Debra Hallworth, Norma Wise and Alwyn White recently presented an illustrated talk about Malawi in Africa on two separate visits to the infants and juniors of Vane Road School. Debra and Norma visited Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Africa, last November to meet some of the children already supported by The Malawi Trust of St Elizabeth (Newton Aycliffe).
While there they also visited a local primary school where a friend and supporter of the charity’s work is teaching. This is a very large junior school with 2,200 pupils but with very limited resources and many of the children are extremely poor. The trustees are raising awareness of the needs of these children so contacted Vane Road School and were invited to talk to the pupils by Miss Pimm.
The children were studying Africa as part of One World Week- so it was interesting for them to hear about Africa from people who had visited and were closely involved with this part of the world.
The illustrated talk showed the children what life is like for the children in Malawi and how different their lives were to theirs. The children enjoyed the talk and one little boy decided he would like to do something to help the children at Namilango school in Malawi. Charlie Dunn organised a sponsored silence and with the help of his parents printed a sponsor form saying: “I would like to help a charity who are helping poor children in Africa.
They help them go to school so that they can have better lives and get good jobs when they are big. I want to do something to help them because I have so much stuff and can go to school every day for free and never have to be hungry and have nice shoes so my feet don’t hurt. The children in Malawi don’t have any of that and I want to help them.” Charlie managed to stay quiet for 3 hours and with support from his family and friends raised £53. With further donations from the pupils of the school the charity was presented with a total of £73. The school also appealed for out grown uniforms and clothes to pass on to the children and collected a total of ten large bin bags. Norma and Debra returned to the school to meet Charlie to say a big thank you to him and all the pupils.  Charlie was presented with a photograph of some of the children he is helping, and the school was also thanked and presented with a photograph to display in the foyer. The trustees enjoyed their time with the children and would like to thank all the pupils, parents and staff for the support and encouragement they have received.