister to David Banda, her first child from the African nation.
It follows months of legal wrangling over the adoption of 22-month-old David.
And to ensure all goes smoothly this time, Madge, 49, has told her lawyer in Malawi, Alan Chinula, to “cover all legal bases” before she collects Mercy next April.
Madge insisted she wanted to adopt a sister for David “to redress the balance”. Officials asked her to view up to TEN girls before deciding.
She saw Mercy, Grace, Jessica and Fanizio last October at the Kondanani Orphan Care Centre at Blantyre.
She “had her heart” set on Grace, but the tot’s extended family objected. Madge has been back several times since and was said to be “thrilled” to be told she can take Mercy.
She will file papers in February, a month after David’s adoption is finalised.
A close family source said yesterday: “Madonna’s over the moon that she’s been told she can take Mercy. She didn’t want another complicated adoption.”
The source added: “Mercy is a beautiful baby girl. She’s so joyful and happy and giggles every time she’s picked up. Madonna just loves the way she claps her hands and laughs constantly. She has huge, dancing eyes. Madonna calls her her smiling angel.”
Mercy has some family, including an aunt, but they were too poor to keep her, so left her at the orphanage.
She is healthy, unlike David who was desperately ill after arriving in England.
Southern Africa: WFP Buys Over 2 Million Tons of Food on Local Southern Africa Markets
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has bought more than two million tons of food on local markets in Southern Africa in the last five years – the equivalent of providing 12 million hungry people with a full food basket for an entire year.
The food agency announced today that it has spent almost US$430 million since southern Africa was first hit by recurring food crises in 2002. The funds were used to purchase 2,020,000 metric tons of cereals, pulses, vegetable oil, corn-soya blend, salt and sugar in eight countries across the region, mainly South Africa, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
"These purchases have provided WFP with the means to help millions of needy people," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, speaking from the agency's headquarters in Rome.
"At the same time, buying local has been both cost efficient as well as extremely effective in supporting small-scale farmers and stimulating local agricultural economies."
.
Sheeran said WFP has already bought more food in Malawi and Mozambique this year than ever before and, given additional cash contributions, purchases could also hit record levels in Zambia.
"It really is a win-win situation," she added, "because local purchases benefit surplus-producing small farmers and traders, while ensuring that WFP can provide those in need in those countries and elsewhere in southern Africa with sufficient food in time."
With parts of southern Africa facing severe food shortages once again, WFP is aiming to assist over four million vulnerable people across the region before the next main harvest in April 2008. WFP is currently scaling up its operations in the worst affected countries, particularly Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland.
While the bulk of the two million tons bought over the last five years in Southern Africa was distributed to people hit by a succession of crises in the region, WFP also used some of it to assist vulnerable people facing food shortages in other countries across the continent, including Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Niger and Somalia.
Relevant Links
Food, Agriculture and Rural Issues
Aid and Assistance
Capital Flows
Sustainable Development
More than half the food was produced in or bought from South African companies. However, WFP is currently focussing its procurement on countries that enjoyed good harvests in 2007 such as Zambia, Mozambique and particularly Malawi, which has a cereal surplus of over one million tons this year.
Additional donations are urgently required to ensure that WFP reaches all of its targeted beneficiaries in southern Africa over the next seven months. Whenever possible, future cash contributions will be used to purchase food either locally or regionally.
Over the past five years, WFP has bought food in South Africa (1,275,000 tons; US$259 million), Zambia (285,000 tons; US$62 million), Malawi (203,000 tons; US$46 million), Mozambique (125,000 tons; US$29 million), Lesotho (81,000 tons; US$18 million), Namibia (25,000 tons; US$7 million), Zimbabwe (20,500 tons; US$7 million) and Swaziland (5,500 tons; US$1 million).
The food agency announced today that it has spent almost US$430 million since southern Africa was first hit by recurring food crises in 2002. The funds were used to purchase 2,020,000 metric tons of cereals, pulses, vegetable oil, corn-soya blend, salt and sugar in eight countries across the region, mainly South Africa, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
"These purchases have provided WFP with the means to help millions of needy people," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, speaking from the agency's headquarters in Rome.
"At the same time, buying local has been both cost efficient as well as extremely effective in supporting small-scale farmers and stimulating local agricultural economies."
.
Sheeran said WFP has already bought more food in Malawi and Mozambique this year than ever before and, given additional cash contributions, purchases could also hit record levels in Zambia.
"It really is a win-win situation," she added, "because local purchases benefit surplus-producing small farmers and traders, while ensuring that WFP can provide those in need in those countries and elsewhere in southern Africa with sufficient food in time."
With parts of southern Africa facing severe food shortages once again, WFP is aiming to assist over four million vulnerable people across the region before the next main harvest in April 2008. WFP is currently scaling up its operations in the worst affected countries, particularly Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland.
While the bulk of the two million tons bought over the last five years in Southern Africa was distributed to people hit by a succession of crises in the region, WFP also used some of it to assist vulnerable people facing food shortages in other countries across the continent, including Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Niger and Somalia.
Relevant Links
Food, Agriculture and Rural Issues
Aid and Assistance
Capital Flows
Sustainable Development
More than half the food was produced in or bought from South African companies. However, WFP is currently focussing its procurement on countries that enjoyed good harvests in 2007 such as Zambia, Mozambique and particularly Malawi, which has a cereal surplus of over one million tons this year.
Additional donations are urgently required to ensure that WFP reaches all of its targeted beneficiaries in southern Africa over the next seven months. Whenever possible, future cash contributions will be used to purchase food either locally or regionally.
Over the past five years, WFP has bought food in South Africa (1,275,000 tons; US$259 million), Zambia (285,000 tons; US$62 million), Malawi (203,000 tons; US$46 million), Mozambique (125,000 tons; US$29 million), Lesotho (81,000 tons; US$18 million), Namibia (25,000 tons; US$7 million), Zimbabwe (20,500 tons; US$7 million) and Swaziland (5,500 tons; US$1 million).
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