Richard has worked with Mary's Meals for 4 years, and he reminded the club of the insight that the founder, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, had when he visited a poor village in Malawi some 11 years ago. He saw the short term need to feed hungry children, many of whose parents had died or were dying from AIDS, but he also saw the medium term need to find a way out of their long term poverty. His simple but inspired solution was to provide a nutritious meal for children when they attended school, as education was the route map out of poverty. Four years ago, the charity he founded was providing 300,000 meals a day and currently that has grown to almost 800,000 a day, in 16 countries.
Richard said that the average cost of feeding a child for a whole school year was only
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The first round of this national competition was held in St Columba’s School, Kilmacolm on Monday 27th November. Seven teams competed, four in the Intermediate age category and three in the Senior category
moreClimate Change series- eminent speakers from around the UK in the months leading up to and following the COP26 summit in Glasgow in November 2021
moreDespite Covid the club has maintained its competitions and projects with local schools Hundreds have taken part and enjoyed some success at local, District and National levels!
moreLong distance walking route - the length of the Gryffe Valley from the source of the river near Loch Thom to Linwood
moreYoung Chefs from Gryffe High, St Benedict’s High and St Columba’s School met in Gryffe High on the 29th November to compete in the first stage of this Rotary GB and I competition
moreTo encourage walking in the local environment, we are promoting local walking groups, publishing local walking routes and creating the Gryffe Valley Way, a walking route the length of the River Gryffe.
moreTo support disabled sailing for wheelchair users at Castle Semple Loch Gryffe Valley Rotary purchased a special powered Wheelyboat to enabled those in wheelchairs to get out onto the water.
moreThe club organises outings for groups of Renfrewshire Young Carers, with activities followed by a meal and drink. Some years we visited Xscape at Braehead, Hillington for the electric go-karts, and then Castle Semple Loch
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