Dunfermline Conference centre was the setting for this year’s Joint Conference – Scotland North and South Regions. Around one hundred delegates attended this excellent venue. As ever it was good to meet ‘old’ friends and make new ones.
Scotland South President Marain Sapcote chaired the morning session.
The keynote speaker of the day was Sarah Brown, President of Theirworld.
Sarah gave an inspirational talk about the importance of getting all of the world’s children into education both male and female. In particular she spoke of the harrowing experiences of young Syrian children suddenly removed from their homes and of course their schools. Sarah spoke of the very simple solution that her organisation had put forward to educate the children in the refugee camps of Lebanon: have two school sittings per day -Lebanese children early morning to mid-afternoon, refugee children mid-afternoon to evening; the staff coming not only from among Lebanese citizens but also refugees themselves.
Deborah Grossman gave a very informative outline of Barnardos work in Scotland.
It was good to have SIGBI President Margaret Emsley in attendance. Margaret presented Vision 2021- SIGBI Strategic Plan.
The afternoon session was chaired by Scotland North President Jean Campbell.
The highlight of the afternoon session was the Programme Action Award. Three projects were shortlisted out of twenty submissions from across Scotland.
SI Dunfermline Rwenzori Project.
SI Dundee’s Seema’s Project – presented by Pam Cairns.
SI Dundee’s Toilet Twinning Project – presented by Elaine Ferrie.
SI Dunfermline was this year’s worthy winners receiving the Dorothy Lawrie Cup. SI Dundee, although runner up ,was delighted to have had two projects shortlisted.
Well done to the 2016 Joint Conference Team.