International Links - Malawian Visit April 2008
Noel's Diary: Lipenga School, Chiwoko CDSS
This is an extract from Noel’s diary. Noel is pictured at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery with Elvis and leading the race, below left.
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Noel with "Elvis" and leading the race |
Saturday 22 March 2008: Travel from Malawi to Scotland
We arrived at Glasgow Airport where Norrie Hay and Angela Porter welcomed us. I was very happy when they welcomed us- it was good to see them after our long flight. I was surprised at the weather – it was cold and it was snowing, still I couldn’t believe that it was me arriving in Scotland. Then we left for Glasgow youth hostel where we were shown our rooms in our own flat! In the evening we had our dinner in the Youth hostel, it was delicious, I really liked it.
Sunday 23 March 2008: Open Top Bus Tour and Cinema
We had our breakfast in the morning, then Angela and Loraine Henderson met us and we left for an open top bus tour around the city of Glasgow where we saw many interesting and various things for example we saw the Armidillo, the Peoples Palace, bridges and the Art Gallery. We also went to the cinema where we watched a film titled 10,000 BC - it was a good movie and I really enjoyed it. In the evening we had our lunch in the youth hostel and the meal was delicious.
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Malawian students training with Shettleston Harriers |
Monday 24 March 2008: Shopping for athletics shoes -Tour around National Football Stadium at Hampden and museum
In the morning we had our breakfast then Norrie and Philippa came and picked us up to go shopping for athletic shoes. After buying the shoes we had a walk around the shops and we had our photographs taken holding birds like eagles and owls. We also visited the National Football Stadium at Hampden and the museum there. I really enjoyed visiting the football stadium because I had never ever been at such a big beautiful stadium and one of the most famous football stadiums in the world. I also enjoyed visiting the museum where we were told more about the history of Scottish Football.
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Touring the City |
Tuesday 25 March 2008: First day at Bellahouston Academy and the Glasgow School of Sport. Shettleston Harriers Athletics Club Training
In the morning we had our breakfast and then Norrie came to pick us up and take us to school at Bellahouston Academy. It was my first time to be at an academy school. I met the Head Teacher and then went to my registration class and followed the same timetable as the athletes at the school of sport. I learnt Geography, Technological Studies and then we had our first athletics session. We went to Kelvin Hall for Technical events, which were long jump, shot putt and sprinting starts. Then we went back to GSOS and had our lunch and afternoon subjects. I was surprised to see pupils moving from one class to another as in Malawi we have all our lessons in one room and the teachers move, not pupils. Our classes are much, much bigger there are more than 80 pupils in our classes. My highlight though was the athletics training. In the evening we went to Shettleston Harriers Club where we also trained.
A short mp3 audio file containing an interview with Angela Porter on this project has been provided.
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A document has been provided detailing the timetable that scholarship athlete Joel Lipenga followed.
Joel's Timetable (PDF 999k)
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At the Armadillo and in the City centre |
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Three girls were selected to take part in the athletics scholarship programme to the Glasgow School of Sport. The girls were interviewed during their visit to Glasgow and you can listen to this interview on our podcast page.
Mwayi Phalazi would like to share her experiences of the scholarship and Glasgow with you.
Myayi Phalazi
My name is Mwayi Phalazi, I am 14years old and I attend Chiwoko Community Day Secondary School.
My teacher is Madame Mhango and she teaches me science and takes me for sports after school. Where I come from in Malawi there are no schools of sport or running tracks. Netball and football are the most popular sports.
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(Clockwise from top-left) Mwayi with her classmates from Bellahouston Academy, getting used to the eagles and owls, the 3 girls chosen (from left to right - Lennie Sindani, Marium Salimu and Mwayi Phalazi) and at Kelvinhall with her team mates from Malawi and the Glasgow School of Sport |
My Geography teacher first told me about the athletics competition. Over 300 pupils in my school took part and I was very excited when I was one of the top six pupils to go on to the regional competition.
This day was held at Kumuzu Institute of Sport and there were many pupils from other schools. I couldn’t believe that I was one of the lucky six to come to the Glasgow school of sport in Scotland
Our country is very different from Scotland and our school is very different. For example there are no tall buildings, only main roads in Malawi are tarred and there is no snow! Our food is very simple and we have the same food daily. I have enjoyed all the different foods in Scotland but I am looking forward to having some nsima! Nsima is like hard porridge made from maize and we love it!
I have been doing lots of athletics and think that I am improving. I have lots of new training ideas and skills that I can take home with me. I hope one day that I will compete for my country.
I would like to be a doctor when I leave school and have enjoyed all the subjects that we have had at school in Glasgow. Everything is so different and I have enjoyed learning.
I have enjoyed all the cultural and social activities that have been organised. Everyone has been very friendly and kind. They have been giving us lots of gifts like clothes.
My favourite activity apart from athletics was sledging. When I go home I will have lots of memories to share with my family and friends.
Thank you everyone for making this possible.
