In the last months of her term as President of the SIGBI Federation, Maureen Maguire travelled extensively to charter new clubs and see the work that members are doing around the world.
Reproduced with kind permission from SIGBI’s newsletter, Soroptimist News December 2012.
In July, I flew to Nepal to charter SI Kathmandu. What delightful, energetic and enthusiastic ladies! I commend them on their project with “village children”. The extreme poverty in which some of these children live is difficult to comprehend until you see it for yourself, but in all of these girls I saw a desire for education. Our new members go to great lengths to ensure that these children will have some support.
After the SI Board meeting in Cambridge, UK, I set off for South Africa and Mauritius. In beautiful Cape Town, I visited Lourier Primary School’s fantastic new library, the brainchild of SI member, Lieske Bester. Then on to the Tea Bag factory, where Soroptimists got together with the owner to establish a business using dried out teabags. The business now employs a number of staff.
The next morning I went to visit St Joseph’s home, where my heart was broken listening to the stories of young children with HIV, AIDs, TB and cancer. I fell in love with a little girl aged two, her hair in pigtails and enjoying the attention. I later learnt that she was suffering from AIDS and found it very difficult to eat because of mouth ulcers. I also visited the Saartjie Baartman Centre for abused women. It is under threat of closure because funding is drying up, but it is an oasis of tranquillity for women and children. Then I got my longed for visit to Table Mountain and a long walk on the top blew all the cobwebs away.
The next morning I flew to Johannesburg and was met by SI South Africa President Makkie Sethsedi, who took me to the Sithabile Child and Youth Centre for abused youth and children, many of whom have been trafficked. Their motto is “A place where children know what it is to be a child”. It’s a wonderful project but they are still waiting for official registration, which means that they live day to day for funding.
The next morning, I visited three of SI Pretoria’s projects: SOS Village, where homeless and parentless children come together in family units, the Tateni Home Care Services project, providing home based care to the chronically and terminally ill, and the Mapula Project, an embroidery group that enables women to make a living, greatly improving their self-esteem.
The SI South Africa National Association Conference was full of friendship and fun with inspiring speakers, finishing with the Change of National Association Officers and post holders.
Off to Mauritius and a warm welcome from SI Port Louis. Companies in Mauritius have to give 2% of profits for Corporate Social Responsibility. The Club has made excellent contacts and obtained susbstantial funding for projects. The following day, after a meeting with the Acting British High Commissioner, I visited the Day Care Centre for the Elderly and jointly officiated in the launch of the Tilapia IT Literacy Project with the Minister for Social Security, then onto an SI Ipsae meeting!
In the morning we visited the Centre d’Eveil Flamboyant Creche and Pre-Primary School, a project that cares for babies and children enabling local women to go to work. I then called on the President of the Republic of Mauritius with both Club Presidents, and were pleased to learn that his major areas of interest are youth, education and poverty, all close to Soroptimists’ hearts.
That evening, there was a gala dinner to celebrate 25 years of SI in Mauritius. The next morning I enjoyed a walk through Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens with lunch on the beach in the sun…what a perfect end to a wonderful visit.
Back in the UK, I was delighted to attend SI Gravesend’s 60th Anniversary lunch and SI East Grinstead’s 50th weekend celebrations.
My next overseas visit was to Uganda, where I chartered the fourth new club of SIGBI in 2011-12 – SI Masaka. I met many new members and we travelled to see two of their projects. The first, Uplift Vulnerable Children and Orphans, rescues children from the streets or abusive parents and gives them a place to sleep, clothes, a daily meal and schooling. These children have seen intense suffering, hearing their stories we could not hold back the tears. Soroptimists in Masaka have saved these children from death and we were very thankful.
Our second visit was to a school, the Angels of Hope in Kabale Bugonzi. The headmistress, Florence Nalubega, was the initiator of the club. She is a women who stands up for what she wants: to improve the lives of women and children in Uganda. We were greeted by all 400 children, who welcomed us with song. We saw the gifts given by the club, seven sewing machines and one knitting machine. The children’s uniform had been produced with the machines, they supply sweaters and dresses for other schools and local children. The income is helping the school and the project teaches invaluable skills.
The following day the Charter ceremony was attended by the Hon. Firidah Munband (Member of Parliament) who gave a large donation and requested that she be considered for membership. What a coup! 28 new members joined SIGBI and there was dancing and great celebration!
Back home in the UK, I joined SI Leeds for the presentations of their Literary Prize, then on to Wales for the 75th Anniversary of SI Llanelli, the AGM of WaterAid, attending a Women of the Year lunch and back home to get ready for the SIGBI Belfast Conference. I take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support, kindness, warmth, friendliness during the past 12 months.