Hammermen make the gift of hope to Malawi folk

CASH raised at this year's Common Riding is already helping improve the life of orphans in Malawi, writes Mark Entwistle.

More than £1,000 was raised by the Hammermen at their annual foy and it was decided to donate the money to help ongoing work in the African state.

Rev. Jim Campbell, of Selkirk Parish Church, along with other members of Melrose and Peebles Presbytery, was out in Malawi earlier this year to distribute other monies raised for the Malawi Fund, and these were used to buy sewing machines and goats for the orphan care/training scheme at Zomba.

He told us this week: “At their foy held – as is traditional – after this year’s Common Riding, the Hammermen took a collection for a good cause.

“When I arrived at the foy I was delighted to be told that just over £1,000 had been raised and that the Hammermen had agreed that it be donated to the Malawi Fund.”

Selkirk Parish Church is now in partnership with Chiphola Parish in Zomba and Rev. Campbell says the Hammermen’s money will make a big difference in this scheme and in the neighbouring one at Chulochsema.

Rev. Dr Silas Ncozna heads up both projects and has supplied a breakdown of the how the Hammermen’s funds will be used. A girl at Chiphola will be able to further her tinsmith training at technical school for a year with £285 going to cover her tuition and board.

The sum of £100 will go towards further apprenticeship training for two boys who are studying to be carpenters and £400 will go to cover secondary school fees for four orphans.

A smaller gift of cash will be used to continue the Sunday feeding programme at two local churches.