THE communities of Innerleithen, Walkerburn and Traquair have agreed to strengthen an ongoing partnership with a town in Malawi.

Through a Church of Scotland Congregational link stretching back eight years, residents from the areas have come together with a range of fundraising events for the community of Thondwe, in the south of the country.

Following a visit in October 2016 from Rev Picklen Chafulumira, an agreement has been made to strengthen the connection and an action plan launched to promote mutual learning, friendship and development. 

Denis Robson from the Thondwe Partnership told the Border Telegraph: “At the time there was a growing food crisis in Malawi due to failed rains and empty harvests. So the priority for the partnership was for an emergency humanitarian response to provide maize for 30 of the most vulnerable families in the community to see them through the “hunger months” until the next harvest.

“This call to action prompted a generous response from a wide section of the community and over £3,000 was raised from the church congregation, St Ronan’s Primary School, the local Rotary Club in Innerleithen and numerous individual donations. 

“All the money raised was used to purchase 9000kg of maize that was delivered in monthly consignments directly to Thondwe.

“The food provided improves people’s states of affairs and many receive it with a spirit of humbleness because they wouldn’t imagine how they would fare through these hard times.”

Thanks to the generosity of Peeblesshire residents, work has begun on a programme to build resilience into the economy with an attempt to break the cycle of food insecurity.

Denis added: “Together this will be achieved through improved farming methods on a five acre church garden that promises to deliver a bumper harvest in two weeks.”

The work has also gained the support of two Innerleithen businesses, No 1 Peebles Road Cafe and Number Six Hair Design.

The Rotary Club in Innerleithen has also raised money to build a library at the local primary school which has 2,000 learners.

Works are nearing completion and the club is continuing to raise money to install solar energy to light up the building.

For more details, email Denis Robson at: denisjrobson@gmail.com, or visit the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/InnerleithenWalkerburnTraquairThondwePartnership.