Published: Wednesday, 18th June, 2008 12:00
Your gift is so special to children in Malawi
By Bob Lovik
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Jack McConnell accepts the cheque from St Bernadette's oldest and youngest pupil.
Pic by: David Robertson
FORMER First Minister Jack McConnell has thanked kind-hearted Tullibody pupils after receiving a large donation on behalf of an African school.
Mr McConnell visited St Bernadette’s RC Primary to collect a cheque for £1100 – funds to improve conditions at Nankhwala Catholic School in Monkey Bay, Malawi.
Both Mr McConnell and St Bernadette’s have a special relationship with Malawi – one of the poorest nations on earth.
During his time as First Minister, Mr McConnell built up a number of aid programmes to support Malawi’s impoverished population after visiting the country in 2005.
Meanwhile, St Bernadette’s developed links with Malawian school three years ago after a visit from a priest, Father Titus Bayani. He spoke to St Bernadette’s pupils about life in Malawi, and told them that his school had bare earth floors, no desks, very few textbooks and over 1000 pupils taught by just 11 teachers.
St Bernadette’s headteacher Chris McMonagle was so moved by Father Bayani’s talk that he decided to ‘adopt’ the African school.
In the past two years, pupils at St Bernadette’s have raised £1500 – enough to put in floors, rebuild the kitchen and toilets and improve the classrooms. Father Bayani regularly sends photographs to show the pupils how their money is changing the lives of his students.
Speaking to St Bernadette’s 75 pupils and their teachers and families, Mr McConnell said, “Before becoming First Minister, I used to teach at Lornshill Academy. I remember working in Tullibody every day and it is great to be back here. The main reason I am here is about you and what you’ve done – £1100 in Malawi goes a very long way.
“Malawi is in a desperately poor state. One in every 10 children under five-years-old will die before they get to primary school.”
Mr McConnell said the pupils’ gift of £1100 would changes the lives of some of Malawi’s poorest children.
He went on, “Three years ago I was in a wee village in Malawi. I visited a school with 800 pupils who were taught in three small classrooms that, together, were the size of this gym hall. The school had mud walls and a grass roof that leaked when it rained. No electricity, no pens or pencils, so the students had to memorise all of their lessons. We managed to raise £2000 for the school and I went back six months ago. The school now had brick walls, four classrooms and a proper roof.”
In front of photographs of the Nankhwala Catholic School, headteacher Mr McGonagle said that the pupils were able to see the results of their hard fundraising work thanks to Father Bayani’s letters.
He said, “The funds we have raised have helped to improve children’s lives in Malawi. It is difficult to see what they have got and then to look at all that we have. My dream would be that one day the children of Malawi will have a school like the one we have.”
After a dancing display by P4, P5 and P6 pupils, the school’s oldest boy, Ian McDonald, and youngest girl, Eilidh Hughes, presented Mr McConnell with the cheque.
Mr McConnell promised to report back to St Bernadette’s next year on the African school after he takes up his new post as the British High Commissioner to Malawi.
He said, “I’d like to thank all of you for your amazing effort to raise all that money.
“I will be living in Malawi for three years and I will visit the school and take photos of what your money has paid for. You have all done something very, very special.”
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