We are happy to report that we raised £224 for the new Birthing Unit at Warwick Hospital from donations received when we provided tea/coffee and biscuits at the Flu Jab Clinics run by the Castle Medical Centre in Kenilworth recently. (and see story below).
Kenilworth SI members enjoyed an evening recently with Karl Curtis, Director of Reserves and Community Engagement from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. We learnt more about how the Trust and its volunteers maintain the areas around Kenilworth, such as Parliament’s Piece, Knowle Hill, Kenilworth Common and the creation of spaces called ‘green bridges’ between various areas, to ensure that both flora and fauna can thrive. And that we, as Soroptimists, can enjoy these spaces – and maybe volunteer for a bit of bramble bashing. Our donation has been put towards purchasing some new equipment like lenses, bug pots and pooters for the education team so they can enable children to explore and learn more about nature.
Please tell us what you know by completing a survey found at www.sigbi.org/ukpac/survey. The survey is completely anonymous and closes on 7th October 2017. The survey will inform the work of the UK Modern Slavery Training Delivery Group which is part of the government’s strategy to combat trafficking/slavery.
President Sharon recently had the honour of representing our Club at the Midland Arden Region Inspirational Woman 2017 award with a 5-minute speech about our young Guider, Catherine Rowe There were six nominees in all from the various Clubs. We were thrilled when the judges announced that Catherine had won. Catherine couldn’t be there as she was at a debriefing session in Sheffield for her Guiding Overseas Linked with Development (GOLD) project in Oman so we took her mum, Angela I hadn’t realised until the Saturday that Catherine is dyslexic which makes her accomplishments even more inspirational. During her time in Oman, Catherine has been part of a team delivering a project aimed at · preparing the women and girls there for leadership · helping them tackle some of the unique challenges of living in an Arab country · increasing membership of Guides · becoming
SI Kenilworth was recently asked to provide refreshments for the flu jab clinics being run this Autumn at the Castle Medical Centre in Bertie Road. On our first outing on Saturday morning, we served around 70 cups of tea and coffee and raised over £70 through voluntary donations for the Birthing Unit being built at Warwick Hospital. We also answered lots of questions about being Soroptimists.
At our September business meeting Gordon Cowie of Friends of Sick Children in Malawi (FOSCiM) came to update us on the work of this charity. One of the nurses we have been supporting through a 4 year BSc degree (Paediatrics and health Care)at Mzuzu University graduates this year. Two other nurses are also being supported through this course. The club presented Gordon with a cheque for £2000 towards their fees.
We had the very happy task of renewing our Friendship link with SI Lower Hutt New Zealand when Elaine Moffatt and her husband Bob stayed with us on their tour of the UK. As ever, we enjoyed ourselves as Elaine told us a little of her experiences during her time as Pan Pacific Federation President. Her tales of her visit to Papua New Guinea were certainly hair raising and not the sort of thing we are used to in leafy Kenilworth – all the more reason to support women and children in conditions far less fortunate than we take as normal.
We had a wonderful time celebrating with our German friendship link club, SI Remscheid, the 50th anniversary of their Charter. We had great fun chatting and sharing ideas with Clubs from all over Germany, Belgium and Holland. And of course eating our body weight in cake over the course of the weekend. Saturday night saw us all glammed up for a posh dinner, I wore my chain which was the cause of much admiration and not a little envy! I also got to hobnob with Barbara Kohl, President of the German Union of Soroptimists and had a long talk with the Director of Remscheid High School. SI Remscheid have raised 10,000 Euros to enable the school to expand its One World Class teaching programme for refugees (many unaccompanied) from one to three classes by paying for two more teachers for at least one year. A local project with an international element. I
A hot, sunny weekend saw us once again hosting a stand at the 39th Leamington Peace Festival in the Pump Room Gardens. This year, our stand featured the anti-trafficking work of the ‘Purple Teardrop Campaign’ as well as other club projects, especially our fundraising to support nurse training in Malawi. Our banners did a great job of publicising Soroptimism, leading to several membership enquiries from women looking to get involved. We were also able to dispel one or two ‘myths’ about Soroptimism, such as that we are an adult literacy organisation! We also collected a further 405 signatures for the PTC petition to ban ‘sex for sale’ advertising.
Catherine Rowe, a Guider, gave club members a presentation on a planned trip to Oman. Catherine has been selected as a leader to take part in a GOLD (Guiding Overseas Linked with Development) project in Oman. The aim of the project is develop the skills of leadership, to encourage women to be confident and to empower themselves. Catherine was full of enthusiasm and excitement about her trip in August. Members were sure that it will be a successful adventure, and that she will be a great leader out in Oman, and that her knowledge will benefit the girl guides. Club members responded to Catherine and immediately voted to unanimously donate £200 towards her expenses.
