The pupils in the school were very active in the school meals project ‘Mary’s Meals’ in previous years. At a recent Assembly we gave them an update about the East Ayrshire School Mbinda that came about as a direct result of the school meals project where every meal purchased in schools benefited the community in Malawi.

The school were approached by one of the local church represnetatives to ask if we would like a visit from some Malawian farmers who faces a lot of challenges compared to farmers in countries like our own.

Howard Msukwa and Susan Ntende visited Scotland all the way from Kaporo Smallholder Farmers Association in Malawi, to talk to the pupils in Kirkstyle. They described their farming life in producing rice which they currently sell through stalls at churches across Scotland.

The pupils learned about the demands of farming without machinery, using hand held tools in temperatures of 35-40 degree heat, in a climate that is unpredictable and irregular in its rain patterns.

We hope that this experience has allowed the pupils to consider Fair Trade items when shopping and appreciate the hard work and effort that goes into producing these items.