THREE apprentices from Glasgow are to travel to Malawi on a two-week mercy mission to upgrade a ‘vital’ community health clinic.
Phoebe Ali and Craig Butler, both 19 and Cameron Moir, 20 will join a team of City Building tradesmen and women volunteering in the capital, Lliongwe as part of a charity initiative run by Glasgow’s Lord Provost.
The project will take two weeks in total with a complete makeover and refurbishment taking place.
They will be carrying out major works to a community health clinic, which was built by City Building at Kamuzu District Hospital in 2010.
More than 10,000 patients have been treated since then and been given the chance to undergo life-changing rehabilitation.
The apprentices were picked from a group of 30 apprentices after a strict interview process and will also be installing plumbing and electrical systems for a prosthetics and orthotics department and upgrading the current residential facility for children with cerebral palsy.
Phoebe said: “I’d just left my 5th year of high school and I signed an application form with Glasgow Guarantee.
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“They took me in, interviewed me and they done a mathematic test, literacy test then finally a practical test. I got employed and I’ve now been with them for the last three years.”
A series of fundraising events will be organised to fund the trip, including a charity cycle and a five-a-side football tournament.
Craig said: “It’s an opportunity to give back to people who are less fortunate than me and haven’t had the opportunities I was given.
“It’s an experience and an eye opener to see a different part of the world and apply my trade over there.”
City Building was established back in 2006 and operates Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi) which employs more than 250 people, 50 per cent of whom have a disability.
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They also hold the title of the largest employer of apprentices in Scotland, training over 250 apprentices in a variety of construction trades.
Dr Graham Paterson, executive director at City Building said: “I’m thrilled City Building is heading back to Malawi. Staff first made the journey in 2007 to build an AIDS testing facility. I’m proud to say, our apprentices have always featured on these trips.”
The Lord Provost said: “City Building’s commitment and contribution to the welfare of the people of Malawi is hugely appreciated.
“The work they do makes such a huge different, improving the quality of life and opportunities available to some of the planet’s poorest people.”
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