CFUW Etobicoke Centennial Project: The Little Sun
Photo: Rikka Tupaz/UN Migration Agency (IOM) 2017
What is the Little Sun Project?
The Little Sun is a portable solar lamp being provided to impoverished and displaced women and girls in Ethiopia as part of an emergency non food dignity kit. The solar lamp provides economical and safe light, allowing a woman or girl to study at night, move in the dark, prepare meals or care for a family member in their shelter.
The Little Sun Project is an example of how a small thing can make a big difference to the lives of women and girls. It is an affordable charitable gift with a huge impact.
It has been nine months since 40-year-old Ardom Mohamedabdi was displaced with her family of ten and resettled next to Adadle town in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Among the limited household possessions that Ardom and her family managed to carry, or received through humanitarian assistance, there is one particular item which she values most — the Little Sun solar light. “This light has become a real little sunshine in our house. We use it at night to cook and organize our place,” she said. “Without this light it was dangerous to walk around at night.” The solar light has given this mother the security to go out to the toilet or meet up with neighbours at night.
The CFUW Perth and District Club spearheaded this initiative for International Women’s Day and is encouraging other clubs to join them on this worthwhile project. The CFUW Etobicoke executive has agreed to take on this initiative and club members Mary Hilborn and Susan Menary are making it happen. CFUW is working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) the UN Migration Agency in the Somali region of Ethiopia, ensuring that lamps are provided to women and girls most in need. All funds raised will go towards purchase of lamps.
How can I learn more about the Little Sun Project?
You can see the Little Sun lamps in the photo above and below. It has been designed after Ethiopia’s Meskel Flower, and will be part of an emergency non-food item dignity kit for women and girls in Ethiopia. The following links provide some background information:
How can you help?
You can help by making a donation. You can learn the stories of the Ethiopian migrant women and girls. You can share the stories with family, friends, co-workers, and so on, and ask them if they would like to make a contribution too, then bring it along to the next meeting. You can volunteer at the Little Sun Project table at our monthly meetings. You can give the Little Sun as a gift for a birthday, Christmas present, in honour of a loved one, or any other special occasion. When you do this, we will provide you with a Certificate of Appreciation to give to the recipient. Certificates can be picked up at the Little Sun Project table or printed by you when you click here. The attached information Sheet can also be printed to provide an explanation of the Little Sun Project. Click here to access.
How to donate?
Donations will be accepted at each general meeting at the Little Sun Project table. You may give cash. You may write a cheque, payable to CFUW Etobicoke, with comment “Little Sun”. You may use Interac e-Transfer if you do electronic banking. Indicate transfer to treasurer@cfuwetobicoke.ca, send by email, select the account the transfer is coming from and the amount. “The security question is To What Country Are We Sending The Lamps? The security answer is – Ethiopia.” In the message section write, Little Sun Project.
All the money collected will go directly to the United Nations – International Organization of Migration (IOM) in Ethiopia, for the purchase of the Little Sun solar lamps from the Little Sun company in Germany. Note: CFUW Etobicoke is not a registered charity and is not able to issue tax receipts for this project.
The Little Sun Project is one initiative that CFUW Etobicoke is undertaking to honour the Centennial of CFUW in Canada. This project fulfills the vision of CFUW to take action internationally in support of women’s education, cultural and social status. The Little Sun Centennial Project will continue to May 7, 2019. Our goal is to collect $5000.00
UPDATE! The project was a tremendous success exceeding our expectations. The total funds raised were $7385.00.
A heartfelt Thank You to every person who contributed time, money, materials, ideas, strategy, and for sharing the Little Sun story.
From the Little Sun Committee, Mary Hilborn, Susan Menary, Karen Henderson, Mary Horgan and Christena Chruszez.