Report to Regional Council Meeting 9/2/2013
Swansea Club, is going through a period of change and will have 3 joint presidents next year. We have been involved in several projects this year and no doubt we will be involved in more new projects next year.
1. Health care
One of our members, Past President Dr Anne Norton visited Himachal Pradesh in India for four weeks in 2012 with “Volunteering India” performing health checks on children and teachers in village day centres, tea gardens, and a school for mentally challenged children. She also attended an HIV seminar. Her talk at a Spring Dinner meeting in 2013 on her visit was well received and Indian dress was worn.
2. Education
- Our new education project at St Helen’s School in Swansea conceived in 2010-2011 by our previous Programme Action officer Alison Parry came to fruition in September 2012 and several members are listening to reading by children from Year 1 to Year 6 at St Helen’s School in Swansea.
St Helen’s School is a very happy city centre school with dedicated staff situated in an area of diverse nationalities. The school has 194 children on the school roll and of this number 89% of the children have English as an additional language. There are around 19 different languages spoken by the pupils including Mandarin, Urdu, Italian, Arabic, Nepalese and Polish. We help them understand what they are reading which often means explaining words (thatched, ghosts….), ensuring they understand the “plot” and underlying jokes etc.
We give aspirational talks to the girls and boys of Year 6.
To celebrate World Book Day at the beginning of March, Club will be presenting the school with a cheque to purchase new books for the school library.
- We continue to support the High Scorers concert in Oystermouth for those who have done exceptionally well at the Royal College of Music grades. Swansea Past President Helen Lewis (1994/5) suggested that we give an annual prize and we have done this for nearly 20 years. She received a Long Service award for 30 years of Honorary Service from ABRSH (Associated Board of the Royal College of Music) last year.
- We continue to support the Kenya project (now the Kenya Community Education Project) in Madungu Primary, highlighted in Regional Past President Rhian’s Study Day last year. Tools are available to be sent out so that the pupils at can learn carpentry and other skills (contact Pat Reid, Gower college,284000)
- On a sadder note, we learnt through Jill Delgado of the tragic death of our student, Joellma, who’s education in Cape Verde we had supported for 5 years. We send our condolences to her parents………… Next Saturday we will be having a morning fund raising event at past president Anne Norton’s home, where we will raise more funds for the new student, Helga Gomez, who we will now be supporting.
3. Community Involvement
Beach clean The Marine Conservation Society organises beach cleans in Britain. Swansea Soroptimists are involved in the Gower beach cleans on the 3rd weekend in September helping to clean the Blackpill Lido beach.
Clyne in Bloom We started “womanning” a tea tent in Clyne during the month of May and now Janet Vine (joint President elect) has been asked that Soroptimists cover the rotas for 2 tea tents this year. The money raised goes to Ty Olwen Hospice in Swansea
Club members also donate used spectacles and bras for Third world countries and collect and recycle a number of items including phones, and jewellery to raise funds for project work.
Women’s Refuge
Every two months, we deliver toiletries for women and children. This includes underwear and sanitary protection for the ladies. We also provide non perishable food stuffs.
Hafan Cymru in Morriston
We provide new and good as new household items to help women who are rehoused after abuse. This is often all they have to furnish their new home
Swansea University Transcription Service
Several members help at The Swansea University Transcription Centre (SUTC) which provides transcription services (braille, audio, large print, electronic text and tactile diagrams) for disabled students at Swansea University and at other universities and colleges.
4. Charity donations
We have donated money to CISS (Cancer Information Support and Services), Barnardo’s, Swansea Hope (homeless charity), Ty Hafan and RNLI in Mumbles
Angela Ball on behalf of:
Sandra Pengelly
Programme Action Officer
Feb 2013