< AGM related Archives – Mamie Martin Fund

Category: AGM related

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Welcome to our new Trustees

At our recent AGM we were delighted to report the election to our Board of two new Trustees. Matthew and Francesca are both much younger than the average age of the current Trustees – a welcome change! We need young voices and perspectives in the steering of our work.

Francesca has experience of work with grassroots NGOs and a strong interest in International Development. Matthew works for a clothing manufacturer with a focus on ethical trade. As such, he is very aware of the many issues facing women and children around the world. His current job in ‘social impact’ also involves managing donor projects and partnerhips. We are so pleased to have this level of expertise available to us now.

We say ‘thanks and see you later’ to the Trustees who have stepped down this year – Phil Wright, Mariot Dallas and Kate Jere. They each have strong connections with our work in Malawi and we hope to see them return to the Board at a later date.

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Issues facing girls going to school in Malawi

As an addendum to our AGM today, we want to share this recorded interview with you. During a recent visit by Howard Msukwa from Malawi to Scotland, he told us about some of the barriers to education faced by girls in Malawi. Class sizes in Malawian primary schools are very high with teachers often having to work with up to 120 children per group. As Howard says, it is difficult for children to concentrate in that situation. Without good exam results the children will not be selected for the better secondary schools. There are not enough secondary school places for all the primary school children in Malawi.

So by the time secondary school girls come to the attention of the Mamie Martin Fund they have already overcome huge obstacles. They face even more problems in schools which don’t have adequate toilet facilities for girls. 

The barriers faced are not only in school. Howard tells us about the attitudes of some families to girl-child education and the dangers of early marriage for young girls. While marriage under 18 is outlawed in Malawi, the law is not always applied, particularly in the North. Girls there are often in grave danger of being married before they have finished school. Howard says that the support provided by the Mamie Martin Fund is very important in keeping Malawian girls in school. ‘It sets the pace for role models in the villages.’ 

Howard is a rice farmer with KASFA, Kaporo Smallholder Farmers Association. They grow rice using co-operative irrigation methods and environmentally friendly farming techniques. Their rice is available in the UK as ‘Kilombero’ rice – our favourite rice! It is available from the One World Shop in Edinburgh and from Gavin’s Mill in the Glasgow area, among other outlets. 

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Being a Trustee for the Mamie Martin Fund

What do you think of when you hear ‘Trustee’? Those old men in top hats in Mary Poppins when there was a run on the bank? Twinsets and pearls and a long shiny table? Read on and I’ll tell you about being a Trustee for the Mamie Martin Fund.

Mariot Dallas

It’s a voluntary role with serious responsibilities. That could be daunting, but the Board is a team, and we work together. Each of us brings our experience and expertise to help make sure the Fund operates in line with our constitution and helps girls in schools in Malawi get their secondary education. We use your donations to pay their fees.

As Trustees, we commit to attending meetings, now mostly on Zoom. We share the responsibility for making sure we have productive and positive discussions and that we spend your donations wisely.

I hope that doesn’t sound dull. It really isn’t. Meeting online means that our Malawian Advisers and our Malawi Country Director can join the meeting. Provided all the tech works well, we can hear firsthand about how your donations are being spent. My favourite times are when we hear about young women who have left school and are making their way in paid work because they have completed their secondary education.

As Trustees, we have decisions to make and reports to approve. For me, the financial oversight part of the role is challenging. Accounts and financial reports don’t speak to me but being part of a team means there is always someone to explain and clarify. As a Board, we talk through financial decisions carefully so that we are using your money responsibly and in line with our constitution.

We have to have a strategic plan, so that we can manage all the various tasks and responsibilities and priorities we have as a Board. The plan is also where we note the evidence to show that we are using our funds appropriately. If you are somebody who likes to break large projects down into manageable tasks, then maybe we could bring your expertise to the Board.

Underpinning all these strands of activity is the process of fundraising, including grant applications. Our Marketing team has responsibility for agreeing fundraising strategy and reports regularly to the Board.

Being a Trustee of the Mamie Martin Fund is never dull and there is a strong likelihood of job satisfaction in this voluntary role. We know that we are making a difference to the young women of Malawi and to future generations. If you are interested in becoming a Trustee, we would love to hear from you!

Mariot Dallas, Trustee