Chesney Trust
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- Member since: November 2008
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- www.bebo.com/TheChesneyTrust
- Tagline
- Promoting Education for Girls in Malawi
- Me, Myself, and I
- The Chesney Trust exists to help girls in Malawi receive a quality education. We aim to build a secondary school near Ekwendeni in the north of the country where there aren't the facilities to allow many girls to continue learning past primary level. In building the school we will also help the local community by introducing improved infrastructure such as bridges, roads, a reliable, clean water supply and employment for people from the surrounding villages. We believe that educating girls can be one of the most effective ways to help countries reach their potential.
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Greetings from the Chesney Trust's man in Malawi!
Monire everyone, Chris here.
As most Chesney Trust enthusiasts will know, our dear CEO, Mamma Janet Chesney, has had to return to Scotland for a few months. I was asked to come out in her place to keep an eye on things and in particular to make sure our three groups of volunteers who came/are coming to work on the site were looked after. I arrived at the end of June and only have two weeks to go which is unbelievable, the time has passed incredibly quickly, as it does when you're busy!
The volunteers have so far been absolutely tremendous! The first group came from Putney High School. They arrived 9 July and stayed for about a week. Thanks to the fantastic kindness of the headteacher of the local primary school, Mr Baxter Gondwe, they were given terrific accommodation, far better than I think they had expected. They were allowed to use one of the school's classrooms to sleep in, which was better in terms of security and shelter than the tents they had thought they would use, and which also had an electrical socket in it, woooo, fancy! The school had also constructed these absolutely brilliant outdoor shower cubicles using dried grass to give them some privacy for washing. On top of that, there is a bore hole nearby and an abundance of pupils to fetch water for the visitors – not that they expected or particularly wanted the pupils to fetch their water but local hospitality wouldn't allow their guests to do this for themselves! Even better than all this is that the school had some new, unused pit latrines which they kindly opened for the visitors so that they wouldn't have to do their business in the same ones used by the school, which are, to be honest, pretty ripe.
With all these luxuries, there really was no excuse for the girls not to get stuck in to work at the site. And no excuses were needed because they absolutely got stuck in! We had a number of jobs that needed to be done which were: clearing the bush in the area where we hope to start building some classrooms in the very near future, painting a building we've already constructed to house a maize mill, clearing the bush around the perimeter of the site and digging holes so that when the rains come we can plant our jacaranda trees to mark out the school site, and making mud bricks for the contractor to use when he builds the school. Having watched some of our local friends making the bricks, the group decided they couldn't match the pace of those guys and decided that their time would be better spent on the other activities. They did a fantastic job of painting the maize mill, although time didn't allow them to complete that particular task with all the liming, priming, undercoating etc. and the time it takes for each of these stages to dry. They also cleared a frankly astonishing area of the bush around where our first classrooms will go. Everyone who saw them was amazed at their prowess with slashers and phanga knives! Both of these jobs are really important to the project and help to demonstrate to the local community that the Trust continues to work hard on the getting the school started and are serious about assisting in developing the surrounding area. So many, many thanks to the Putney High School girls for their exceptional contribution to our work in Malawi.
I need to get on with some other stuff just now so I'll finish there but be ready for more updates in the coming days and weeks, including reports on the next excellent group of volunteers we had who came from Queen Victoria and Longridge Towers Schools and a little bit more about what I've been doing with my time.
Yewo chomene
Chris0 Comments 129 days
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Fundraising Ceilidh - Saturday 20th June
Fundraising Ceilidh
in aid of the Chesney Trust for Education in Malawi
Saturday 20th June 2009, 7.30pm
Our Lady & St George’s Parish Hall
50 Sandwood Road, Glasgow, G52 2QE
Tickets £7.50 (£5 concessions) on the door or by making a donation at www.chesneytrust.org/donatenow.html
Music, Dancing, Raffle
Nibbles with a Malawian Theme
Bring Your Own Bottle!
For more information contact
patrick@chesneytrust.org or
treasurer@chesneytrust.org
0 Comments 213 days
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Drifters Concert
Concert by The Drifters, yes the Drifters, in aid of the Chesney Trust!!!
Sunday 15th February 2009 at 7.30 p.m.
The Performing Arts Centre
Stewart's Melville College, Edinburgh
Tickets £22/£18 from 0131 311 1100
If you know anyone who would like to attend, tickets are available from the above number.
http://www.thedrifters.co.uk0 Comments 322 days
DAY 7 : Left the bunkhouse at 9.30am to torrential rain. Once we reached the top of the hill leading out of Kinlochleven we were getting hit with 60mph gusts, which lasted for about 8 miles. Hangover was cured quickly! Arrived in FW about 5.30 pm to champagne in flute glasses. Some even managed a final sprint. Once you see FW coming out of the forest, it seems to get further away! Enjoyed the whole week. Would certainly do it again. Next up, the Great Glen Way, in May!
DAY 6 : Got taxi from Glencoe village up to The Kingshouse. Set off approx 10am. Felt good the whole day, even managed the Staircase in 20 minutes without stopping. Half way up, Colin offered me water as we were climbing. I think i just growled at him! Had a good craic with the crowd at the Tailrace Inn. that night. The Jack Daniels were getting hammered. Unfortunately for the non campers, it was a climb to the bunkhouse! Last day tomorrow.
DAY 5 : Left Tyndrum 9.15am. Matt was on cooking duty in the hostel. That much smoke, i thought the fire brigade were going to arrive! Great walk to Bridge of Orchy at lunchtime. Long walk from there into The Kingshouse in Glencoe. All made it, but pain starting to show on some. Clachaig Inn for dinner. The reception has a plaque, NO CAMPBELLS! Made my day! Kinlochleven tomorrow and the dreaded Devils Staircase. See how we go.
DAY 4 : Left the wendy house at 9.30am and wandered through the drizzle. 12 miler today. To Tyndrum. Arrived 3.30ish on my own. Didn't want to stop for break, so i ventured on. Enjoyed it today. Hostel is great, By The Way is the name. Recommended. Evening in Paddys pleasant as well. Matt dancing to These Boots Were Made for Walking stole the show. Watch out for next series of Strictly Come Dancing! 20 miler tomorrow. As a MacDonald, looking for some revenge for Glencoe! Please stay dry over the Rannoch!
DAY 3 : Rowardennan to Inversnaid was pleasant and dry. Inversnaid to the top of the loch was extremely unpleasant. Twists, turns and uneven footing, but the remainder made it to Bein Glas. We stayed the night in a wigwam for 4. I reckon 2 folk was a squeeze. Went to The Drovers and Joe from the Lomond folkies came up and gave us a few tunes. Top night. Tyndrum next!
DAY 2 : Shorter day today. Reached Rowardennan. Only occasional showers. Some scenic pictures taken. Graeme calling it a day. His feet in a bit of a mess. Heading for macaroni in the hotel. Longer day tomorrow takes us to Inverarnan at the top of Loch Lomond. Great scenery. Hopefull dry. Only two snorers left. Ipod on charge just in case. DW.
DAY 1 : One word, rain. Was a slog of a 20 miles in that weather, but made it. The Conic Hill i never want to see again. Unfortunately pictures aren't great and will post later on. The bunkhouse even had a game of twister there. Needless to say, no participants. Recommend the Balmaha Bunkhouse. Fairly new and spotless. About to leave on day 2. Shorter day. Thankfully!
4 days to go. Meeting in The Doghouse tonight to go through everything. Its actually an excuse to go out for a drink! It hasn't rained in 5 days now! Should i have said that? Jason told us to get Neurofen pain gel. Raymond just looked at him!
3 weeks today is the start of the walk. Just hoping the weather picks up. Can't remember the last dry day. Spending most time when not in work, at the gym. Secret is not sitting down when you come home from work! A few big walks on each Saturday before the main event and we should be ok. One thing still to be purchased : a midge net! 5 others doing the walk with me : Raymond (whose been told he won't finish it by nearly everybody outwith the group!), Colin, Jason (regular Ray Mears outdoor types), Matt (aged 61 and runs every 10K thats going!) and his son Graeme. Everyone looking forward to it. Keep you posted! DW.
Morning folks. As a follow on from message below. Planning on starting the WHW on the 21st September if i can book hostels etc...Looking 2 start looking 4 sponsorship and there seems 2 b a popular website, Justgiving.com that is a platform 2 raise funds. Reckon a lot more people would donate through this arrangement and any future fund raising efforts. I believe they make their money by claiming 5% of the tax reclaim allowance. Don't know if there r other charges involved but a lot of charities r registered with them. Might b worth thinking about. If not, the pen and paper method of chasing folk is just as good, although the net might not stretch as far. Hope all is going well. Best Regards. DW.
Message for Janet. Cant reply to last mail sent. We have'nt met, but i bumped into Emma in Balloch a few weeks ago. She told me what you're going to achieve. If i can fund raise in anyway, i will. Please say hello to Emma when you speak to her. Best Regards DW.