BASF donates books in Gaelic to schools in the Western Isles

BASF is believed to be the first multi-national company to print a corporate focused book in Gaelic.

‘My mummy/my daddy works at BASF’ was originally published in 2011 to help the younger children of BASF’s 112,000 employees worldwide learn more about science and the company.

Now it has been translated into Scottish Gaelic and BASF has given 600 copies to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) Education Department.

BASF Pharma (Callanish) Ltd., which employs 69 people producing Omega 3 on the Isle of Lewis, is keen to help with the development of a young workforce in the Western Isles and hopes that the book will contribute to developing language skills.

Alasdair Allan MSP was at Stornoway Primary School recently when Norman Campbell and Cathy Macleod from BASF handed over the books.

“We are very happy to have this opportunity to support our local community and will distribute enough copies so that every pupil in a Gaelic medium primary across the Western Isles will receive their own version,” explained Norman Campbell.

The book was translated by Iain Macarthur, a retired civil servant from the CNES Department of Education in Stornoway, who previously taught Gaelic.

Pictured with pupils from Stornoway Primary School are (from left to right): Donald Macleod (Department of Western Isles Education), Iain Macarthur (translator), Norman Campbell (BASF), Alasdair Allan (MSP), Annette Murray (Stornoway Primary Head Teacher) and Cathy Macleod (BASF).

Pictures from Stornoway Primary School can be downloaded from our Press Photos page