Erica Hicks, 20, who has lived on the Isles of Scilly most of her life took a gap year between college and university last year. This is not unusual, however, not many people chose to take a trip to Africa to help educate children over there. Before returning from the six-month experience, she pledged to raise money for the children she taught in Tanzania.
The Grand Summer Ball in Tresco’s Community Hall on Saturday 5 July will raise money: ‘In aid of the KIWOHEDE project in Tanzania for the education of abused and under-privileged girls.?
For those interested in going tomorrow, the dress code with black tie, but ?heels must not be worn in the Hall.? There will be a buffet supper, live music and an aution of local artworks. Tickets cost ?20 from Tideline, Phoenix Stained Glass or Tresco Stores. Boats will leave St Mary’s at 7:40 and 8:40 pm, and return at 11:45 pm and 12:45 am, return tickets cost ?5.
Miss Hicks took six-months out, helping educate African girls as a part of the KIWOHEDE (Kiota Women’s Health and Development Organization) project. In a special edition of Scilly up-to-date she says of her experience:
“Yesterday my session at KIWOHEDE was cancelled because, when I got there, the girls had to have a rehearsal in preparation for this morning (a television crew are supposed to be coming over for a programme).
“It was really awful. This girls had to stand up in front of everyone and tell their life stories. They were all trying really hard not to break down … One of the girls had been forced into being circumsized, another had had to work looking after and cooking for children who were older than her - for no money. One day she burned the food and, after having been severely beaten by her employer, managed to run away. She said all she wanted was to go to school, so, after a lot of hard work, she managed to save up 3,000 Tsh (about ?2.40). She took the money to a head-teacher in order to start but the head took the money and chased her away. … all the girls, who has mostly been crying, suddenly became hysterical and started sobbing and screaming on the floor. … The social worker, who had come for the afternoon, informed me that two of the girls had been possessed by the devil. Right. I didn’t know quite how to respond to that. The girls were pretty much all OK by the end of the afternoon and even came to see if iI/i was alright because iI?d/i been crying.”
Erica’s article concludes: “The co-ordinators … do their best to help the girls; they counsel them, provide shelter and an encouraging environment, organise home visits, prepare informal classes and inspect workplaces looking for other neglected girls. However, with little money available, it is often a struggle to provide even the basics for the girls, let alone fulfil many of their dreams of going to school. The counsellors help (the girls) to come to terms with their past, but often, the girls are forced back into the same way of life simply because there is no alternative; because there is no money.”
All proceeds from the ball will be going to the KIWOHEDE project.