In 2010 following her work as a volunteer in Africa and inspired by the words of Mahatma Ghandhi, “Be the change you want to see in the world”, Maria Macnamara MBE founded the charity Smalls for All which operates from a base in Scotland and collects underwear to give to adults and children in need in Africa and in the UK.
A volunteer and representative of the charity spoke to club members about its work to send various pieces of underwear to those living in orphanages and refugee camps, as well as to schools, women’s refuges and to hospital patients with medical conditions such as obstetric fistula. It sends to as many as 54 countries, making a huge difference to the lives of women and girls. The organisation also receives many requests for underwear from UK charities helping them to alleviate poverty in this country.
The slogan ‘Pants to Poverty’ adopted by the charity, truly expresses the feelings of all those who work and volunteer with the organisation! In the past members of several Scottish clubs have donated underwear to the charity and following our talk our club members intend to start collecting again.