Moms 4 Ethiopia

Sunday, 23 November 2014 07:40

Shelley Green visiting with the women in Korah who make the jewellery and scarves.

Local moms are reaching out to help their fellow women and children in Ethiopia., and they need your help.

WOODSTOCK -- Empowering women and financially supporting children and education is the purpose behind Mothers With A Heart For Ethiopia.

Founder Shelley Green created the organization with two other mothers after returning from her trip to the country when she adopted her young daughter.

Green points out that the group is rapidly growing and is currently looking for volunteers. "We provide support for education, women's empowerment, we have a group home with five boys and a group home mom, and we also provide support for children that are living on the streets. So we have a number of projects and programs that people can support through the volunteering and it really is just the gammit of opportunities for people to get involved."

The organization has two main fundraising avenues; Gems & Java which is an annual event held in the spring and secondly, the sale of jewellery and scarves that are made by women in Ethiopia which not only gives these women an employment opportunity they otherwise may not have, but the funds generated through the sales is used to support the initiatives of Mothers With A Heart For Ethiopia. "It's very gratifying and when I sat down with three of the women this past October to talk about their lives, the realities of their lives are just unbelievable and the poverty that they've lived through and the difference that the employment has made in their lives and their children's lives it just makes the difference of night and day for them. So there's a lot of gratification in doing this kind of work because we know that we're making a profound difference in people's lives."

The organization held a Volunteer Appreciation Night November 14th where they revealed the new jewellery pieces, held an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony and Green shared stories from her recent trip to Ethiopia. Current volunteers were encouraged to bring along a guest who may be interested in learning more about the organization or becoming a volunteer.

Green says they have a number of areas that they are currently looking for volunteers to assist in, including a Treasurer for their Board of Directors.

Other areas are:

Promotions/Engagement Committee:
-Join the committee
-Media/Advertising ideas

Gems & Java Committee:
   -Donate purses/scarves/jewellery
   -Collect purses/scarves/jewellery from friends, family, etc.
   -Assist at one or both of our Gems & Java dates
   -Assist with the set-up of the event
   -Assist with the clean-up of the event
   -Reserve a table of 8
   -Sell tickets
   -Assist at our purse, jewellery, scarf sort and clean day

Necklace & Scarf Committee:
   -Join committee
   -Ask your hairdresser or other business owner to take a jewellery stand to sell to clients
   -Sell necklaces and scarves and make a difference in a woman’s life
   -Help sell scarves and jewellery at displays
   -Provide marketing & promotional ideas
   -Give necklaces and/or scarves as gifts and support lives
   -Administrative support

Education Advisory Committee/School Fundraising Committee:
   -Join the committee to work with schools for fundraising
   -Create ideas for fundraising in schools
   -Lead a fundraiser at your workplace
   -Lead a fundraiser at your school

Group Home Advisory Committee:
-Join the committee
-Administrative Support

General Support:
   -Research topics to support advisory committees
   -Treasurer for the board of directors
   -Administrative support
   -Create a scrapbook to document history and progress
   -Create a database
   -Help at speaking engagements with display tables
   -Marketing ideas and assistance

Green says for anyone interested in learning more about the group, visit their web site www.moms4ethiopia.ca or email info@moms4ethiopia.ca.

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