Forging ties with Malawi

Jack McConnell has led the country's efforts to build a closer relationship with Malawi, which has long had special ties with Scotland, and the soon-to-be British High Commissioner to Malawi visited Speyside High School on Tuesday to learn more about the links it is developing.

The connection between Speyside High and Soche Hill was forged by former teacher Sheena Nicolson, who spent time in Malawi with the Voluntary Services Organisation (VSO), and now pupils regularly write to each other to exchange news.

Speyside High has also this week welcomed teacher Eliza Phiri from Soche Hill High School, following an exchange trip by PE teacher Hilary Dawson in June which was supported by the British Council, while pupils also went out there last summer.

The MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw was greeted by head teacher David Tierney and S6 pupils Christina Stewart and Katya Alcot, members of the school's global awareness group.

In 2005, as First Minister, Mr McConnell and the president of Malawi signed a co-operation agreement between the two countries, providing an opportunity to learn from each other and work together, particularly in health and education.

Mr McConnell now spends a lot of his time meeting teachers and pupils, as well as medical staff, to hear about their experiences in Malawi and to help those heading for Africa to prepare for what they might encounter.

He was delighted to learn about Speyside's efforts to foster a global friendship, and said it was impressive to see a relatively small school in rural Scotland playing its part.

"I want to congratulate the pupils and teachers here for what they have done. It is not easy to make a twinning work between rural Scotland and the middle of Africa. I hope it will last a long time; it can be very special," he said.

"The really important thing is that it is to everyone's benefit. The Scots who are involved in helping in schools or hospital or businesses are making a difference in Malawi, but are also bringing benefits back to Scotland and making it a better place to live. Schools like Speyside which are getting involved are helping to give pupils a full and rounded experience of life in the world today."

Scotland's connection with Malawi dates back to the work of Scottish missionary explorer Dr David Livingstone, who went to southern Africa in 1841.

Ms Phiri's school is in the area of Blantyre, founded in 1876 as a mission station operated by the Church of Scotland and named after Dr Livingstone's birthplace in Scotland.

Wrapped up in a fleece jacket, she said that the warm welcome she has received from everyone at Speyside has made up for the cold weather.

"This is a great experience for me, and I have found everyone to be very friendly," said Ms Phiri, whose own school has 530 children, with as many as 50 pupils to a classroom.