PUPILS and staff from Forres Academy will be spending the final day of term in pursuits a bit more strenuous than they would normally expect, when the Lake Malawi Rowing Challenge takes centre stage.
Luckily, nobody has to travel to Africa to take part; they will simply take their turn on a rowing maching in school and knock off a few hundred metres from the overal target of 590 kilometres. There will be three rowing machines, and the distance for each volunteer will be 500 metres, but that will still involve 1180 stints.
The challenge will take place in the Academy hall, from 7am until 6pm, and the aim is to raise enough money to help build a new classroom for a poor school in Malawi.
Academy teacher Mrs Liz Drawbell, who has visited Malawi, said: "Forres Academy has supported Malawi as a nominated charity in the past, and the Academy has a partner school in Malawi, Luchenza CDSS.
"Bright, a teacher from the school, recently visited Forres and discussed with the Academy's Malawi group how best the group could help the school with the funds it had already raised.
"The students in Luchenza have few classrooms and few computers or books. Sadly, one in four of the students are orphans because of AIDS, and they have to work to pay to go to school.
"We were all touched by Bright's professionalism during his time in Forres," said Liz, "and his desire to make life better for his students. We asked him to cost a new classroom, and the Luchenza community have already started to make the bricks. However, they can't afford to do the work.
"We have made the pledge, and now we need to deliver. This room will be called the Forres Academy classroom, and it will have wiring for computers, which a charity will provide if we can provide a secure building. They also need help to get the other things they need, like chairs, desks, computers and books.
"The Forres Academy room would allow our students and teachers to communicate with Luchenza. It will be life-changing for Luchenza students, and beneficial to us to in terms of communication and development of global citizenship links."
Mallaig High School and the Moray Steiner School are also involved, and a number of sporting and community groups and businesses have expressed an interest in taking part or contributing to the Malawi development.
The challenge will be restricted to school students and staff between the times of 9am and 3.20, but outside community groups will be given the opportunity to take part outside school hours. The cost of entry will be £1 per challenge.
"Members of the public are very welcome to come along," said Mrs Drawbell, "when they can also see a video of life at Luchenza. This exercise will do a lot for the young people in Africa, and will also let our students see what can be done when a community works together.
"We hope to be able to say to some of the poorest pupils in the world, 'we were able to help give you an education'. That would be a very signifcant thing for the pupils and our school to do, as we approach our 40th anniversay in this building."
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