Support Hair Ties for Hamlin
Everyone knows scrunchies are a thing right? Well PDHPE teacher, Miss Minifie, and Year 11 are busily making scrunchies to raise money for the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation (CHFF). And you can help too.
Obstetric fistula is a horrific childbirth injury that inflicts shame and misery on more than one million women across Africa and Asia. Legendary Australian obstetrician, Dr Catherine Hamlin AC and her late husband Reg founded the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, they have treated nearly 55,000 women and girls, restoring their health and dignity, and giving them a second chance at life.
Miss Minifie was recently awarded a Wenona Teaching Fellowship to travel to Ethiopia in November to gain an insight into the inspirational work of the CHFF. As part of her Fellowship, Miss Minifie has committed to raising $15,000. This money will go directly to the CHFF and will either fund: life-changing surgery for 15 patients; 20 life-saving Caesarean operations for former fistula patients; or midwifery training for a local Ethiopian woman so that she can assist women and girls in her community to give birth safely.
Year 11 are determined to help Miss Minifie reach her target. With support from our wonderful Textile and Design teachers, Miss Waud and Ms Menniti, Year 11 students have been devoting their lunchtimes to making scrunchies and will be selling them to the rest of the School later this term.
Senior School students will be able to purchase scrunchies during lunchtime in Weeks 6 and 7. Junior School students will be able to purchase them from Year 11 students, who will go along to Woodstock and Hooke House, during Monday to Wednesday lunchtimes In Weeks 6 and 7.
On Wednesday 19 September, Year 11 will hold a Hair Ties for Hamlin Day for all students at Wenona. For a gold coin donation, girls will be able to wear their scrunchie to School.
Miss Minifie and Year 11 are still in need of fabric. If you have any fabulous off-cuts that could be used to make scrunchies, please send it in to School and your daughter’s teacher will pass it on to Miss Minifie. If you wish to find out more about this worthwhile cause, you can contact Miss Minifie directly by email: cminifie@wenona.nsw.edu.au
Ut Prosim, that I may serve is not just Wenona’s school motto, it is a value that we instil into every girl here. By educating our girls about the work of people like Dr Hamlin to improve healthcare for women in the developing world, we inspire them to be courageous and compassionate, and to believe in their own personal capacity to enact positive change.