For the first time ever, all five major Scottish political parties competing in the Holyrood election have made direct commitments to continuing or growing the Scotland-Malawi relationship in their manifestos.
The SMP is politically neutral and independent of government. However, as a civic network we are actively politically engaged, working with each of the major parties to encourage continued, strong all-party support for Scotland’s friendship with Malawi.
As in past elections, in the run up to the 6th May 2021 Holyrood vote, we have been in contact with each of the major parties encouraging them to make explicit references to Malawi in the manifestos. We have received messages of support from all five party leaders and all five manifestos pledge support for the Malawi links.
Around 100 members completed our 2020-21 Member Needs and Impact Survey earlier this month and we’re delighted to now publish the results.
80% of respondents felt that membership of the SMP in 2020-21 “helped strengthen, support or develop their links with Malawi”.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with particular praise for the SMP’s: Covid-19 response coordination work, information dissemination, guidance on appropriate support, networking and support for collaborations, youth engagements, digital innovations increasing inclusivity and amplifying Malawian voices, inspiration and positivity, helping members see the big picture, access to senior government representatives.
There are lots of really great ideas from members in the report and we look forward to taking these forwards in the coming year. All feedback given has been shared with, and digested by, all staff and Board members, and will genuinely help direct our coming work.
Thank you! Join us later today for live prize draw! #FridayFun
We’re keen to say a really big THANK YOU to the almost 100 members who took the time to complete our Member Needs and Impact Survey.
We’re giving away a signed copy of Susan Dalgety’s brilliant new book ‘The Spirit of Malawi’ to ten randomly selected members, from the 96 that completed the survey.
We want to be transparent about how we select the winners so we’re delighted to invite members to watch the ‘wheel of fortune’ style draw live on Facebook later today (Fri 23rd) at 4pm UK/ 5pm Malawi.
To watch, simply head to our Facebook page at 4pm UK/ 5pm Malawi, you may need to refresh the page to see the live feed. It’ll take 5 or 10 minutes and should be good fun (very informal!) – why not join with a Malawi G&T!
In a national address this week the President of Malawi responded immediately to the audit report he commissioned looking at the government’s use of Covid-19 emergency funds.
He, again, made clear that he holds all government officials to the highest possible standards and immediately fired his Minister of Labour, Ken Kandodo, as he was named in the report as having incorrectly used c£500 of Covid funds on travel allowances, despite the funds having been returned by the Minister.
Former MaSP CEO, Hon Vera Kamtukule who is Deputy Labour Minister, has stepped up to run the Ministry while awaiting further news on Mr Kandodo’s successor.
We look forward to announcing shortly the SMP’s latest Scotland-Malawi governance strengthening programme, in response to the President’s direct call for cooperation in this area.
People to People Podcast: Subscribe to get the first episode
Here's a sneak peak behind the scenes this week as Hazel and Chimzy add the finishing touches to Episode one, People and Past. We cannot WAIT for the first episode to be released!
Listen to the Trailer and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Google or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Hazel and Chimzy, two hugely inspiring women, are working together to explore the Scotland/Malawi relationship through dozens of chats with other Malawians and Scots. Their words are theirs: speaking independently of the SMP, exploring the themes how they want to and giving voice to whom they choose. It’s not to be missed: it’ll make you laugh, cry and learn!
Meet FCDO’s Malawi Development Director - Fiona Ritchie
29th April at 2pm UK time/3pm Malawi time.
Fiona, who is originally from Edinburgh, is the FCDO’s Development Director (what used to be called the Head of DFID Malawi).
This is a fantastic opportunity to show her the scale and impact of Scotland’s work with Malawi and explore closer joint working with the FCDO. We look forward to hearing about Fiona’s priorities, approach and interest in civic society, and to discussing topics of mutual interest. All members are welcome to attend. We also encourage members to invite their Malawi partners to join and input to discussions.
Congratulations to SMP members Lisa and David Luhanga on the birth of their baby boy Djimon. Pictured with proud big sister Shula, Djimon means “strong blood” in Swahili.
A Trustee of STEKAskills and long-standing friend of the SMP, many members will know Davie for his brilliant musicianship, (recording and performing as Street Rat), Davie's skill, warmth and energy enhancing many SMP events. We are thrilled for the Luhangas and for the growth of the Scotland Malawi family!
Welcome to our new members - Muli bwanji?
We’re keen to share a little information about new members as they join our network. Here are five of the new members we’re welcoming in this week -
Catriona Glen - Catriona was involved with the Dunblane-Likhubula Partnership through her church (the Dunblane Cathedral) for years. As a student at The University of Glasgow she now works with the charity SKIP(Students for Kids International Projects) as a Project Coordinator. SKIP run sustainable interventions with a healthcare-based education focus in Zomba, working with HIV groups, women's groups, youth clubs, the local school and a disability support group. Catriona maintains regular contact with all the people she has met and worked with in Malawi and is keeping up-to-date with the pandemic and how it is affecting Malawi. She recently presented her findings to the SKIP national committee in order to better understand how to tailor their research-backed interventions to the community and organisation (LIYO - Likhubula Youth Organisation).
Carolyn Frances AnneHunter - Carolyn is an emergency medicine doctor who is currently studying a Masters in Global Health. She is interested in health particularly in the connections between Scotland and Malawi in Emergency Medicine.
Kathleen McLaughlin - In 1988 Kathleen emigrated from Glasgow to Malawi and set up married life with her then husband on Chisunga Tea Plantation in Thyolo. She was delighted to be offered a lecturer post at Chancellor College - however the impossibility of commuting between Thyolo and Zomba made this impractical. She went on to teach at the Polytechnic in Blantyre. In 1992 Kathleen returned to Glasgow with her two sons and is now writing a family memoir about this period.
Josephine Breton - Josephine worked as volunteer teacher at M'buka CCAP Primary School in Lilongwe, between 2014 and 2019, also participating in church music. The programme was built on the already positive twinning relationship between St Kane's Church of Scotland, New Deer and M'buka CCAP.
Connecting Classrooms' Deadline Extended
The deadline for applications for the next round of funding in the Connecting Classrooms programme has been extended to Wednesday 28th April at 18:00.
We encourage SMP members to explore the range of flexible opportunities and resources available.
SMP members EMMS International are seeking to welcome a new Fundraising Manager to their team.
"If you have a proven track record of at least three years in charity fundraising and a strong desire to bring hope and health to people fighting sickness and poverty, we’d love to hear from you. We need a person like you who will rise to the challenge to secure vital funds for our health projects in Malawi, Nepal and India."
