Official Opening of Ubale Bridge & Ground Breaking Ceremony.

The 3rd October 2009 a very special day in the Chesney Trust calendar and what a day it proved to be - fantastic! The ceremonies were due to begin at 09.00am but in true Malawian style it was some time after 11.00am before we were underway.  The purple and white cloth of Chesney Trust, Tshirts, purple and white balloons much in evidence.

The ceremony was attended by several cabinet ministers including Hon. Goodall Gondwe, Minister of Local Government, Inkosi Mtwalo (the chief of Mzimba region), Inkosana Lazaro Jere our local chief, the District Commisioner, the Divisional Education and District Education Managers, Village Head Men, and local dignatories - a long list.
The bridge was officially opened by Hon. Catherine Gotani Hara M.P., Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Community Development.  The ribbon was cut and the plaque unveiled to much cheering and dancing by the local community.  We then walked across the bridge with the TV cameras, radio and press journalists recording the events.  It was then into the vehicles for the drive up the hill to the site for the school.
When we arrived the contractor was still busily trying to have everything in place - they had from the 3rd September to get organised but hey this is Malawi where time is not important - "don't worry Madam, we'll be ready " is phrase I hear all too often but my some miracle we always seem to get there and in the end everything was ready and the guest of honour donned her white protective coat and proceeded to dig up several shovel fulls of earth and the ground breaking was completed.

The contractor had a display board with the plans for the school and drawings of the buildings and he anwered many questions from the M.P's and others.  Hon. Gotani Hara was particularly interested in what hostel provision would be in place and was delighted with the planned hostel accommmodation.  Hon Goodal Gondwe was concerend with the water supply and has now promised to assist in providing piped water to  the area.  This will benenfit the school and also the local community who presently obtain their water from shallow wells.  The Education Managers wanted know about pupil selection and were very happy to learn of our plans to include hearing impaired, orphans and poor children who would otherwise be denied an education.

Interviews were carried out by all the press in attendance and sometime this week it will be on TV Malawi news with a possible documentary on the work of the Trust in the area.
With the formal part of the occasion over it was off to the football ground at Engcongolweni for the entertainment and speeches.  The children from the two local primary schools performed dramas, recitations, dancing and the choir sang a thank you to the Chesney Trust for the project of the school, for the bridge and for the maize mill.  Hopefully we will have this on the website in the near future .
With the speeches over it was time for lunch and then off home to relax.  Relaxation didn't come easily as I think I've been running on adrenalin for the past week but it was such a rewarding day and the culmination of two years work at this end and some very hard work fundraising in Scotland.
We have started ..................so we'll fininsh and we will be updating regularly on the construction that will soon be underway - the contractor is currrently measuring out and marking the foundation lines so watch this space...............................
Janet