Annual Report - General Federation of Women's Clubs

International Outreach Community Service ProgramYear in ReviewThe GFWC International Outreach Community Service Program promotes advocacy, education, and action tobetter the quality of life in communities around the world. Below are several examples of international outreachprojects led by GFWC clubs.GFWC Las Noches Woman’s Club (Arizona) providedmuch-needed supplies and monetary support to a clinic inMexico where Dr. Kent Allen provides medical services tounderprivileged men, women, and children. Dr. Allen was afeatured speaker at a club meeting where the women assembledand donated 50 hygiene bags to aid in his cause to give adequatemedical services to the clinic patients in Mexico. In addition tothis donation, a member of GFWC Las Noches Woman’s Clubwent above and beyond by volunteering to travel to the cliniconce a month and donate interpreter services to the doctors whoare working in the triage unit.GFWC Lagniappe Woman’s Club(Louisiana) donated $100 for solarcookers to aid women refugees whowere forced to flee Darfur, Sudan.The GFWC Lagniappe Woman’s Clubworked to ensure these female refugees were able to use solarcookers to sterilize water, allowing them to avoid venturing outfor firewood where they are vulnerable to attack and rape in thewar-torn area of Darfur.The members of GFWC Aiken Woman’s Club (SouthCarolina) found a special place in their hearts for the plightof human trafficking victims. In Nepal, girls from poor familiesare often sold into slavery and exploited by those who are meantto protect them. The clubwomen donated $100 in order to buya young girl out of slavery and give her the life of freedom shedeserves.GFWC Ossoli Circle (Tennessee) participated in Penniesfor Peace in order to raise money to build schools for girls inPakistan and Afghanistan. They were inspired by the speaker,Dr. Gregg Mortenson, who numerous members traveled to hearspeak on the need for schools for young girls. The club created alarge container to be kept at the clubhouse where they collectedpennies to send to the Asia Institute in Montana. The membersalso purchased two of Dr. Mortenson’s children’s books to give tothe schools they adopted. The club shares Dr. Mortenson’s beliefthat education for young women all over the world is a priorityand should be emphasized in all countries.The GFWC Woman’s Club of Smithfield (Virginia) wastouched by a local man’s story of the need in Africa. MagamboInternational Outreach by the NumbersDollars Donated $1,765,686Hours Volunteered 150,919Projects Completed 6,755MeKango was a refugee from the Congo and was able to give backto his local village with the help of The GFWC Woman’s Club ofSmithfield. They donated almost all of the clothing left over fromtheir annual flea market to the men, women, and children of thisvillage. Approximately 100 pieces of clothing were sent to theCongo.The GFWC Woman’s Club of Vinton (Virginia) invited alocal resident, Nancy Strachan, to speak about her mission workin Rwanda. Nancy was inspired to begin work there after hearinga survivor of a Rwandan genocidespeak at a book signing. She gave abrief history about the genocide whichoccurred in Rwanda and explained howthe people there are moving forwardto build a stronger nation. Nancy’smission is to empower the Rwandans,especially women, to rebuild their country’s infrastructureby improving educational opportunities and trade programs.She introduced the club to several campaigns used to fund herprograms in Rwanda. Club members were so moved by herefforts that they donated more than $100 towards the purchaseof 60 pairs of shoes, $25 to help send one child to school, $60 forthe purchase of handcrafted goods from local Rwandan women,and $62 towards handkerchief and coffee sales which benefitedthe Rwandan people.GFWC Florida raised over $300,000 for Heifer Internationalduring the 2008-2010 GFWC Administration. The donationhelped purchase farm animals that assist in the growth of foodfor Third World countries. In 2009, Heifer invited 14 GFWCFlorida members to Peru as part of a Heifer International StudyGroup to see first-hand how their donations were benefitingPeruvian citizens. During the visit, club members witnessedHeifer members teach local citizens how to breed the animalsand utilize them as a food source. They also met with a women’shandcraft association that was struggling to meet the demand forhand-knit sweaters, scarves, and other textiles made from alpacahair. GFWC Florida supported their efforts by purchasing a loomand two knitting machines for the women, which helped themmake and sell larger quantities of textiles. This project was sosuccessful that Heifer posted it as a success story on its websiteat www.Heifer.org/GFWC.8 2009-2010 GFWC ANNUAL REPORT