Travelling to Tanzania every year for the last 10 years has been the norm for retired teacher Erla Koch and her husband Lloyd, a retired hospital CEO, now living in New Hamburg.
Erla was the guest speaker at the May meeting of the Palmerston Branch of Retired Women Teachers of Ontario (RWTO). The couple has been involved with the Canada Africa Community Health Alliance (CACHA) and has been part of seven infrastructure and two medical missions since 2006. Much of their work has centered around helping to improve health care, education and living conditions for the people of Sherati, a village 3km from Lake Victoria. Through fundraising efforts the group has been able to build five kitchens at the secondary schools, which has allowed them to feed 2,500 students, who normally would come to school with no food. With the help of local workers and the donation of a silo from Canada, an aging water tank was replaced at the local hospital, and is now able to supply much needed water.
The teams support the School of Nursing, which provides a three-year program, from which students almost always find a job when they graduate.
HIV is a real concern so much education is needed in this area. Since many single women, many of them grandmothers who have lost their own children to HIV, are raising children on their own, the teams are trying to find ways of making them more independent with some source of income. Helping them to purchase grinding machines and providing sewing classes is where some of the money is used.
Erla is very passionate about the work they do and is most appreciative of the donations they receive to support these ongoing projects. Anyone wishing to donate to “Help the Children of Tanzania Projects” can do so by going to www.cacha.ca. Tina Haldenby thanked Erla and presented her with a donation on behalf of the branch.
Memorial service
In the absence of president Anne Darroch, past president Oriole Blyth welcomed everyone to the meeting. A memorial service presented by Lynn Hodgins, Debra Kalb and Kathy Watt honoured three members who passed away this year. A red rose was placed in memory of Evelyn Almond by Joanne Matthews; Shirley McKay by Leola Pritchard and Meg Burrows by Sandra Cole.
Secretary Joan Woods outlined the branch resolutions to be voted on at the convention in Windsor.
Sandra Cole announced the Walking Club will be meeting in Harriston on June 14 at 10am to walk “Meg’s Trail.”
Book Club members will be enjoying lunch at South Street Cafe in Harriston on June 16 where they will make book choices for next year.
Lynn Morrison reminded all of the Washington, DC trip in September and the Stratford Theatre trip on Oct. 13 to see A Chorus Line. To sign up for the theatre trip contact Lynn before the end of July.
JoAnne Walter is looking for volunteers to help the education committee at this year’s International Ploughing Match in Minto. Volunteers are needed with setup, unloading and loading of school buses and cleaning up after the events. Interested members are asked to contact Joanne Walter or Anne Darroch.
Strawberry social June 24
Blyth presented the ladies of Knox Presbyterian Church with carnations to thank them for providing meals meetings throughout the year. Debra Kalb agreed to stand as 2nd vice-president for the branch and was inducted. The Lucky Draw prize donated by Janet Murphy was won by JoAnne Walter and 13 members paid fines for not wearing their pin.
A cold plate lunch was served.
Blyth reminded everyone to attend the Strawberry Social at Drew Park on June 24.
