A series of coffee mornings in Kirkcudbright have been raising money for a cause close to the parish church congregation’s heart.
Gary Brough is a mission partner for the church, having moved with his family to Muzuzu in Malawi in 2018 as a Mission Partner of the Church of Scotland.
Through Gary, the church community has been supporting a scholarship programme helping, in particular, orphaned girls. Because of a lack of funds they are at high risk of being forced into early marriage as secondary school in Malawi is not free.
Forty-two per cent of girls in the country are married before the age of 18.
Child marriage is driven by poverty, traditional practices, teen pregnancy, limited awareness and school boarding.
Only 14 per cent of girls complete upper secondary school in Malawi and among the poorest children this falls to two per cent.
Covid-19 has added to the problem with teenage pregnancy tripling and child marriages doubling.
Giving girls the opportunity to stay in school greatly reduces the risk of child marriage.
Proceeds from monthly coffee mornings in the church hall go towards the scholarship programme.
The next coffee morning is on Saturday from 10am until noon in the church hall. There are none in December but are generally held the first Saturday of every month.
