Danish students to build library in Rumphi District

Students from Odsherreds Boarding High School in Denmark have provided K3.5 million for the construction of a library at Chikwawa Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Rumphi District.

Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid (NCA/DCA) coordinated the contacts between Chikwawa and Odsherreds schools and concerned about the sad state of the school, the Danish students decided to construct a library.

In an interview on Tuesday, Chikwawa CDSS head teacher James Phiri thanked the students for their assistance.

He said: “As a school, we are grateful. Our library and school are in dilapidated condition. Again, our library is in the administration block which houses the staff room.

“This makes it difficult for students to access it. The new library will change everything.”

Phiri also bemoaned the shortage of desks which forces students to sit on the floor during lessons.

Speaking on behalf of Chikwawa CDSS students, Tenson Sibale said the new library will motivate them to work hard.

He called upon fellow students to own and take good care of the library once it is constructed.

Elias Nyboe Thorning, representative of the Danish students, said they decided to help their fellow students with books and a new library to help improve their reading culture.

The Danish students also donated 246 books and sports jerseys to the school.

NCA/DCA will facilitate the procurement of new books once the library completed.

The school is one of the oldest in the district, but it is in bad shape.

Each year, Odsherreds students visit Malawi to interact and exchange culture with their fellow students as well as appreciating projects implemented by NCA/DCA with their partners.

The school, which has 330 students, was donated to government in 2003 after the owner failed to run it as a private school