A group of village WI members have been threading links with women in the developing world to help a school for orphans in Kenya with an unusual Christmas present.
A stitch in time
Harmer Hill WI heard a talk from Dave Queen of the Thomas Adams School in Wem last month about a trip he was planning to visit Miriu School in Kenya, and after the meeting they asked if there was anything they could do to help.
Mr Queen told Margaret Wellings, from the group, that what the Kenyans really needed was a sewing machine to make school uniforms.
She went out and bought one and gave it to Mr Queen to take to Kenya, and last week members of the WI were given photos showing the sewing machine out in Kenya.
The group also purchased a goat to provide the orphans with milk, which has since given birth to twins.
Harmer Hill WI, which has 29 members, has not been involved with the Kenya project before, although they have raised money for schools in Burundi in the past. They have now made the Miriu School their charity for 2009.
Mr Queen said he was now calling on other women’s groups who would like to get involved to get in touch with him at the school on 01939 237000.