Malawi's Academy boost

PUPILS, staff and teachers at Forres Academy put their back into their school work recently to help raise cash and awareness for a very good cause.
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Pupils from all the classes were given time out for lessons to take part in the "Row Lake Malawi Challenge" which was held on the last day of term at the school.

Before going off to enjoy the Tattie Holiday break, pupils and staff members put their back into the challenge to raise cash for a charity in Malawi.

They each paid £1 for the privilege of taking part in the rowing challenge which was aiming to complete a total row equal in distance to Lake Malawi.

Also taking part in the challenge to show support for the project were pupils at Mallaig High School, Moray Steiner School, Forres Mechanics, Knock Hill racing and other sporting groups.

Each person taking part had to complete about 500 metres each on rowing machines set out in the school hall, with all cash going into the school's Malawi fund.

The event was organised by teacher, Liz Drawbell who has set up a fund to support the Luchenza CDSS Orphanage and School in Malawi which she visited several years ago as part of a group of teachers sent along by the Scottish Executive.

While the youngsters and staff members, were rowing, they also got the chance to see why they were doing it, with pictures and video of Luchenza CDSS being beamed to them, along with pics of other groups taking part in the challenge, via a video link.

The students were asked to put their £1 in a big drum which was decorated with the Malawi shield and then get rowing.

The total amount raised was £1,050 between all those taking part, including the schools and local clubs and sporting groups from around the community who did their bit to help the school row the full distance of 590 Kilometres.

"Each rowing 500 metres means that it will take 1180 people to get to the end of the lake," said Mrs Drawbell. "We are helping to build a classroom for the school with the cash raised."

She said that the students in Luchenza have few classrooms and none of the computers and books that Western schools take for granted. Around one in four of the students are orphans due to the AIDS epidemic in the country. Many of the children are also trying to earn a living by working to pay to go to school.

Mrs Drawbell said the kids are keen to help themselves and have made the bricks for the classroom build, but need help to get the other things such desks, computers and books.

Although the Malawi Fund is not the Academy's nominated charity this year, Mrs Drawbell is still aiming to raise cash with the copper and brown money tubs which are located in the school.

Meantime any member of the public who wishes to help and contribute to the fund can put donations for "The Malawi Group" at Forres Academy to the school.