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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scots project extended in Malawi | Scots project extended in Malawi |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A project aimed at empowering women in Malawi, and supported by a Scottish council, is to be rolled out across the African country. | A project aimed at empowering women in Malawi, and supported by a Scottish council, is to be rolled out across the African country. |
| North Lanarkshire Council has been working with women in the Luchenza area to increase levels of education, combat HIV and tackle extreme poverty. | North Lanarkshire Council has been working with women in the Luchenza area to increase levels of education, combat HIV and tackle extreme poverty. |
| It has been championing the work of Mother Groups and has carried out a study of their success. | It has been championing the work of Mother Groups and has carried out a study of their success. |
| Now the Malawian government has agreed to similar initiatives in all schools. | Now the Malawian government has agreed to similar initiatives in all schools. |
| The Mothers Groups aim to encourage women and men in local communities to support the rights of young women to a decent education. | The Mothers Groups aim to encourage women and men in local communities to support the rights of young women to a decent education. |
| Through training parents and senior members of the community, Mother Groups can successfully tackle the barriers which prevent girls in Malawi from going to school Charles Fawcett Project co-ordinator class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8250337.stm">Giving goals to girls in Malawi | |
| A number of barriers face girls attending school in Malawi, including poverty, violence and threat to their safety. | A number of barriers face girls attending school in Malawi, including poverty, violence and threat to their safety. |
| The groups work with the leaders of local tribes in order to encourage a culture where the education of young women is viewed as a positive thing. | The groups work with the leaders of local tribes in order to encourage a culture where the education of young women is viewed as a positive thing. |
| A delegation of pupils and teachers from North Lanarkshire schools has visited Malawi annually in recent years. | A delegation of pupils and teachers from North Lanarkshire schools has visited Malawi annually in recent years. |
| Charles Fawcett, a retired deputy head teacher who now works on the council's Healthy Lifestyles project, carried out an evaluation of the success of the Mothers Groups. | Charles Fawcett, a retired deputy head teacher who now works on the council's Healthy Lifestyles project, carried out an evaluation of the success of the Mothers Groups. |
| His recommendations that they be extended have been accepted by the Ministry of Education in Malawi. | His recommendations that they be extended have been accepted by the Ministry of Education in Malawi. |
| Tackling barriers | Tackling barriers |
| He said: "Often families struggle to find money for school fees, uniforms and books and are forced to choose between educating a boy or a girl - so often the girl in the family will miss out on schooling. | He said: "Often families struggle to find money for school fees, uniforms and books and are forced to choose between educating a boy or a girl - so often the girl in the family will miss out on schooling. |
| "Our report has found that through training parents and senior members of the community, Mother Groups can successfully tackle the barriers which prevent girls in Malawi from going to school." | "Our report has found that through training parents and senior members of the community, Mother Groups can successfully tackle the barriers which prevent girls in Malawi from going to school." |
| Children in Malawi were sent resource from schools in North Lanarkshire | Children in Malawi were sent resource from schools in North Lanarkshire |
| Hazel Manda, divisional education manager in Malawi's Shire Highlands education division, said: "This project has a very positive effect on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, and gender inequality. | Hazel Manda, divisional education manager in Malawi's Shire Highlands education division, said: "This project has a very positive effect on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, and gender inequality. |
| "The Groups also help reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases and ensure a sustainable environment." | "The Groups also help reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases and ensure a sustainable environment." |
| Ian Grant, a former pupil at Rosehall High School in Coatbridge who now works with the council's Healthy Lifestyles team, has visited Malawi twice. | Ian Grant, a former pupil at Rosehall High School in Coatbridge who now works with the council's Healthy Lifestyles team, has visited Malawi twice. |
| He said: "It's amazing to see the difference these projects North Lanarkshire is supporting can make. | He said: "It's amazing to see the difference these projects North Lanarkshire is supporting can make. |
| "The first time I went to Malawi it was a very hard-hitting and emotional experience." | "The first time I went to Malawi it was a very hard-hitting and emotional experience." |
| He added: "To go back a second time and see the development and progress that has been made, and everything click into place, was fantastic. | He added: "To go back a second time and see the development and progress that has been made, and everything click into place, was fantastic. |
| "The response from the young people out there was really great." | "The response from the young people out there was really great." |