Western Heads East hosts African ambassadors at fundraising showcase

On Thursday, March 25 from 5 to 8 p.m., The Great Hall, located in Room 3335D, Somerville House, will be transformed into a lively East African marketplace as Western Heads East hosts a fundraising showcase gala. The visiting ambassadors will be the event’s guests of honour.

Program participants will share their experiences via multi-media presentations while food, beverages and busker entertainment will be enjoyed by all. The event will also feature a silent auction boasting hand-carved crafts made by Tanzanian and Kenyan crafters and paintings from local London artists. Grand prizes include a Via Rail trip for two from London to Montreal and a Travel CUTS return flight to London, England.

Tickets are $50 ($25 for students) and can be purchased at the door.

Established in 2004, Western Heads East is the university community’s response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. The goal of the Western Heads East project is to establish disease-fighting probiotic yoghurt programs – developed by Western faculty members Dr. Gregor Reid of the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry/Lawson Health Research Institute and Dr. Sharareh Hekmat from Brescia University College – in participating East Africa nations.

At the heart of the project is the empowerment of women (known now as ‘yoghurt mamas’) to establish community kitchens that make a sustainable difference in African communities. Documented evidence shows that the probiotic yoghurt has health benefits, especially for people with compromised immune systems and suffering from under-nutrition. This simple, life-saving technology has formed the core of women-led social businesses in Africa, with a goal to make this probiotic yoghurt accessible and affordable to all community members.

To date, 34 Western students and 10 staff members have visited and spent time with the women’s groups, government agencies, and institutions of higher learning in Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda, and these three East African nations have become Western’s firm partners in the transfer of technology, research and service learning.

For more information, please visit www.westernheadseast.ca

MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff Renaud, Senior Media Relations Officer, 519-661-2111, ext. 85165