Differing needs

20th November
At Lacey Green Memorial Hall today BFWI held a fund-raising lunch for ACWW (Associated Country Women of the World), the organisation to which the WI is affiliated.This is where the Pennies for Friendship collections which the WIs make, go every year. It is a shame that many members know nothing about the work that this worldwide organisation does for rural women wherever they live.Recently BFWI has been collecting for a self-help scheme in Kenya and has raised over £3000 for this group. The money raised today was the conclusion of this particular appeal so we will need to choose another one for the next year. Margaret Mackay who is the UK member of ACWW in charge of projects spoke today about the set-up of the ACWW and described the different kinds of good projects it carries out and then finished with pictures from our adopted scheme. We saw the women planting seeds for fruit and vegetables, setting up irrigation networks and harvesting their crops for home consumption and for sale.We enjoyed listening to Liz Eaton from Oxfordshire Federation of WIs talking about her sponsored cycle ride around Mount Kenya to raise funds for an orphanage for girls near Nairobi.Presently it is caring for 32 girls but wants to expand to hold another 80.This is an on-going project because girls are not valued in Kenya and therefore abandoned at the roadside when they are orphaned: their parents are often victims of HIV/Aids. The boys are more likely to be looked after by grandparents as future workers to bring money into the family.Both speakers made us feel privileged to be where we are with our families well-fed and healthy, living under a roof and able to go to school. If you want to know more about ACWW or become a member go to www.acww.org.uk and about the orphanage visit Liz Eaton's website. Liz will also speak at meetings within a reasonable distance of Oxford.

25th November
It was quite entertaining to be asked to promote the WI at the matinee performance of Calendar Girls at the new theatre in Aylesbury. Actually most of the audience were already members, some from as far afield as Hertfordshire and Cambridge so it was really a case of chatting to friends while waving a great big yellow sunflower in one's hand.I think the evening audiences would be more promising for recruitment purposes. Can you imagine that 4 women I spoke to didn't even know the connection between the calendar and the WI!
In the evening I went along to the meeting about the possible closure of 14 libraries in Bucks. Poor old Andrew Carnegie must be turning in his grave! I think the WIs ought to take this issue to heart and see what the members can do to help. It is no use saying it must not be considered as the savings have to be made. We must make the best job of it that we can and bring positive ideas to the next stage of these public consultation meetings.