BORDER volunteers spent last year fundraising to travel to Malawi for a leadership project.

And now, they’re back to tell the tale.

After more than a year of planning, preparation and selection five Borders leaders came face to face with 16 young Malawians aged between 15 and 25, and their Rotary leaders, on the Zomba plateau.

Denis Robson, Graham Little, Thea Panter, John Little and Sophie Wilson teamed up with five Malawian leaders to host the pilot development programme.

Through the Rotary Young Leaders (RYLA) programme, the Scottish Borders group was able to link up with the Rotary Club of Limbe, to deliver the project.

RYLA is an annual event organised by Rotary Clubs in Scotland to take teenagers out of their comfort zones and challenge them in the great outdoors.

Rotarian Denis Robson, one of the volunteers, thought it would be a good idea to bring the concept to Malawi.

Denis told the Border Telegraph: “Although the Borders and Malawian leadership team were a completely different group in age and life experience, we combined our knowledge to deliver a worthwhile experience to the young Malawian group.

“After we arrived and swapped welcomes and introductions, the first question asked was ‘Why are we here?’

“The answer was clear, to pilot a new style of community based RYLA residential camp focussed on ‘developing the potential of young people’.

“It was wonderful to see the whole team work together, individual strengths emerged, and new friendships formed.”

Barriers of age, experience, culture and education melted away as the group worked together delivering tangible benefits at individual and community levels.

The intensive week combined conversations about communication, self-confidence, practical ability, environmental awareness, leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

These evening workshops were backed up by daily activities and education on Climate Change, hands on forestry management and community engagement.

A couple of days later, having visited a counselling service in Zomba City, the group ventured out on foot across the Plateau to see the forestry in operation.

They lent a hand to the women cutting back the undergrowth to let the newly planted native trees flourish.

One bonding experience occurred when the whole group visited two viewpoints jointly described in the past as the “Best views in the British Empire”.

Named The Emperor’s View after Haile Selassie who visited in 1965 and The Queen’s View after the Queen Mother visited in 1957.

Malawian leader, Rev R B Milne commented: “The young people were impressed by the views and took several hundred selfies in a few moments.

“My generation were told when we were young that we had never had it so good and that I am certain was true. The tragedy is I cannot tell my grandchildren the same because we messed up.

“But so long as there are young people like those I met on Zomba Plateau about, we can have hope and faith in a future where all can share the bounty of this beautiful creation.”

Afterwards, the youngsters moved on to the Liwonde Game Reserve where they helped restore no less than fourteen houses damaged in the severe floods of March.

Then everyone got to experience a safari drive, many of whom for the first time, seeing elephants, hippos, warthogs, and lions up close.

Also, a site visit was arranged to YONECO, one of the main sponsors of the camp, to learn of their special approach to promoting youth empowerment.

To reinforce the talk the RYLA participants engaged with the women who live on the Plateau and men who make a living there passing on their newfound knowledge on how to minimise the effects of Climate Change.

And handed out mango plants in small plastic sleeves that will provide a crop of fruit in three years.

Nineteen-year-old leader, John Little said: “The pilot Malawi RYLA camp was a massive success. Over the week I saw impressive personal growth in the confidence and leadership of all participants, including myself.

“I’m proud of everyone involved as we delivered a years’ worth of experience and education into only seven days.

“It was such a worthwhile experience and I have definitely made friends for life.”

Denis added: “The metrics indicated the pilot was a success, but more importantly we know that great potential had been identified and developed and we had all made new friends for life.

“The last day was an emotional experience with speeches, awards and a newly written RYLA rap song with backing choir!

“We sang, we danced, we ate together, it was also enormous fun!

“Malawi is a breathtakingly beautiful country and all the participants left the RYLA camp with the challenge to make it even more so.

“The RYLArians are now a family.”