Scottish Catholic Observer

Pupils and staff from the school were inspired to improve the lives of disabled children in Malawi after they visited the country in 2014.

Out of the African visit, St Ambrose’s Bricks For Malawi project was born and spurred the pupils’ fundraising efforts. The group set up a just-giving page and organised various events such as a strictly come dancing competition and a camel race. The result was a total of £14,500 raised to build a medical assessment centre for the disabled children of Malawi.

Antoinette Millar, principal teacher of business at St Ambrose, paid tribute to the work of her pupils.

“Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, and now babies who are born in Malawi will have the opportunity to have their lives radically transformed,” she said. “These children can now be assessed immediately at birth and the impact of their disabilities will be reduced and their lives vastly improved.

“The group would like to think everyone involved in this venture including, pupils, parents, sponsors and staff who have given so generously of their time and money since September of last year to help achieve this wonderful target.”

The foundations for the new medical centre are currently being laid, with North Lanarkshire charity Aiming Higher in Malawi discussing plans with Sr Anna Tommasi, an Italian Franciscan nun who has worked in Malawi for more than a decade. It is hoped the project will be completed by October of this year.

North Lanarkshire Provost Jim Robertson, who had visited the school’s work in Malawi twice before, came to St Ambrose and accepted the cheque on behalf of Aiming Higher in Malawi.

—[email protected]

—This story ran in full in the May 22 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.