Today, Jenni Barr and Fiona Anderson visited Dunblane High School to address assemblies following their visit to Likhubula this summer. Below is a copy of an e-mail sent from Jenni describing the day.
Hello friends (in Malawi and in Scotland),
Just back from a great morning in Dunblane High School where the four S3 Likhubula link pupils, Fiona Anderson and myself and lead teacher Mrs McEwan addressed the WHOLE school (840 pupils), through five special assemblies.
As I write, the school is holding a bake sale and offering face painting to raise funds. The entire school afternoon has been given over to a sponsored walk/run where the school hopes to raise enough money to support four Dunblane Bursars in 2014/5.
We were joined by the Likhubula Lion. I promise to send a picture!!
Mrs Hale was able to join us, though now retired, because she is still interested and involved in the Partnership.
In each of the assemblies we explained the details of the new Partnership Agreement and showed pictures of the signing ceremony in Chambe High School in July 2013. We presented the carving of the Dunblane High School badge made by one of the Likhubula Carvers and in turn were presented with a cheque to the Dunblane Likhubula Partnership for £480, to cover the costs of four Dunblane Bursars at Chambe Secondary School in 2013/4. We used the Dunblane High School motto 'Look beyond the Mountains' to talk of the need for pupils in Dunblane and Likhubula to have high personal goals but also to look beyond themselves to have hopes for others, and to strive to find ways to make these happen. The girls explained that £120 can cover schooling costs for a student in Malawi for a year and challenged their fellow students to think what they would normally do if they were given £120. Two tickets for a concert or education for a student for a whole year?
In every assembly we were listened to attentively and I must say I was personally impressed with the Dunblane High School pupils - their turn out, their listening, even how well they filed into and out of the hall! At least one pupil has already come forward and said he would like to be more fully involved in the Partnership. Fiona and I feel very privileged to have had this opportunity, and would want to thank the Head Teacher, Mr Lennon, for his strong leadership, support and vision to make today possible.
I don't underestimate the value that 840 pupils in Dunblane now know so much about Likhubula and what we are trying to do by way of this partnership. As they heard how hard it was to get secondary education in Malawi, maybe a few were also prompted to think afresh about their own opportunities here in Scotland.
Thank you, Likhubula, you help us look at our own lives in a new way as you offer us your friendship.
Umodzi.
Jenni
