We are a women’s organisation so always celebrate International Women’s Day. This year the theme is #InspiringInclusion, which calls for women and girls to be included in all aspects of life. Women and girls all over the world have been making the ‘heart’ symbol with our hands and you’ll see below our results.
SI Kirkcaldy members have come out in force this year to support Marie Curie’s The Great Daffodil Appeal. Thirteen members have been taking slots with both Morrison’s and Asda in Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy, some more than once, and on 8th March six members are running the collection on their own. Marie Curie says, “Whether you have months, weeks or days left to live, we’re here for you with clinical and emotional care, supporting you to be comfortable, free of pain and other symptoms, and able to live the best life you can to the end.” The money we are helping other volunteers to collect will help Marie Curie support people at the end of their lives, and their families, over the phone, in hospices and in their own homes.
Members of the club joined about 150 others, mainly women, at a Reclaim the Night event on Thursday 30th November. Fife Violence Against Women Partnership organised the event as part of the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women. We congregated outside the Town House and at 5pm set off down Whytescauseway to the High Street, waving our placards and chanting anti-violence slogans. We eventually ended up at the Old Kirk where we had a delicious cup of soup and found a seat from which to enjoy the talks. First was Jan Swan from Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre, followed by some pupils from Balwearie High School. They showed us how they mentor pupils at school about what healthy relationships look like and how they can help friends who might be having problems. Hannah McLaughlan, a sexual abuse survivor, who has given
Thanks to Soroptimist International of Kirkcaldy, Leading Change Uganda were able to buy materials for the tailoring program for the women’s group in Vumba village, such as Kitengi materials for sewing clothes for sale. LCU also rented a room for the ladies of the tailoring program in Vumba village because they have been having issues during rainy seasons due to the shelter they had built last year to train from.
Each year, our club gives an Educate to Lead award to a senior girl at one of our four local High Schools. This year it was the turn of Kirkcaldy High School and Morgan Cameron was selected as the recipient. Morgan has become a valued member of the school’s Pupil Leadership Team and she also achieved a place at the Rotary Youth Leadership Camp last summer. She is currently awaiting her exam results and intends to go to college to study Mechanical Engineering. Well done Morgan!
On 20th May some members of the club – and a Soroptimister – gathered at Balgonie Bleachfields at Coaltown of Balgonie to do a litter pick. This picture shows what a corner of the car park was like before we arrived. Unfortunately the lovely area seems to attract people who eat a takeaway meal and then throw out the paper and boxes. There is a bin but it’s in a place to suit the council, not where it’s easy for people to deposit their waste. Of course they could always take it home…. The Bleachfields was originally a flat area where chemicals were added to linen and it was bleached in the sun, from around the mid 18th century. The business closed in 1965 when improvements meant that linen no longer had to be bleached by the sun. The area was taken over by the
New President Sally (left) with other club members enjoy coffee in the Community Room at Morrisons, Glenrothes while they plan future Orange Days. Orange is a bright and optimistic colour that signifies a life free of violence for women and girls. We aim to raise awareness of this on the 25th of each month.
Three members of the club volunteered to collect for Marie Curie following a talk to the club about the work of the charity.
Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary General has called the 25th of each month Orange Day and asked people to wear that colour to raise awareness of the campaign to end violence against women. Some members have been wearing orange tops and scarves, as well as the large orange badge, and visiting a local coffee shops in order to raise awareness. In future we are intending to ask a supermarket if we can have a stall so we can give out leaflets to shoppers.
Members purchased toys to donate to the Salvation Army to provide Christmas presents for disadvantaged children in the Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes areas.
