Sunset Hill area Girl Guides in Alberta, Canada raised over $500 for AWF earlier this year. The girls collected donations throughout the month of May by participating in AWF’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes penny fundraiser program.
Each year the district undertakes an international fundraising project. This year, 14 year old Pathfinder Siobhan Owen suggested AWF as the beneficiary. Armed with statistics from AWF’s website, Siobhan and her district manager Pauline talked to each unit about the need for access to clean water in Africa and about how the money they raised would be used to help. When speaking to the units Siobhan would bring a 4 litre jug of water along and the girls would take turns trying to carry it around the room on their heads to get an idea of the effort involved in having to transport water each day.
Siobhan chose AWF because of the fact that 100% of donations received goes directly to the well building projects. Being an all female organization, the girls also liked the idea that they were aiding the women and girls who bear the primary burden of obtaining water each day.
Nearly 100 girls ages 6 – 18 participated. They raised money in a variety of ways: doing chores, soliciting donations and collecting recyclables. Each unit brought the money they raised to the advancement ceremony at the end of May. The girls collected a grand total of $538.20!
The AWF salutes Siobhan and all the girls who participated for their dedication in helping the people of Africa.
