Harrogate and District Soroptimists were delighted to welcome the Yorkshire Grant of Friendship guest Professor Natalia Kurhaluk. Natalia stayed with Club member Janet Hutton for two nights and had the opportunity to meet with Club members and visit some of the lovely areas in the Harrogate District. Natalia is a Professor of Biology and Physiology at the Akademia Pomorska in Slupsku and a member of Soroptimist International of Slupsku, Slupsku is near Gdansk.
The Soroptimist International Yorkshire Region’s Grant of Friendship is offered on a biannual basis and is open to any Soroptimist in the world to apply who would like to visit the UK and has not been here before. The successful applicant is hosted by different Clubs throughout the Yorkshire Region over a three week period. Natalia, who spoke excellent English (as well as Ukrani and Russian) had already visited a number of Clubs and was a guest speaker at the Soroptimist International of Yorkshire’s conference. During her stay with the Club, Natalia visited Knaresborough and took afternoon tea with members overlooking the beautiful Nidd Gorge. A visit RHS Harlow Carr was much appreciated as Natalia is a keen gardner as well as a cell biologist.
Meeting Natalia gave us an opportunity to find our more about Poland and Soroptimist International in Poland. We had an excellent and very social two days before Natalia left us to spend the final two days of her visit with Soroptimist International of Bingley and returning home on the 10th July.