We met up with Julie Tipping, Samantha Gilmour and Johanna Hanschell, along with social subjects teacher Gerry Kelley, last week to talk about what they aim to achieve with their visit, what they expect they'll experience, and perhaps most importantly, what they hope to take away from the trip.

"We're really excited to be going out there," Samantha told us.
"We're planning on taking some of the P7 and first year pupils' work out to show the children there how our school runs, and while we're there, we'll be helping to teach in the school also."

Julie, meanwhile, explained a little more about how they hope to be seen during their time in Malawi.

"We'd like to be seen as role models there," she said, "especially since we've organised a charter to take to them that shows just how important the girls' rights are to them, like the right to a proper education - things that we take for granted."

An interesting look will be at the similarities between the small communities of Muloza and Bute.

"They're both fairly small places," Johanna said, "but I think we'll still be in for a culture shock at the differences between the two."

Elaborating on those differences, Mr Kelley said: "It will be a culture shock, especially seeing how people don't have immediate access to water - their toilet is basically a pit in the ground, and there are of course many aspects to poverty out there."

Not sounding too concerned about this though, the girls explained how they'll have much more important things to worry about than things of that nature - including seeing how the money raised on Bute for Spirit Aid's work in Malawi has been put to use.

"We know that some of the money from Spirit Aid has already set up two creches, and also a soup kitchen," Julie said.
"It'll feel really rewarding to know that the work we've been doing has helped to provide those services."

Mr Kelley added: "What might seem like little to us in the way of money really can go a long way there - some of the money raised has helped to build a new standpipe for the community."

The girls, who will be accompanied by Mr Kelley and campus principal Wendy Brownlie, will also be taking out toys, such as yo-yos and aeroplanes for the children there to keep - a small gesture to add to the huge amount of work the school has been doing since 2008.

Julie, Samantha and Johanna leaving school at the end of June for further education but have said they will be keeping in touch with the Academy to see how its campaign for Spirit Aid continues.