SoroptiVoiceBLOG

This week's SoroptiVoice Blog comes from SI Past President Margaret Lobo. In October she attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Australia. While she was there, she had the pleasure of meeting with James Grainger, CEO of the Fistula Trust, and Catherine Hamlin, who shared an exciting update from Desta Mender village in Ethiopia - the site of 'Restoring Dignity, Securing a Future' - the 2007 December 10th Appeal selected by Margaret.

Just prior to CHOGM I had an e-mail from James Grainger, CEO of the Fistula Trust in Australia, to say he and Catherine Hamlin will be in Perth for two days to attend the Empowering Women to Lead event during the CHOGM and would like to meet me. I made contact and met with them for dinner on the Wednesday soon after they arrived from Sydney.

Many of you will remember ‘Restoring Dignity’, the 2007 December 10^th Appeal when I was SI President. This appeal supported the Adis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia. As part of the appeal, SI funded the Juniper Café at Desta Mender Village.  Desta Mender (“Village of Joy” in Amharic) is an idyllic farm village set on 60 acres, only 17 kms from Addis Ababa. Seated at the foot of a mountain with over 300 fruit trees, it currently houses 50 women with chronic long-term injuries, accommodating pre-operative patients for the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. 

Catherine opening the Desta Mender Juniper Cafe after the 2007 appeal

New restaurant and admin building, 2011 

“Restoring Dignity – Securing a Future” in Ethiopia – is going from strength to strength. As there were extra funds left after the Juniper Café and the training of girls, the following has been done with the help of these funds:

1. The café has had to be extended as it is very busy;
2. A new restaurant has been built which is being used for dinners and functions;
3. A sewing building has been developed where girls are learning tailoring;
4. Some of the girls have been given a micro finance loan in addition to their training;
5. Some of the girls have already gone to live independently and are growing vegetables and keeping chickens (selling eggs – Catherine buys some every week!);
6. A hostel is to be built as there is still money left over from our funds.

                                                    Sewing centre - under construction, 2011

This is great news and Catherine was clearly thrilled as she told how happy the girls are to be independent and be able to teach others.

All the above is happening at Desta Mender Village because of the funds we raised! Catherine and James said a very special thank you to all Soroptimists for their contributions, as do I!