American Women’s Club (AWC) supports 13 charitiesby a variety of resources. But those who have the calling to work as staff for these charities are rarely thanked or reconginized. So each Christmas AWC provides gift bags of food for the staff of our charities. We gather in one room to fill “go-to-Ghana” bags with flour, gary, pasta, beans, casava, rice, tomato paste, sardines, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and other small nessecities. Over One hundred bags were organized and distributed this year.
The International Women’s Society hosted a major fundraiser to support their charities. To raise funds they authored a coffee table book celebrating the last fifty years of the Fashion Industry in Nigeria. This book features women who set the pace. Women who defied society and the fear of being outcast by not going into the “professional jobs” after colonization. Women with passion who decided to make fashion their careers. This coffee table book was launched in the most festive astmosphere. The highpoints included three unique fashion shows, flamingo dancers, and the selling of the first copy of the book, which was autographed by every designer featured in the book. The book sold to a Nigerian Woman Senator, Senetor Daisy, for One Million Naira! I was lucky enough to obtain a book boxed in traditional fabric with several designer autographs also. What an afternoon!
All the proceeds of this book are going toward the running of the IWS Home for Abandoned Children in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria.
September 29th was the big day. A group of expatriate women have put together a collection of recipes for sips, snacks, soups, salads, savories and sweets. The result is “Small Chop”. Small Chop was launched and we were invited to enjoy homemade treats taken straight from the pages of this cookbook. It was a delightful afternoon.
All the proceeds go 100% to supporting the Ishahayi Beach School which is located just a 10 minutes’ walk from our very own beach house. The school is 70 students and growing. The funds raised today will go toward a library for the students.
The American Women’s’ C was privileged to host their annual tea on the grounds of the American Consulate General ‘s Residence in Ikoyi. It is a beautiful wide lawn backing on the waters of the Bight of Benin, peaceful and away from the bustle of Lagos. We were re-acquainted with old friends to the tunes from the US Navy Band. Bill Stafford, the current CG, was our guest speaker. His wife, Kathleen was proclaimed the honorary President of the AWC. It was afternoon of wine and cheese from La Pointe (the local French grocery) and savories and sweets from the GQ (the American Guest Quarters). Several of the AWC scholarship students attended as well as the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Fashola, (the Lagos state Governor’s wife).