Day 3

We are travelling with the BB group from Dunblane, with Fiona and Ian sharing their time between the BB Classrooms for Malawi group and the Partnership work.

Having received the abuse for not painting yesterday, we joined them at Pasani Primary school to help with the classrooms. The school is looking so much better already and the guys are working really hard. The schools continue to tell the team what a big difference this will make in providing better environments for learning, keeping learners in school, and attracting good teachers to the schools.

At lunchtime, we met with all 15 Dunblane-Likhubula Bursars from Chambe Secondary school. There are currently 5 in forms 1, 2 and 3. The group arrived sporadically so it was a good opportunity to speak to them one to one. We learned about their aspirations and favourite subjects as well as what they find most difficult (maths by the sounds of it).  At this point the BB boys joined us and it was really amazing to see the two groups interacting together. The buzz in the pagoda was incredible and a testament to global citizenship when two cultures can mix so easily. Later that evening we did a feedback session with the boys and they were overwhelmed by some of the stories of the bursars. Some of the learners told the boys how their parents, siblings, grandparents had all died.  They spoke of long walks to school, endless chores but also about a love of learning, similar hobbies and shared challenges and goals.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch (chicken and rice…..a familiar menu!) and then some speeches from some of the bursars and the bursar monitor.    They said that they were proud to be Dunblane bursars and endeavoured to work their hardest.  We also reiterated our pride in what they were doing and encouraged them to keep working hard. 

It was a particular highlight to meet up with Christina and Gifte, two of our bursars who have gone on to further education.  Christina is at teaching college and training to be a primary school teacher.  Gifte is enrolled in an accountancy course and enjoying his studies.   Both are articulate young adults with a great future ahead of them. 

(In more exciting news, the goat from Nakonyo village has given birth to a male baby! We have suggested they name the goat Kilby… our Dunblane committee may appreciate this!)