Cannock Soroptimists ran a market stall in Cannock Town Centre on Friday 9th September to raise awareness of and funds for their Federation three year project, the Meru Women’s Garden Project.
The aim of the project is to educate, enable and empower women in Meru County, Kenya by providing sustainable gardening techniques and tools, enabling women to become pioneers of agricultural sustainability within the community. Girls will also be educated about their rights, empowering them to stand up to damaging cultural practices like female genital mutilation [FGM]. By providing economic opportunities to women and girls, the project will achieve long term change by strengthening entire communities, so improving the lives and opportunities for generations to come.
Cannock Soroptimists sold produce from their gardens: apples, damsons, and a variety of plants as well as many craft items they have made. Members had a very enjoyable morning making lavender bags, bags of pot pourri, as well as items such as gift cards, gift tags and pin cushions. They had made chutneys and preserves, had pickled onions and made cakes and biscuits which all sold like the proverbial ‘hot cakes’. Everyone who bought from the stall received a leaflet with information about the project. There was even a visit from Charlie Chase of Cannock Radio!!
It was a really successful day, demonstrating their own gardening and household skills and helping provide the means for women in Meru, Kenya to learn similar skills and so become self sufficient. Soroptimist Kate Young, who organised the event, was thrilled with the fabulous goods provided by members of the club and by the £191.00 raised on the day! For more information please visit:
https://sigbi.org/our-charities/meru-womens-garden-project-2016-2019/
Photo: Soroptimists Trish Mellor; Carole Holdcroft, President SI Cannock & District; Kate Young; June Bould; Maggie Shore and Jacqui Gray