A sponsorship link-up between Forth Valley College and Stirling Fairtrade Steering Group will help a Malawian student to pay his way through college.
Mathews Mwamlima (pictured) who is from Mlinda Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kilupula Karonga North East, Malawi, will now have his Diploma in Business Management at the University of Malawi sponsored by FVC, with individuals connected with the Stirling Fairtrade Steering Group taking care of his accommodation and living expenses
The announcement of the sponsorship comes just after the 2019 Fairtrade Fortnight celebrations across the whole of the UK. Forth Valley College have been heavily involved in promoting the ethos of Fairtrade and were the first college in Scotland to attain Fair Trade status, in 2011.
Lisa Hachemi, Chair of FVC’s Fairtrade Committee, said: “We are delighted to help sponsor Mathews. His mother approached a farmer called Howard Mskuwa in Malawi who has visited the UK as part of the Fairtrade Fortnight activities and asked if he knew of anyone who would be able to support him throughout this studies. Howard contacted Jon Cape from Stirling Fairtrade Steering Group who then linked with me to see if we were able to help sponsor him.
“Mathews is from an extremely poor family and he was lucky enough to secure a place at university, but due to the death of his cousin (who was going to sponsor his studies) he was going to have to withdraw his application. It was agreed that FVC would sponsor Mathews education through Fairtrade fundraising and and Jon would find sponsors for his accommodation and living expenses.”
Mathews, said: “Since education is a key to success, that is the influencing factor for me to continue with my studies, I am also the only son in my family who has managed study at university. My ambition when I have finished my diploma program is that I want to continue with a degree.”
Howard Msuka, said: “The one who was supposed to be supporting him was his late father who died a few weeks after he had started school. Matthews’ mother then came to ask me if I would buy her fridge, so that she can get money to pay the school. But it was not even enough. I am only a volunteer with eyes of sorrow with the way our children fail to proceed with education because of poverty.”
Jon Cape from Stirling Fairtrade Steering Group, said: “Fair Trade Stirling has been working closely with the Karonga rice growers in Malawi for several years now and when the request came through seeking help with Mathews’ education we were delighted to be able to make the connections.”