PUPILS from a Scots secondary school fly out to Malawi today (Thur June 11) to put the finishing touches to four new classrooms they have helped build.
But before they left, the teenagers from Paisley’s Gleniffer High School were given painting and decorating tips from technical services staff at the intu Braehead shopping centre.
A derelict building is being transformed into four new classrooms and two new toilet blocks are being built in the poverty-stricken village of Dzenza, in central Malawi.
Pupils launched their ambitious project called, ‘Make It Malawi – building a better future’ to help Dzenza Primary after bosses at the intu Braehead shopping centre agreed to donate £9,000 to their fundraising efforts.
After intu Braehead agreed to fund the work, Gleniffer High pupils brought in Scots charity, Classrooms for Malawi to organise the construction using local tradesmen and materials.
Building work has been going on over the past few months and now 24 fifth and sixth-year Gleniffer High pupils will help with the final stages of construction during their two-week stay in Malawi.
The pupils recently spent an afternoon at the intu Braehead centre being shown painting and decorating tricks of the trade from staff there.
Gleniffer High School head teacher, David Nicholls, said: “A lot of hard work from staff and pupils has gone into organising the trip and most importantly, the building work to create these four new classrooms and toilet blocks.
“Pupils have learned a huge amount from the journey they been on since deciding to become involved in the project.
“But their trip to Malawi will be a life-changing experience for them and it will be something they will never forget.”
General manager (operations) at intu Braehead, Gary Turnbull, added: “We are proud to have played a part in not only giving financial support to this very worthwhile project, but in also mentoring the pupils in their fundraising and organisation of the project.
“The pupils are a credit to themselves, their parents, Gleniffer High and, in fact, Scotland for what they have achieved.”
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