Pupils educate minister on Malawi links

PUPILS at Edinburgh's Stenhouse Primary School today told external affairs minister Fiona Hyslop about their special links with youngsters in Malawi ahead of her trip to Africa next week.

Ms Hyslop will fly out to Malawi on Sunday to see first-hand the impact of Scottish Government-funded development projects in the country.

Details of the six-day trip were revealed today as she visited the school and met children and staff.

Since 2000, the school has been involved in a learning partnership with Embangweni Primary School in northern Malawi.

The partnership began with children exchanging writing about their hopes and dreams as a new millennium began.

Over the years, the youngsters have learned about the differences and similarities in their lives and education through exchanges of letters, art and language work.

Stenhouse Primary has also received funding from the Scottish Government's International Development Fund for educational projects in Malawi.

Ms Hyslop said: "The relationship between Malawi and Scotland continues to strengthen and I am keen to build on what has already been achieved to ensure that we continue to deliver change that has a real, positive impact on the lives of people in Malawi."