Malawi Leaders of Learning has received a wonderful response from a whole range of people and establishments since the launch of this exciting project in 2011.

At August 12, we have raised more than £45,000!

Thanks to the generosity of our schools, the MacRitchie Foundation, 5pm.co.uk, Ryan James from Two Fat Ladies and Council services such as Social Work and DRS – we are well placed to support improvements in education in schools in Malawi. So far, we have supported planning meetings to take place providing money for fuel and snacks to allow heads and others to meet together to plan the project. We have paid for six teachers to come to Glasgow in October 2012 to work alongside our teachers. While they are here we will provide them with hotel accommodation and give them a daily allowance to allow them to be independent to eat where they want and buy some souvenirs to take home. The staff who are coming are so low paid that without this support they would not be able to come to learn with us.

Holy Cross Primary School asked the team of Scottish teachers who went out in June 2012 if they could buy trainers for children. They gave the money they raised to the two Active Schools Coordinators who visited an orphanage in Blantyre and took all the children to a sports shop where for the very first time in their lives they were able to choose their own trainers!

That’s a fabulous example of how we are making a difference to the lives of Malawian children. With the continued support from the people of Glasgow we will be able to do even more.

Our Malawi-a-thon held in May and June 2012 saw more than 13,000 children taking part in activities which improved their health and wellbeing and also raised more than £11,000 with lots more still to be collected for Malawi education.

Our next exciting event is a Firewalk in George Square to take place on Thursday 13 September 2012. 40 brave adults from across the city have ‘volunteered’ to raise money through a Firewalk across the Square. This fundraiser is the second initiative supported by 5 pm.co.uk and the Millennium Hotel has offered to put on soup and snacks for those brave enough to test themselves by walking barefoot on hot coals!

The British Council has also supported us through sponsoring Malawi Young Leaders of Learning. This exciting project will see a specially selected group of young people from schools across the city going to Blantyre in September 2013 to work with young people from Blantyre Secondary School. Working with two of our Delhi Ambassadors who are now aged 19, they will plan a project which aims to build their leadership capacity and will build the capacity of young Malawians to contribute to civic society in Malawi – not something which currently happens now in Malawi.

These are just some of the exciting things which are taking place. We will keep you updated of the progress and new totals when we have them. You can see more detailed information and pictures of what’s been happening in the news section of the website.