Fund raiser to meet Malawi leader

Mar 18 2013

A schoolgirl blogger and charity fund raiser will meet the president of Malawi during a week of celebrations marking 200 years since the birth of explorer David Livingstone.

Martha Payne, 10, a pupil at Lochgilphead Primary School in Argyll, has raised more than £129,000 for the Scottish-based charity Mary's Meals, which provides food for children in Malawi.

Her blog, NeverSeconds, attracted millions of hits last year as she documented her school dinners amid controversy from Argyll and Bute Council.

After visiting the south-east African country last year with her family to meet the children to benefit from the money she raised, Martha will now meet president Dr Joyce Banda.

The Scotland and Malawi: Livingstone's Living Legacy event in Edinburgh on Monday will celebrate the continued relationship between the two countries which was first established by Dr David Livingstone, who travelled to Africa 150 years ago as a missionary.

Olivia Giles, the chief executive of 500 miles, a Scottish charity which supports amputees and other disabled people in Malawi and Zambia, will also be introduced to Dr Banda.

Ms Giles worked as a lawyer in Edinburgh before she had both lower legs and both lower arms amputated after contracting meningitis.

On her arrival, Dr Banda said: "This is a momentous occasion for both Malawi and Scotland. My visit to this historical country seeks to deepen the relationship that has existed between Malawi and Scotland since Dr Livingstone visited our country."