Final Comments

Malawi has been the greatest experience of my life so far! I have loved every single moment and have had the opportunity to meet some amazing people which I can now call friends. I still cannot believe that I have been so fortunate to visit this breath-taking country; it has been a surreal adventure being one which I will never forget. I can whole heartedly promise myself that this will most certainly not be my last time in Malawi! Although Malawi is half way around the world, it is a place that feels like home. The students, the orphans, the volunteers which we have met have reinforced that Malawi will always be the “warm heart of Africa!

Megan Dillon

Even though it seems like ages ago that we left Scotland, the trip has flown in and it doesn’t seem as though 9 days have passed and that its time to pack for home already.   We have all made so many friends whilst out here and it’s not hard to see why: everywhere you go people are coming up to you to chat, shake your hand, and laugh at your pathetic attempts at Chitumbuka!  Malawi is definitely the most welcoming place I have ever been and I have grown so accustomed to stopping in the middle of the street to talk to strangers, that I’m slightly worried that I will be doing the same thing once I get back to Irvine!  There are so many things that I have loved whilst out in Malawi but here are just a few: making loads of new friends; visiting a rural village and trying my luck at carrying a basin full of water on my head up a huge hill; getting to run around playing duck, duck, goose with the orphans at Mary Martha Orphan Care centre and the Woman’s Development centre; learning alongside Malawian pupils in St. Peter’s Secondary School; and the ecstatic looks on the children’s faces when you hand them a balloon or give them a high 5!  Without a shadow of a doubt this trip has been the most exciting, surreal, and crazy experience of my life and I can’t wait to get home to start planning my next visit!

Amy Chambers

A brief comment to thank all of our Malawian friends for their tremendous welcome and their outstanding hospitality for the duration of our stay. We have been treated so well in Mzuzu by all we have had the pleasure to be with, and we will all remember our week with much appreciation.

Thank you also to our pupils who have been exemplary ambassadors for St Matthew’s Academy. They have embraced every aspect of the week with a positive attitude and shown care and compassion. Their families and the whole school community should be very proud of them. All of the staff who have been with them this week certainly are!

Finally thanks to all members of staff in St Matthew’s and here in Malawi for your support, hard work, humour and encouragement over the course of the last few months and especially over the last week. We have had a wonderful time which we will remember for a long time.

Tioanenge sono sono!

Ms McArthur

It’s been a great experience working with our partners in St Peter’s and the staff and students I have had the privilege of accompanying on this visit. Thanks to everyone in the St Matthew’s community who donated the many gifts which were all gratefully received.

Mr McGuigan

Malawi has been the best experience of my life so far. It has allowed me to significantly grow as a person and build my character with an experience that will have an impact on my life forever over the course of the two weeks we were there. The Malawian people I have noticed are the friendliest most welcoming people I have ever met, even as soon as we were off the plane people were saying ‘most welcome’ which was a theme throughout the trip with strangers smiling at you saying hello. The schools that we visited have very much opened my eyes to just how lucky we have it in Scotland. It is easy for people to say we have so many opportunities in Scotland but when you come out here it hits home that these children have nothing. I have been very much out my comfort zone while being pulled in every direction by orphans to  visiting rural villages but without a shadow of a doubt the best part for me is seeing the people genuinely having a good time. I really do love seeing the pure smile of happiness on the people’s faces when we play games with them and/or give them  presents and the feeling of satisfaction I personally get from knowing I’ve slightly helped a person’s life even for a little while is so much better  than any material possessions. The country is absolutely stunning and I have grown to love this country so much… this will not be my last time in Malawi. It will change my perspective on life forever.

Ewan Grant

Malawi has been one of the most eye opening and life changing experiences that I have ever taken part in. it has totally changed my outlook on life, these people are the most welcoming and warm hearted people that I have ever met. I definitely intend to return to Malawi it definitely is “the warm heart of Malawi”. Thanks to everyone who has supported and donated to the Malawi fund to make this trip possible I can’t thank you all enough.

  Tom Cochrane

Malawi 2013 is almost over and it’s crazy to think of all the amazing things that I have done throughout this short period of time.  I have made many new friends, shook many hands and smiled uncontrollably. It has been an emotional roller-coaster at times but an adventure to truly treasure for the rest of my life.  I have grown in many ways as a person but in particular my self-confidence has been greatly boosted, something that in my opinion was greatly needed!. I hope that when I come home I will be able to spread the love of Malawi to you all. We have been welcomed with buckets of love from everyone here and I think leaving here will be the hardest task yet. The happy faces of all the children and the songs that they have performed for us will be something that will stay with me forever. I would also like to thank all of the teachers, my family and all those who made this trip possible, you have allowed me to experience so many great things at such a young age.  Thank you!

Heather Rennie

After nearly two weeks of full on work and experience our trip to Malawi is almost over. It’s sad to think that soon we will be on a plane back home to a place where the sun doesn’t try to melt me. Although I can’t wait to see everyone again I’m going to miss all the smiling faces of the children and the singing that greets us everywhere we go. Despite taking some time I feel I have moved out of my comfort zone in regards to hand sanitizer and deet. I feel I have found a confidence within me that I never knew I had which I feel will help me when I return to help me share my experiences with the rest of the community. I will never forget this trip and all the people I have met who have touched my heart. There are so many people I could thank but I will instead say a massive thanks to everyone who was involved in the trip, it has been a life changing experience that I will treasure forever. See you soon mum, dad, and phoebe, I’m coming home.  

Sophie Lewis

Malawi has been a huge eye-opener for me. It has let me appreciate the small things in life and given me a lot of hope for the future. Before coming to Malawi, I was aware of the poverty but I didn’t really know how lucky I was. Meeting new friends and experiencing a brand new culture has been an incredible adventure. I have been given the opportunity to do many things in this week that most people will never do in their lifetime and for this I will always be grateful. I will never forget the people and especially the children in the Orphan Centre and WDC. Their smiling faces when they received balloons and party toys from us will stay in my heart forever. They were so warm and loving towards us, shaking our hands and giving us hugs, and it made me appreciate the loving family and friends I have at home, to depend on. My highlight of the whole trip (it is very hard to choose one) was on the day of the netball and football matches. After winning our netball match against St Peter’s, the primary children were very excited and followed us for at least hour throughout the whole parish. Having 300 primary kids following you as you walk by the side of the road was amazing. Eventually I started to run with them. I ran across an African field with 300 smiling, happy Malawian children running behind me. That is an event that I will never get to repeat and I will never forget. This whole trip was nothing I could have ever expected. It has been so much better and I don’t want to leave. This will certainly not be my last time in Malawi. In my head I have already started planning my next visit. Maybe next time I can share the adventure with my mum who I know would love it out here. Xxx           

Sophie Fulton

This has been my most southerly trip so far.  I have enjoyed meeting new people and experiencing the Malawian culture and their food.  Also great friendships have arisen.  My favourite experience was the visit to the village because it was so different from anything I have ever experienced before.   I will never forget the joy on the faces of the children that a balloon can give.  The visits to the Mary Martha Orphan Centre and the Womens Development Centre were a roller-coaster of emotion, especially when handing out food and the children bowed and curtsied for the food they were receiving.  This was one of the few times this year they would eat meat.  The children were so happy and full of life and getting out of the minibus I felt like a “rockstar” with the children swarming around us wanting to touch hands.  One of the memories I will hold onto forever is the children at the Womens Development Centre singing, “we are happy today, we are happy today, we are happy today, our visitors.”  I have learned new dances although I still have no rhythm, and I have conquered my fear of germs and crossed a pretty terrifying bridge, with the help of Father Philip in order to see the elephants.

As the African sun sets on this trip, the sun will never set on my experiences.

Jennifer Brady

Had an amazing week in Malawi. It was everything I had hoped for and much more! Malawi is truly the ‘warm heart of Africa’. Had a week of memories and experiences that will last a lifetime. Feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to be here. A huge ‘thank you’ to all involved in making the trip possible. Special thanks to my fellow travellers. Wouldn’t have been the same without their support, friendship and laughter!

Jane Lennon

This is my fifth trip to Malawi; each time I fall more in love with the country and the people. When I have to leave it becomes more and more difficult to say goodbye.  This time I have been impressed with the exuberance and enthusiasm of this group of students; I have particularly enjoyed seeing Malawi from their perspective. The highlights of the trip for me have been seeing Tom showing the primary children how to wear his kilt and Tom along with Heather & Sophie L. teaching the primary pupils the song “Head, shoulders, knees and toes.”

Paul Carmichael

Well it’s fair to say that it has been a magical trip. All the hard work of St Matthew’s staff and pupils to fundraise has paid off and has been truly appreciated by all in Malawi. All of our packed suitcases have been shared out and sent where the need is greatest. To see the little orphans enjoy playing with a balloon with big smiles on their faces made it all worthwhile.  We have been the lucky ones as we got the chance to shake everyone’s hands and hug the orphans but hopefully when we get back we can try and pass on the warmth of the Malawian’s to everyone at St Matthew’s. Everyone here has welcomed us as their family and it has been quite overwhelming how lovely this trip has been. I am really grateful for this experience and probably won’t shut up about it when I get back. I apologise in advance.

 Janice Henderson

This has been a fantastic trip.  I have felt so lucky being part of the St. Matthew’s Group. Everyone in the group has gelled together like one big family.  One of my favourite memories is the visit to the Primary Schools watching the students lead the activities in class and seeing the learners smile.  Tom’s kilt will be remembered for a long, long time. I also loved the visit to the village, Joto where I learned a lot about village life and we all had the opportunity to participate in the activities.  Finally may I complement all of the students in the group who were excellent ambassadors for the school and great friends.  Special thanks also to the members of staff who were super company.

 Anne Carmichael

Pictures to follow.