Cannock Soroptimists will be running 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 will be selling produce from their gardens 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, pin cushions and labels. They will have chutneys and preserves, cakes and biscuits for sale, so members will be busy leading up to September 9th. They hope for a successful day, demonstrating their own gardening skills and helping provide the means for women in Meru, Kenya to learn similar skills and so become self sufficient.