30 May 2013 Aileen McDonald - Active Youth Initiative for Social Engagement in Malawi

Guest speaker at last week's meeting was Aileen McDonald who talked about her trip to Malawi last year to which the club had contributed financial support.

Aileen was one of 11 students from the Glasgow University Student Volunteers Abroad group who spent 10 weeks last summer working in Malawi helping at local schools, orphan care centres, encouraging the youngsters to become involved in different sports, and helping to build an HIV / AIDS Clinic. The education of local people who were affected by this condition formed an important part of the group's time there, including taking part in HIV testing which Aileen said was emotionally very challenging. Another area of local life they became involved in was gender equality, which was still a big issue in many parts of the country.

Aileen thanked the club for their help and was pleased to note that her sister had also been given a grant for her trip to South Africa later this summer.

In response to one of many questions, Aileen was able to confirm the project was monitored on an on-going basis and all money donated went to the charity to fund project work. Glen Montgomery proposed the vote of thanks.

In other business, John Kilby reported on a very successful outcome at last Saturday's Duck Race and coffee morning and crepe stall and thanked all those who had taken part in the arrangements. Some of the winners had come along earlier to be presented with their prizes.

The surprise of the evening was when President Iain Smith announced the award of a Paul Harris Fellowship to member Jill Adams for her exceptional work in getting the Interact Club set up at Queen Victoria School. Jill was (almost) speechless but thanked the club for this very great honour.