East Ayrshire schoolkids help out in Africa

Jun 12 2009 by Ian Russell, Kilmarnock Standard

PUPILS throughout East Ayrshire are making a big difference to the lives of boys and girls in Malawi.

For the past two years, pupils at Lainshaw Primary School in Stewarton have been learning about life in Malawi, a small country in Southern Africa between Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique.

In particular the pupils here have been realising from their research how tough life is for schoolchildren of their age there.

Landlocked Malawi is among the world’s most densely populated and least developed countries.

Along with many other schools in East Ayrshire the Lainshaw children have been raising money to help improve conditions for their counterparts so far away.

For many children in Malawi, hunger and malnourishment are a daily reality and many youngsters are likely to miss out on regular attendance at school.

Deprived of the opportunity of an education, these children will, in all probability, hand on chronic poverty to their own children.

Encouraged by their teachers the youngsters here organised many different activities to raise cash to turn things around.

Said Councillor Jim Roberts: “In all, 17 schools from throughout East Ayrshire joined Lainshaw Primary in fundraising to extend Scottish International Relief’s feeding programme in schools in Malawi.

“As a result of their efforts £11,716.81 was raised and this has enabled a feeding shelter to be built in HHI School in Ndirande, Blantyre.”

Ndirande is a sprawling township on the outskirts of the country’s commercial capital.

The money from the fundraising project means around 1000 pupils will now receive a daily meal of nutritious porridge, and as the picture shows mealtime is an enjoyable experience.

Said Councillor Roberts: “This initiative not only made a difference in Malawi but enabled young people in East Ayrshire to have a greater understanding of what it means to be a global citizen.”

Mrs Jean Keenan, head teacher at Lainshaw, said she was very grateful to everyone who had supported the project.