Kenyan singing and dancing was a key feature of an inspiring study tour to Meru attended by five members of Soroptimist International Canterbury in early April. They were part of a group of twenty four Soroptimists who took part in a five day visit to see the impact of the Meru Women’s Garden Project supported by the national federation.
The project was originally developed by Seeds for Africa, a charity which grew out of the 2008 Lambeth Conference in Canterbury.
SI Canterbury has supported it since 2014 and members were delighted when it was selected as the Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland Federation Project in 2015. Since that time £110,000 has been raised to empower, education and enable women in one of the poorest regions of rural Kenya to establish their own sustainable food garden, achieve food security and rise out of poverty.
The women are trained on sustainable farming practices and agricultural techniques which maximise crop growth on small plots of land with unreliable rainfalls. They work in community groups and are provided with plants, seeds, tools, equipment and a mentor for two years.
The Soroptimists were met on arrival in Meru by a large number of the women singing, dancing and bearing gifts for their visitors. This was a feature throughout the visit and the women’s warm and happy welcome, positive attitude and hope for a better future provided inspiration to all.
During the visit members were hosted by Margaret Ikiara, founder and leader of CIFORD (Community Initiatives for Rural Development) who developed and runs the project on the ground. They learnt more about the organisation’s aims and vision and the work done by this amazing woman and her team of staff and volunteers.
A highlight of the trip was undoubtedly visiting the women’s groups, seeing their gardens and talking with them about their crops. The women proudly told how they no longer need to walk to market to buy vegetables but can now feed their families from their own produce. Many have excess crops which they sell to raise a small income and most groups have established ‘Table Banking’ to support each other in times of greater need. They also discussed future needs and their hope that more women be given the opportunities that they have had.
During the week, the group also met with young girls who told how they have benefited from seminars educating them about the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation.
These are also funded by the Soroptimist project and aim to dispel myths about this procedure, arm the girls with the confidence to stand up and say no and provide opportunities to discuss sexual health issues.
The motto of these sessions is ‘Girls Need Education not Circumcision’.
Soroptimists from SI Meru, the newest club in Kenya founded in 2013, joined the group on several days.
This provided a wonderful opportunity to discuss common aims and projects and share ideas for supporting women and girls locally and worldwide.
The final day of this inspiring visit saw 194 women graduate from the project with a ceremony and party like no other. The site was decorated in celebration and dancing, singing, speeches and friendships were not marred by the downpour of rain.
Each graduate received a Certificate of Participation to acknowledge their hard work and commitment to the project.
In the words of Margaret Ikiara, speaking as the rain poured down, ‘We are blessed with rain. This project and these graduates are blessed’.
Soroptimists are continuing to fundraise to support four new groups of women who will now begin training as part of the next phase of the project. Additional seminars on FGM are also planned for this year alongside seminars for boys and parents.
If you would like to donate to the project please contact our secretary Carol Reed at: secrtarysicanterbury@gmail.com.