It was Ruth who started the ball rolling! Following last year’s London marathon she was inspired to contact her fellow Soroptimists in the Southern England region and propose that we participate (run or walk very fast!) in the 2011 Brighton marathon to raise funds for Project Sierra. Taking complete leave of my senses I agreed to support her and climbed on board. So here we are a few months down the line and training in earnest for this great endeavour – I should add that we are both first timers and have never done anything remotely like this before, some adventure! We will post pics from time to time to share our agony with the wider Soroptimist community and all of you others out there who are hopefully donating at this site and are non Soroptimist friends and friends of friends and so on…welcome!

What or who are Soroptimists I hear those of you who aren’t one (yet!) ask? Briefly, because I really want to tell you about Project Sierra and why it is so crucial you support us, if possible…Soroptimist International is a vibrant and dynamic organisation for today’s professional and business women. We are committed to a world where women and girls together achieve their individual potential, realise their aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong and peaceful communities worldwide. www.soroptimist-gbi.org for more info.

So why are Ruth and I putting ourselves through this? Here is why…

During the devastating Sierra Leone conflict over half the population was made homeless. Tens of thousands of children and families were orphaned or separated from their families. Boys were recruited as soldiers and forced to commit atrocities, sometimes against their own families. Girls were often held captive for sex and domestic labour.

Project Sierra is a four year partnership, ending in 2011, between Soroptimist International and Hope and Homes for Children which aims to raise over £1 million to transform the lives of some of the most deprived women and children in the world. We will achieve this together with Hope and Homes for Children by strengthening families at risk of breakdown, helping young children living on the streets return home and empowering vulnerable young mothers. Project Sierra will enable more children to grow up in a caring family environment, giving them the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Our partnership with Hope and Homes for Children will, among so much else: improve the health, self-esteem and life chances of thousands of women and children living in abject poverty; integrate the most vulnerable children and young women into family and community life; provide education, training, small business and life skills support so that families can become self sufficient and support their children.

 

 

 

 

 

£10 will provide a family with seeds and tools to grow their own food

£25 will provide a baby care pack

£100 will feed two families for a month

£200 will provide the fees, clothing and equipment for a child to go to secondary school  for a year

£250 will help a mother to start her own small business enterprise

£500 will renovate a family’s home

£2,500  will pay 30 children’s medical costs for a year

more info at www.projectsierra.org
Your support and money is so very much appreciated! Please dig deep and donate now. Thank you.

 

 

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