Friday 11 July 2008

June News from Ethnic Supplies

June was a very busy month at Ethnic Supplies. We had our first party plan hosted in Hanwell and what a success that was. We were invited back in September as word got out to those that didn't make it to the first event.

On June 12th Ida found herself in church for an entirely different reason and one that is dear to her heart. You see the good folk of Cobham (a small village in Surrey near Ida where lives) had an offer they could not refuse and this offer was in church! A free concert (Recital)from students at the Royal College of Music.

As a student at a local college in Cobham one of the boys had heard
about the plight of children in Northern Uganda and vowed to do something to help. He has now put a group together (that one that played last night) at St Andrews Church in Cobham, they are now going on the tour of Northern France to play at various venues and the money will go towards helping children and young people in
Nothern Uganda

There is a lot of money in Cobham and when the campaign to MAKE POVERTY HISTORY started these dear people took it up and joined hands with the folk at African Revival.To date they have raised £50,000 towards schools, health centres, commercial projects for children in Zambia, Uganda, Sudan and Malawi.

Last night £1800 was raised and that is enough to eduate 5 young people for a whole year or to feed 1800 children a day! What a result!

On June 21st Ida joined the THE ASSOCATION OF SPOUSES OF AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSINONERS AND AMBASSADORS at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensingto at their annula Gala dinner and this year's theme was the Economic Empowerment of Africa Women

Amongst the glitz and glamour was a very serious message delivered by the First lady of Zambia. African women are the back bone of the economic development of any African nation. There are obstacles in the way that must be addressed, including HIV and Aids, poor literacy and education, access to the market, domestic violence equality access to legal process, land and financial independence!

Ida was fortunate to be at this event as this message is very close to us and is the basis of our business here at Ethnic Supplies. It was indeed heartening to see that the issue has been taken up by the Diplomats. Examples of what has been acheived thus far were highlighted specifically that representaion by women on governing councils such as OAU (Organisation of African Unity) and above all the fact that there is a lot of work to do!

So what do you think? Do African women deserve special treatment? Are they indeed the back bone of the Economic development of African nations? If you think so why?

On June 28 we joined the Madagascar Embassy in London at their National day. At this event Ida came across other African women working in southern and Eastern Africa to find natural solutions to health problems.Ida pledged to hep the embassy with it's programme to link Malagasy schools with British schools. Ida took the first step towards this goal the following day when she connected the Embassay to a governor of a school in Surrey.

No comments: