Brixham Soroptimists have voted to support the Mayenziwe Project for the next 4 years.

The Mayenziwe Project

Raising resources for rural education in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Supported by Archbishop Desmond Tutu

The Mayenziwe Project's Aims
+ To provide a mobile library and teaching resource centre for the thirty local primary schools
+ To sponsor native English-speaking classroom assistants for English teaching
+ To continue helping rebuild and maintain school buildings
+ To persuade the Province's education department to develop further similar projects

We have a personal contact with the project in Chris Hellyer - he has been to talk to the club about the project - and he will suggest particular schemes that we can support.

Chris Helyer the local project co-ordinator

Club president Pam Evans on the left and Rosemary Ponfield who introduced this project to our club

Local Projects

SI Brixham Programme Action A - Z - as compiled by Programme Action Officer Ann, ably assisted by Julia.

A - Awareness, Advocacy and Action - and Adopt a Minefield - a coffee morning was held to raise awareness and to raise money.

B - Blood Donors - the local blood donor sessions are held 3 times a year in a local hall - we help to provide teas and coffees for the donors.

C - Childline - old mobile phones were collected and sent to the Blue Peter appeal - each phone raosed £3.

D - Devon Air Ambulance - Christmas street collection in conjunction with Rotary raised over £1.000.

E - Environment - Beach Watch - survey for the Marine Conservation Society logging items found on the beach.

F - foreign money to raise money for Ockenden.

G - Gardening - we assist with the upkeep of some of the gardens at the local Cheshire Home.

H - Harvest Supper - on this evening we held a raffle to raise money for seeds and saplings to be sent to Africa through the 'Send a Cow' appeal.

I - Indigo - local award-winning play area, the Indigo project, suffered an arson attack - we donated money to help the re-building of this facility.

J - Junk food - met with local MP to lobby against junk food advertising and food machines in schools.

K - Kenya - RUSH - we have recently adopted an overseas project with local connections.

L - Laywell Residential Home - we have been involved with the home for many years, providing furnishings and regular visits.

M - Moonlit Walk - several members took part in a sponsored evening walk along the coastal path from Brixham to Torquay to raise money for cancer.

N - Nutrition - members gave a simple healthy eating cookery demonstration at a Young Carers Saturday club.

O - Osteoporosis - A library display and a an education day at a local school to raise awareness for young people on the importance of healthy eating to care for their bones.

P - Pool - The indoor and outdoor pools in Brixham are run by volunteers - we help to support both financially and administratively.

Q - Quayside Fair - annual fundraiser on Brixham Quay.

R - Resolution 1325 - 50 postcards sent to the Secretary General of the UN to implement resolution 1325.

S - Steam Fayre - we run a tea tent at this event, a good fundraiser and a good advertisement for Soroptimism.

T - Trawler Race - local annual event - again, a tea tent.

U - Understanding Fair Trade - in all our events we use Fair Trade when possible and support Fair Trade Week.

V - Violence Against Women - we support our local refuge and help to raise awareness.

W - Women Walking for Women - a sponsored walk in which we were joined by other local women's organisations.

X - Xecutive committees! Several members serve on local executive committeess - local carers, chamber of trade, indoor/outdoor pools, etc.

Y - Youth Enquiry Service - we have raised money for this and support the organisation.

Z - Zoo - following a talk on Paignton Zoo we made a donation towards their environmental work.