Knickers for Knowledge, an award winning project, was started at the initiative of SI Barnstaple. SI Barnstaple have a friendship link with SI Bulawayo, in Zimbabwe, and have been financially supporting the club since the economic problems in Zimbabwe began, enabling the them to donate more money to local education projects.
The Club discovered that girls in the poorer rural communities of Africa cannot attend school when they are menstruating due to the lack of sanitary towels and knickers. A donation of only £8.00 will provide a year’s supply of sanitary towels and a pair of knickers. By collecting clean clothing, shoes and handbags and selling them for 50p per kilo SI Barnstaple were able to raise funds for this worthy cause.
Lichfield Soroptimists learned of this project at a Midlands Regional Meeting where Vanessa Billing from SI Barnstaple was a guest speaker and decided to help. Club Members emptied their wardrobes and a total of 150 kgs was collected which converted into £88.00. As 100% of the monies raised is given to SI Bulawayo this will provide a years supply of towels and knickers for 11 girls, thus enabling them to continue their education. Vanessa thanked Lichfield club members for their contribution.
