Feedback on the 46th Ladies Seminar

Robyn introduced Emily Higginson who attended the Rotary Cannington 46th Ladies Seminar. Robyn also attended.

The theme of the seminar was "The Strength of Women" and was held at the Hyatt Hotel in Perth on 8th August. Eight ladies from Collie attended. The seminar had three speakers, raffles, fashion parade and several stall of information.

The first speaker talked about the School of St Yarad, an Ethiopian school of 192 students started by a young man who lost his parents to tuberculosis. The school is privately funded and allows students a higher standard of education than government schools. Rather than learn by rote, the students are more hands-on learning. They are provided with two meals per school day, textbooks, transport and a uniform. Sponsorship is $1100 per student.

Wendy Trow of One Family - Schools of Hope gave a presentation on improving education in Cambodia a country still recovering from the Khmer Rouge guerilla war. Wendy was a volunteer under the government's Volunteers for International Development program. Wendy was mainly involved with getting community involved with supporting schools and health centres. Transport is a major issue and a recycle program was implemented where for a $100 a student could be given a bicycle to help get to school. Also assisting with having books printed in the Khmer language. The provision of chickens to families helped create an income from eggs and poultry to support families.

The third speaker, Jo Reesh spoke on sex education and hygiene in Ethiopia. Days for Girls is a program for providing sanitary products to girls such as bags that don't look like sanitary items. Education of boys an girls is also conducted to allay taboos around sex and periods. There is a sew-a-thon being organised in Perth to make these items and if anyone wished to volunteer, contact Jo Reesh.

The seminar was given a lighter note from Fred Rae, a guitar player and comedian. There were raffles and door prizes to make the seminar more interesting.

A good day was had by all who attended. On behalf of the club, Eric Parsonage thanked Emily for her presentation on the 46th Cannington Ladies Seminar.