dotScot continues to strengthen its international presence with the appointment of a new ambassador in Canada, meet Hannah Rowena Mondiwa, a Scottish-raised Malawian-Canadian whose life story weaves together continents, cultures, and a deep sense of identity rooted in Scotland.
Born in Blantyre, Malawi, a country steeped in Scottish influence thanks to its historic ties through missionaries and educators, Hannah's early years were spent in Cumbernauld, Scotland, where she moved as a toddler. Her memories of school trips to places like the Antonine Wall, Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Haggs Castle, and Aberdour Beach are formative. But it was the Cumbernauld Library, where she received her first library card at the age of six, that ignited her lifelong love of storytelling.
That duality came into sharper focus when Hannah’s family moved back to Malawi just before she entered high school. There, she attended St. Andrews International High School, a Scottish institution where the Saltire flew daily in the courtyard. One of her most cherished memories is of Mr. Lang, her English and History teacher, a proud Glaswegian and Partick Thistle fan, who reassured her that her Glaswegian accent wasn’t the problem: “It’s everyone else who has an accent!”
Today, she works in the communications field and is an active freelance writer covering travel, culture, and book reviews. Her latest project is a new .scot website, an exciting platform that promises to fuse her storytelling gift with her Scottish heritage and global experiences.
“Although I haven’t lived in Scotland for many years, it will always be home,” she says. “I still visit regularly and carry Scotland with me wherever I go.”
Championing the dotScot Identity
Hannah's appointment as a dotScot Global Ambassador in Canada is a natural extension of her passion for culture, community, and heritage. She represents a vibrant and growing diaspora — an estimated 40 million people around the world — with ties to Scotland through birth, education, family, or even just a deep affinity for the nation.
The .scot domain, launched in 2014 by the Glasgow-based not-for-profit DotScot Registry, is a digital identity for all things Scottish. Backed by the Scottish Government, major cultural figures like Sir Sean Connery and Sir Tom Farmer, and a wide array of Scottish organisations, it has become the only community domain globally used by a nation’s government, parliament, and health service. Today, it has a presence in 62 countries.
Hannah’s role is to champion this digital identity across Canada, encouraging individuals and organisations with Scottish ties or love for the culture to claim their place online with a .scot domain.
“dotScot is more than a web address,” she says. “It’s a declaration of identity and connection — a way to show pride in where you come from or where your heart lies.”
Join the Global Community
The eligibility for a .scot domain is intentionally broad. Whether you were born in Scotland, studied there, lived there, or simply feel a deep connection, you’re welcome to join the community.
If you'd like to follow in Hannah’s footsteps and declare your Scottish connection to the world, visit www.domains.scot — there’s a warm welcome waiting.
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