Fundraising is fun, say children
(and designers!)

How the Scottish Bible Society took a creative educational approach
to raising funds for an O-21 project in Malawi

EDINBURGH, Scotland — “Now is the time for us to act, to help our fellow believers in Malawi have the Scriptures they need and deserve.” This was the challenge issued by the Scottish Bible Society (SBS) in their Word at Work magazine (Summer 2001).

A generous legacy from a lady in the west of Scotland had enabled the Bible Society of Malawi to buy three sturdy distribution vehicles able to cope with the dirt roads, potholes and 'water features' which enliven travel there. The next challenge was to provide Bibles and Scripture Portions for them to deliver.

To help churches rise to the opportunity, the Bible Society came up with the idea of a Malawi Adventure Pack for children aged from seven to 11 to use in holiday clubs and Sunday Schools. SBS asked the Marque Design Consultants, a professional design agency, to help them come up with a pack which was informative, educational and, above all, fun. Commenting that they were “delighted to be involved in such an inspiring and worthwhile project,” the agency added, “We hope children have as much fun with the pack as we did in designing and illustrating it.”

The children certainly did enjoy it. Pupils at an Edinburgh primary school commented that they pack was “Brilliant!” It had been fun finding out about David Livingstone, Chimwemwe and Malawi, they said.

Children at the Sunday School of the parish church in the small town of Crieff, in Perthshire, built a replica Malawian village, made models of wild animals, coloured a map of Malawi, sang an African song and served traditional Malawian food.

“We all enjoyed the project,” they wrote, and moreover they raised £190 (more than US$260) towards the much-needed Scriptures. Altogether, SBS have raised £80,000 (more than US$110,000) for Opportunity 21 projects in Malawi, and many people have learned something of what life is like there and have had considerable fun in the process.

One user of the Malawi Adventure Pack commented, “At the end of the day, when I asked if they would like to help the children in Malawi have more Bibles, I was engulfed in a resounding ‘Yes’. I think your pack works!” (SR 29/15 - 4/5.02) [PHOTOS]