In 2013 and 2015 Dunoon Grammar School have come to Malawi to take on two community build challenges. Over a two week trip they have worked with a village youth community group to build a clinic and a classroom for a village school. They are returning in 2017 to take on their next challenge!
Day to Day: Community Build Project, Lake Malawi
TRAVELLERS DIARY
Kate from The Responsible Safari Company, shares about the great time they had with Dunoon Grammar School this summer…..
What an achievement! Dunoon Grammar School linked with RSC Community Project CISER to build an under five’s clinic in just 8 days!
Based in Scotland 24 students from Dunoon Grammar School spent 18 months fundraising for their trip to Malawi. Managing to raise over $9,000 they chose to work alongside Lakeside Youth Group CISER to take on the challenge of building an under five’s clinic in 8 days. CISER is run by inspirational Malawian Joseph Makwakwa and RSC have been working with them for the last 4 years. Impressed with Joseph’s determination and passion for sustainable tourism The Responsible Safari Co. suggested that CISER partner with one of their school groups to try and support the work they are doing in the lakeside villages close to Mangochi Town.
With the nearest free clinic over 20km away CISER spoke with the community and it was decided that a small village clinic would be the most beneficial and would have a huge impact on community healthcare and in particular the health of young children in that area. So after 12 months of fundraising, a year of planning and many emails and skype calls an incredible School Travel Itinerary was in place, the foundations of the build were set and 27 students and teachers from Dunoon Grammar School arrived!
Welcomed in true Malawi style CISER organised a traditional Malawi welcome and the students and youth group members met after a year of corresponding on email and Facebook- what a day! Over the next five days Dunoon worked hand in hand with CISER and the local village, bricklaying, cement mixing, making roof trusses and ending each day with a village netball and football match- Malawi always won! With the build 75% complete Dunoon took the weekend off and headed for Mumbo Island and a weekend of rest and relaxation.
After time at the lake the group came back to site and visited the local primary school, learnt more about the effects of HIV/AIDS from the village support group and put the final touches to the build project. When RSC directors arrived for the opening ceremony students, village members and Andrew (RSC Guide) were busy painting the centre, putting up the plague and touching up the brickwork- they had done it!
The hand over ceremony was incredible involving emotional speeches by Joseph, the community head and teachers and students from Dunoon. Presents were exchanged and the under fives clinic was officially opened- there was not a dry eye in the village! Following a traditional lunch Dunoon took out the bagpipes and put on a show for their new Malawi friends of Scottish dancing and traditional music- the Malawians responded with drumming and some Yao tribal dances, the entertainment ended with everyone linking arms and singing Auld Land Syne!
Project done the group spent their last two days with on safari at Liwonde National Park- elephants drinking on the banks of the Shire River- a real highlight!
Well Done Dunoon and Well Done CISER Youth, a fantastic achievement and we can’t wait for many more CISER/School Group Partnerships!
Press Links to the trip:
Harry (10) and Tom (8) travelled to Malawi with their father and grandmother in half term this October 2017. The purpose of the trip was to understand the Malawi way of life and to put solar power and mosquito nets into a local school.
In the summer of 2016, a group from 25th Stirling (Dunblane) Boys' Brigade travelled to Malawi to renovate classrooms in two local primary schools in the district of Mulanje. They travelled with RSC partner charity Classrooms for Malawi - a Scottish charity who rebuild and renovate classrooms in Malawi using local paid builders and volunteers from Scotland.
Raising money for your charity can be a family affair - as shown by an inspirational group of families who brought their children to Malawi to learn first-hand the challenges of rural communities and get involved in a special challenge of their own!
Every year Royal Holloway University, London brings a group of 30-40 students Malawi for a weeks study trip. Students interested in development processes can examine the role of international aid and NGOs, as well as community-based initiatives and state-led education, health and infrastructure programmes.