Pupils raise £70,000 for mercy mission to Malawi

A GROUP of Glasgow secondary school pupils set off on a mercy mission to Malawi this week.

The 25 young people from Holyrood Secondary have raised a staggering £70,000 to fund the trip through a wide range of activities involving virtually every pupil in the school.

They were waved on their way by Glasgow Lord Provost Bob Winter who met them in the City Chambers to wish them a safe journey.

The group is travelling to the Zingwangwa district where fellow pupils last year helped build three new classrooms, one of them for pupils with special needs at the Catholic Institute Primary.
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This time the teenagers will work with the local communities at their partner schools, which also include Zingwangwa Primary and the Stella Maris Girls' Secondary School.

They will build a two-classroom block for pupils with special needs and renovate a classroom block which will involve fitting a new floor, new doors and windows.

Mr Winter said: "It is tremendous our young people are prepared to raise such significant sums of money and give up their summer holidays to help children from one of the poorest countries in the world.

"I have been told it is humbling to go out there and experience the extreme poverty and hardship the Malawians endure.

"I have also been told that the pride and joyful demeanour of the Malawian people who receive aid is a privilege to witness and life-changing for everyone who encounters them. I am delighted to welcome our young people to the City Chambers and look forward to hearing about their fundraising efforts and their forthcoming trip."

Glasgow has developed strong links with Malawi regularly sending out humanitarian teams to help improve the health and structure of the country as well as shipping out regular medical supplied and IT equipment.

Last year, the council's Lord Provost and International Office co-ordinated the building of an orthotics and prosthetics workshop and clinic in Malawi in partnership with former Evening Times Scotswoman of the year and meningitis survivor Olivia Giles.

Staff accompanying the pupils will include Holyrood head teacher Tom McDonald and Tony Begley, depute head teacher.

Mr McDonald said: "I am extremely proud of our pupils who have managed to raise more than £140,000 for Malawi thanks to the support and generosity of the people of the South Side."

The youngsters who travelled from the school to Malawi last year also managed to raise £70,000.

Holyrood is working in association with the charity Mary's Meals which provides lunches for thousands of pupils attending schools in the country

For many of the children, a porridge type dish is the only food they will get that day.