F.A.B. – Falkirk and Bandawe – A Timeline
1991
John and Margaret Sinclair (Mrs Dallas’s parents) made a personal journey to Malawi, their first, following family history as told by Margaret’s father (Mrs Dallas’s Grandfather), who had died in 1979 and as written in Margaret’s mother’s letters and diaries (Mrs Dallas’s Grandmother) . On New Year’s Day they were in Bandawe, and found the Martin House and attended a special church service. They met some elderly women who remembered Mamie Martin. During their time in Malawi, the idea of doing something to support girls’ education in Malawi was born.
1993
The Mamie Martin Fund was set up and the first AGM was held, consisting of friends and family, including many local supporters in Ladywell Church, Bannockburn. The aim was to support the secondary education of girls in Northern Malawi, working in partnership with the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, CCAP. Anne Dawson, now a teacher at Bo’ness Academy but then a headteacher at Ekwendeni, near Mzuzu, was able to provide local advice and experience.
1994
Margaret made her second trip to Malawi, with a Church of Scotland party. MMF began to receive applications from girls in Livingstonia and Robert Laws Secondary School in Embangweni. Margaret began a book of edited letters and diaries of her parents which eventually became Salt and Light.
1995
CCAP decided to set up two new schools for girls, including one at Bandawe. The Mamie Martin Fund Committee in Malawi was set up. Funding for the various buildings came from different sources, including the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands. MMF provided the first Hostel, after many difficulties over the building. The Martin house was remodelled with family money to enable its use as teacher housing.
1997
Another visit by Margaret and John and family members. They found great celebrations and enthusiasm at the school, but no electricity and a shortage of Hostel space. The headteacher was Mrs Mardone Chirwa. Falkirk High School supported the school at this stage through our Charities Fund and Mrs Chirwa visited the school briefly.
Buildings were the priority and gradually the school took shape. The second hostel was built using a donation to MMF by Tony and Agnes Short. Agnes Short is a writer of historical fiction.
There were many problems with the building programme, including a hostel which collapsed as it was being built. Eventually, MMF managed to fund the Home Economics Lab and the Kitchen.
Girls continued to be funded through the school by MMF.
2004
Mrs Fiddes Msowoya was appointed Headteacher and began to communicate with MMF people in Scotland.
2005
MMF’s convenor, Willie Sinclair (Mamie Martin’s grandson and Mrs Dallas’s big brother) visited the school with his son and the relationship with the school was strengthened. At this time Mrs Msowoya was nursing her youngest son, Praise, through malaria.
2006
In Scotland, the Executive approved a grant to provide two part-time administrative workers for the Mamie Martin Fund,one in Malawi and one in Scotland. They also provided funding for teacher exchanges and Falkirk High School agreed to form a link with BAGSS, in the project called Malawi and Scottish Teachers Together.(MASCOTT)
2007
Mrs Msowoya visited FHS on the last day of term and spoke at the end of term service, reminding the school that Scotland is ‘Malawi’s mother’. Miss Derrick visited BAGSS using the MASCOTT funding, taking with her Mrs Dallas and Mr Innes for the banter.
Rev Maxwell Banda, Education Secretary of the Synod in Mzuzu, visited FHS, meeting many pupils and staff. He helped make arrangements for the visit to FHS by BAGSS staff. It was hoped to host two teachers but Mr Chimaliro was unable to come as he was offered a University place.
2008
Mr Thomas Manoah Kamanga visited FHS for two weeks, using the MASCOTT funding. Mr Kamanga became very much part of the school community.
In July a party of twelve pupils and four staff visited BAGSS after many months of serious preparation and fund-raising.
What next?
In the autumn of 2008 the party who visited Malawi will be out about in the community, speaking at various events about their experiences. Within the school they will be presenting their findings to pupils, and staff. The curriculum links through the Maths Challenge, the Creative Writing project and the dance teaching will continue. Discussions will take place about the next step, possibly a visit to FHS by five BAGSS girls and three BAGSS teachers.
Mariot Dallas 14 Aug. 08
Malawi 2008 | Comment (0)