Club members Celebrated reaching our target and more by raising £3500 for the Meru Women’s Garden Project in Kenya. This is equivalent to providing the resources to establishing twelve gardens.We were delighted to welcome three prospective members and enjoyed an excellent supper meeting at the White Hart Hotel on 6th February.
The Club’s three year project to support our Federation project included raising funds and awareness in many different ways to support women and their families in Meru Kenya .The ladies in Meru have developed sustainable market gardens producing food for their own families and extra produce to raise family income. The project has also introduced education programmes for girls and boys with the aim of stopping Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), still widely practiced in this part of Kenya though illegal.
The picture shows Soroptimist Penny Broadley, Joint President Hilary Waddington, Soroptimist Val Hills and President Elsie Johnston. Find out more about the Meru Women’s Garden Project Here
So how did we do it? We held a Kickstart Evening to get us started in our Fund raising and Planning
Kickstart Evening –
We had the opportunity to create a Community Garden at the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show so we Designed, Built and Manned the Meru Women’s Garden Project Display – we won a Silver Award and a cash prize as well as collecting small change. 
We sold Meru Jams and Sauces at the Home and Garden Show held in Ripon Cathedral
One of our members donated a beautiful quilt – so we held an licensed raffle.
Our Friendship Link, Soroptimist International of Paisley, donated a fantastic Soroptimist Tartan Handbag and we held a raffle at the Soroptimist International of Yorkshire Regional Council Meeting.
We held a fabulous Kenyan Supper Evening at the Hub in Knaresborough overlooking the beautiful Nidd Gorge.
Club members made personal donations. It was a great Club effort involving all our Club members. It created lots of energy as well as lots of fun. We gained a far better understanding of the Project and; what women in Meru Kenya are up against to actively make a difference to the lives of themselves and their families.
Why
Because we want to make a difference to the lives of other women and children.
