Malawi celebration day at Dundee's Ninewells Community Garden
Garden guests at the celebration event sampled traditional Malawian food, played drums, danced to music and heard stories from health professionals about how this partnership has shaped lives and influenced health and education services in both countries.
We were delighted to support the first exciting event from our Youth event competition winners at the Ninewells Community Garden in Dundee on May 28th.
As well as celebrating existing Scotland-Malawi links, the event marked the beginning of new partnerships between schools in Dundee and Blantyre in Malawi.
It was jointly organised by students from the University of Dundee’s Global Health Partnerships society and NHS Tayside with support from the One World Centre and Just Trading Scotland.
Dundee pupils from the Law Nursery, St Ninian’s Primary and Rosebank RC Primary also attended on the day to help plant the first seeds in the garden and learn more about their new school partnerships.
The idea to create the new patch was developed by students from the University of Dundee and staff from NHS Tayside. At the celebration event, garden guests were able to sample traditional Malawian food, play drums, dance to music and hear stories from health professionals about how this partnership has shaped lives and influenced health and education services in both countries.
Funding was awarded by the Scotland Malawi Partnership (SMP) earlier this year, following a Youth Event Competition which was supported by the National Lottery Year of Young People fund.
A group of medical students from the University of Dundee were one of the winning entrants of the competition who received £500 and support from the SMP Youth Committee for their event. Entrants were all SMP youth members of and were actively involved in organising the event.
Catriona Grant, a fourth-year medical student from the University of Dundee, said that Ninewells Community Garden was the perfect place to showcase Scotland’s friendship with Malawi.
“It’s really important to celebrate the bond that exists between our countries,” she said. “We share in this bond of humanity. Dundee has a great history and continues to share knowledge and life-saving medicines and techniques.
“The plot will become home to flowers and vegetables such as beans and maize which also grow in Malawi. This will be an ideal spot for anyone from the local community to come and relax and enjoy the fresh air while celebrating the connection Dundee has to Malawi.”
David Hope-Jones, Chief Executive of the SMP, said: “Each year, more young Scots get involved in the 160-year-old friendship between Scotland and Malawi. With more than 45% of the population of Malawi under the age of 15, youth leadership is more important than ever.
“We are delighted to be supporting young people in Scotland to host events that celebrate the heritage and culture of Scotland and Malawi’s partnership. There is fantastic energy and creativity around young people that have had the chance to build friendships with Malawi.”
The garden is free to visit and is open to all.
WATCH: Have a look at our video from the day below!
GALLERY: Have a look at our photos from the celebration event!
