MalDent Project supporter, the Scotland Malawi Partnership, celebrates 20th Birthday in style

The Scotland Malawi Partnership (SMP) has been part of the MalDent Project journey since I was first introduced to the organisation by my University of Glasgow colleagues and friends, Alex Mackay and Paul Garside, at the SMP Annual General Meeting in 2018. Several of the multiple collaborations that have been key to progress of the MalDent Project have resulted from SMP meetings and publications, a reflection of its networking role in establishing respectful people to people partnerships.

The SMP is currently in its 20th year and an event held in Edinburgh City Chambers on 20th January was a very fitting birthday celebration, showcasing in multiple ways the variety and scope of the organisation’s work.

One of the ongoing initiatives to celebrate twenty years has been the establishment of a travelling photographic exhibition, which provides a pictorial collage of the work of multiple partnerships between Scottish and Malawian individuals and organisations across a wide variety of sectors such as education, health, water, sanitation and climate change. The exhibition, entitled “Anthu Pamodzi” (“People Together”), was launched in Killearn in September 2025. On 20th January 2026, the next stop for the exhibition was Edinburgh City Chambers, where it formed the backdrop to a visit by our Honorary Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

In addition to the photographic exhibition, the SMP has produced a book which provides an overview of many of the partnerships that have operated between Scotland and Malawi during its twenty year existence, and the event at Edinburgh City Chambers would incorporate the launch of the publication.

The event was opened by Nasim Vadalia, the SMP Communications & Engagement Officer, who welcomed delegates and provided some housekeeping information:

Stuart Brown and I, as CEO and Chair respectively of the SMP, delivered opening remarks. As part of his introduction, Stuart invited two pupils from George Watson’s College to say a few words about their recent visit to Malawi and the impact they had felt from that experience. These comments from the perspective of young people were especially impactful.

I then introduced colleagues who had played a central role in writing some of the themed sections in the book to say a few words about their respective chapters. First to speak was Senior Vice-Chair of the SMP, Susan Dalgety, on the ‘Schools’ section …

… followed by Professors Heather Cubie and Tracy Morse on ‘Health’ and the ‘WASH agenda’ respectively …

… then Dr Ben Wilson on ‘Climate Change’ and Dr Yonah Matemba on ‘Higher Education’ …

Malawi’s High Commissioner, His Excellency Dr Thomas Bisika, who had travelled from London, then addressed the delegates and was presented with a copy of the celebratory book.

Jo Roberts, who leads on fund-raising for the SMP, spoke about the new ‘Friends of the SMP’ initiative and then Chad Morse, Deputy CEO of the SMP, outlined arrangements for the remainder of the event.

For the next 30 minutes, guests had an opportunity to view the photographic exhibition. In the photograph below, Professor Stuart Baird, representing the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG), is viewing photographs in the ‘Health’ section. The RCPSG was a sponsor of the SMP@20 book and it was particularly appropriate that Stuart attended as one of the representatives of the College following his close involvement over the years with work in Malawi relating to his specialty of podiatry.

At the appointed time, HRH The Princess Royal was greeted in the quadrangle of Edinburgh City Chambers by the Lord Provost, and following brief conversations with Stuart and I we all proceeded up the stairs towards the photographic exhibition. En route there was a meeting with Revia Bamusi, the SMP Finance Officer and Nasim Vadalia, the Communications & Engagement Officer, both of whom are Malawian.

Susan Dalgety, Senior Vice-Chair of the SMP, escorted The Princess Royal into the main chamber to make introductions to the various assembled groups.

From the perspective of the MalDent Project, our contribution was in the sections of the photographic exhibition sections that covered ‘Health’ and ‘Higher Education’. The health section was hosted by Professor Heather Cubie, who introduced the various contributors in turn to The Princess Royal.

Pictured second from the left in the following photograph is Ruthie Markus, CEO of the charity AMECA, which has become a highly valued partner organisation of the MalDent Project:

The Royal visit also provided Professor Paul Garside and I with an opportunity to explain the valuable, supportive role played by the University of Glasgow in establishing the Blantyre Blantyre Laboratory at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, as well as the various activities of the MalDent Project, both funded by the Scottish Government.

The MalDent Project also featured in the section of the photographic exhibition dealing with Further & Higher Education, which included an image of the first BDS graduates and some of the teaching staff members on Graduation Day, 30th April 2025.

Following a tour of the various groups of colleagues that had been assembled for the visit, The Princess Royal was presented with a copy of the SMP book.

The book presentation was followed by cutting of the birthday cake, which would be consumed later in the event by the delegates present.

Before departing, The Princess Royal was presented with a posy of flowers by pupils from George Watson’s College in Edinburgh, all of whom had visited Malawi in the recent past.

Following the departure of The Princess Royal, delegates enjoyed Mzuzu coffee with birthday cake as they continued to network and view the photographic exhibition.

I had been especially pleased that Chris Cox was attending the event to represent Henry Schein, one of the sponsors of the SMP@20 book. Chris had spent a week in Malawi in 2022 with Stuart Bassham of Dentaid and I, undertaking the installation of dental chairs and phantom head simulation units at Kamuzu Central Hospital Dental Department. Chris also played a significant role in the design of the new dental clinic at Chilomoni Health Centre and has provided advice to John McAslan + Partners on the design of the new Dental School building at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences.

It was an excellent opportunity for networking among SMP members, including here a conversation between Olivia Giles, CEO of 500 miles and Ruthie Markus, CEO of AMECA:

It was a particular pleasure to welcome David Hope-Jones, former longstanding CEO of the SMP, to the event, providing an opportunity for him to catch up with friends and colleagues from his time in office:

The SMP is extremely grateful to the organisations which have contributed financial support towards the production costs of the SMPO@20 book. The generous sponsors are:

• George Watson’s College
• Henry Schein
• Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow
• The Church of Scotland
• University of Strathclyde Centre for Sustainable Development
• WaterAid

Developing the photographic exhibition, compiling the book and organising the event had required significant work and commitment from the staff team, trustees and all the contributors of the photographs and text. A celebratory photograph of the SMP staff team and trustees seemed an appropriate way to finish off this very successful event.

An electronic version of the SMP@20 book can be downloaded here.

Acknowledgements

Grateful thanks are due to Moira Kay Nicol for design of the SMP@20 book, and to Winter & Simpson Print for its production. Both were great to work with.

The photographs in this post were supplied by Kirsty Stroma Photography to whom due acknowledgement is given.

Grateful thanks are due to the Scottish Government for its long term and continuing support of the Scotland Malawi Partnership over its 20 year history.