Mthunzi ZamScot group sing, dance and perform in Argyll

The Mthunzi and Lilanda Initiative (MALI), begun by the respected Argyll writer Marian Palliister (above), is now in its third year of cultural exchanges, bringing young Zambians to Scotland and young Scots to Zambia on alternate years.

2010 is the turn again of the Zambians to come here and Argyll is seeing – and hearing – quite a lot of these talented and charismatic young singers, dancers and performers.

The visits and the programme of free events the group perform are a sort of barter for donations – a regular fundraising exercise designed to further the aims of the charity.

MALI supports the education of vulnerable young people who live at the Mthunzi Centre on the outskirts of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. It also helps St Joseph’s, a school run by volunteers for vulnerable children in the parish of Lilanda, one of Lusaka’s areas of informal housing.

The young people were at Inveraray and Auchindrain in Mid Argyll today and can be seen in full concert at 7.00pm on 20th August at Lochgilphead Joint campus.

They are also fronting a Mthunzi Fun Day on 21st August at 12 noon, at Lochgilphead front green – and from what we saw of them today, delivering a fun day is something that comes naturally.

They will be giving other formal and  informal performances between now and then:

• on 1st August drumming and singing at St Margaret’s Roman Catholic Church in Lochgilphead – a key supporter both of the charity and of the cultural exchanges it enables
• at 1.30pm on 1st August, at the Dunardry Locks on the Crinan Canal
• and at Ardfern.

The word ‘Mthunzi’ means ‘shelter’ – which is what the Mthunzi Centre in Lusaka offers these great young people. The charity pays school and college fees as well as supporting the centre

You can help

• You can buy MALI Reality cards – sending greetings to friends and contributing to the education of young boys and girls at the Mthunzi Centre, at St Joseph’s School and at the Lonjedzani Projects for Girls. Email marian.pallister@zen.co.uk
• You can donate to MALI by standing order. Email marian.pallister@zen.co.uk
• You can donate direct through Just Giving, the secure online fundraising website with which MALI has now linked up.
• You can take on a personal challenge or run a fundraising event for MALI – channelling sponsorship and fundraising through setting up your own page on Just Giving.