Malawi Education Link

Bringing Opportunity Through Education

About MEL

In 1997, a group of teachers in [then] Henry Gotch Comprehensive School , Kettering , Northants., set about identifying a group of 15 and 16 year-old students wanting to work in African schools, refurbishing, building. They would also take part in social and cultural activities, as well as taking the opportunity to travel the country. By 1998, a partnership had been set up with 2 schools in Malawi, Central Africa. One was Nkhotakota Secondary School and the other was Linga Primary School, a church school in Nkhotakota. Work would also be done in Ngala Primary School, an hour’s drive to the north, if transport allowed.

       

The team was identified, some selection being necessary, and the students and leaders set about raising the necessary funds for their month in Malawi. The first team in1999 was a great success in every way, but the £ goes a long way in Malawi, and the team brought back nearly £7000, rather than risk it being misused. Caroline Hansford was persuaded to take out another team in 2001, and the Link has gone from strength to strength ever since, using students from Marshland High School in Wisbech, Norfolk, and Hinchingbrooke School in Huntingdon, Cambs.

       

In 2003, for the first time ever, 3 teams went out in one year: a 12-strong team from Marshland High School followed by a 16-strong team from Hinchingbrooke School. There was then a Gap Group of 7 Year 13 students, some of whom had been out in 2001. They stayed for 3 months, bringing some money and labour to local schools, prior to travelling around Malawi and acquainting themselves with places they had not previously visited.

 

Successive years have seen a steady increase in the numbers of students wanting to take part and, more recently, other schools are joining in. By 2008, there may be as many as 5 schools contributing teams to assist the schools around Dwangwa.

 How it all started: