SI Poole, Purbeck and District has a Friendship Link with SI Kathmandu and after the earthquakes that struck the country in April and May 2015 we sent money direct to their bank account to assist the members with their distribution of water, blankets, tents etc to the affected areas.
Subsequently, while the frontier with India was closed, there was a problem in getting supplies, and a member of SI Kathmandu who was studying in the UK advised us that it would be helpful to knit warm hats, blankets, and other such items suitable for babies.
In April 2016 we began meeting monthly to knit and sew together these items of warm clothing. The project snowballed and we have received items from SI Bournemouth and SI Winchester as well as from family and friends. Another of our Friendship Links, SI Hagen (Germany), participated in a knitting session during their visit to Poole in October 2016.
Every month we send to Kathmandu a box containing 2kg of knitted items, together with a greetings card assuring our Soroptimist sisters that they are often in our thoughts.
We have also provided items for the Kori project organised by SI Thames Valley, to Poole Hospital, and to the ‘Jungle’ in Calais.
To date we have distributed a total of 455 hats, 50 blankets, 71 hat & pullover sets, 13 pullovers and 30 sets of bootees.
In December 2016 we were thrilled to receive from SI Kathmandu photos of the items being distributed at the Paropakar Maternity Hospital. We are delighted to be able to provide practical help to our dear friends of SI Kathmandu.