Raising Awareness
In 2021 – 2022 the SMP worked hard across its social media platforms to amplify members’ work and that of the Scottish Government (SG), in particular around the SG’s new International Development Principles. Particular credit must go to our Communications lead, Jade Stein, for her excellent work!
During this year we had some impressive communications successes, including:
- Over 1 million Twitter impressions
- 385 articles in the local and national press in Scotland about the bilateral relationship, 92% of which were positive in tone: that’s an average of more than one Malawi news story every day! (full details here)
- 98% of SMP Members consulted said they believe the SMP helped maintain awareness & understanding amongst key stakeholders of governmental and civil society work with Malawi
- 1,655 people received our weekly online newsletter - opened over 19,000 times
- 100,000 page views of the SMP website with over 41,000 new visitors
- Over 400,000 Facebook impressions
- Over 1,200 Instagram followers
- 30,00 LinkedIn impressions
- 58 new Videos produced with over 79,000 views (All available at here)
We challenged two hugely inspiring women, Hazel and Chimzy (their own Scotland-Malawi partnership, in microcosm!) to explore the bilateral relationship through dozens of chats with Malawian and Scottish representatives, from primary school teachers to the President. With over, 1,700 downloads and 5-star reviews, the 11 episodes of their ‘People-to-People’podcast were a fresh take on multiple facets of the bilateral relationship, giving space for key, sensitive topics to be discussed from fresh perspectives.
Between May and July 2021, the SMP encouraged its members and supporters to vote for Professor Samson Kambalu’s statue, ‘Antelope’, to be exhibited on the Fourth Plinth of Trafalgar Square. We were successful and Samson’s statue was selected to be installed in Trafalgar Square for two years from September 2022.
Prof Kambalu’s bronze statue represents the pan-Africanist John Chilembwe (1871-1915), a key figure in the resistance to colonialism in Nyasaland (now Malawi). Beside him, on a smaller scale, stands the European missionary John Chorley.
John Chilembwe is depicted wearing a hat: a potent symbol given, during colonial rule, Malawians were expected to remove their headwear when passing, or in the presence of, a European; as well as stopping and standing to one side. This courtesy was seldom acknowledged or returned by a European, hence the justified outrage.
Trafalgar Square (like many parts of Scotland) has numerous statues and memorials celebrating British colonial power. We strongly support ‘Antelope’ as an occupant of the fourth plinth: a powerful commemoration of anti-colonial resistance.
Prof Kambalu has had his own ‘Scotland-Malawi partnership’ for over 20 years now (!), having met his wife Susan Kambalu (a Scot) in Malawi while she was working at Kachere Books with (SMP member) Scottish Churches World Exchange.
During this reporting period, with support from commercial sponsor Orbis Expeditions, the SMP also brokered the loan of the maquette ‘Ghost Antelope’ to the Scottish Parliament, where it will be on public display from August ’22 to the end of October.
Read more here.