Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell recently visited his old school, Lockerbie Academy, and met with pupils and a teacher English teacher Helen Wright and two pupils who are visiting Malawi this month.
Students Briagh Farish and Hannah Shenton and going to Malawi while English teacher Helen Wright is travelling there for a charity cycle ride.
The local MP, who also visited Malawi earlier this year, and who welcomed Malawi’s President Joyce Banda to the UK as part of celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the great Scottish explorer David Livingston, wanted to take some time out of his busy schedule to wish them well.
Lockerbie Academy has strong links with Malawi and especially Thawale Primary School in that country.
David said: “This is a great opportunity, and Malawi is a very exciting and interesting place. It is a wonderful chance for the pupils and Miss Wright to see the real difference the support their school is making to the lives of children and families in Malawi.
“Scotland has really strong links with the country and all the work local people are doing to help is very much appreciated there. I wish them the best of luck for their visit and am looking forward to hearing all about it later.
“My visit earlier this year was my first visit to Malawi which, although a country of great beauty and of green and fertile landscape, still sees too many of its citizens suffering from grinding poverty, lack of education and basic health facilities.
“The highlight was an opportunity to visit Thawale Primary School which is linked with my own old school, Lockerbie Academy, to meet pupils and teachers there, and also to see in action the charity Mary’s Meals, which many people and churches in my constituency support.
“Thawale are very proud of their links with a ‘Lockerbie Corner’ in one of the buildings. I was a deliveryman, taking over pencils, paper and various teaching materials and letters from the Academy, and they were all gratefully received.
“Lockerbie pupils fundraised for a Mary’s Meals Kitchen to be built at the school so a feeding programme could be run there that ensures children have at least one good meal a day. They are served a form of fortified hot porridge prepared by local volunteers. I was very pleased to help out in its distribution but the head teacher, Mr Hansden Malefula, wanted me to eat some in front of the children to show that I thought it was a good thing to eat,” added Mr Mundell.