Zarina Hasan; Majorie Rennie; Ruth Elizabeth Rouse; Mayor’s Consort; Mayor Julie Mills; Louise Service
TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF GIRLS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH
London, England – Saturday November 12 2011
Grenada joined other members of the Commonwealth on Saturday November 12th at the Kensington Town Hall in London, United Kingdom, at the Annual Commonwealth Fair hosted by the Commonwealth Countries League, in its 86th Year.
The Fair was officially opened by Patron of the Commonwealth Countries League The Rt Hon Baroness Boothroyd OM., P.C. with welcome remarks from Fair Chairwoman Mrs Zarina Wajid Hasan, spouse of the High Commissioner for Pakistan, CCL President Louisa Service and CCL Chair and Fair Co-coordinator, Majorie Rennie. The Fair was also graced with the presence of the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Trinidadian-born, Councillor Julie Mills.
The High Commissioner, who served as Deputy Chairwoman for the 2011 Fair, was joined by staff of the High Commission and volunteers from the following Grenadian Community Groups in the United Kingdom:
The Grenada Voluntary Hospital Committee
The League of Friends (UK) Grenada
The St. John’s (Grenada) Educational Trust
The Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique Arts Promotion Trust
Other friends and volunteers.
The High Commission for Grenada has been an active Fair participant for many years, with two stalls, promoting fruits, flowers, spices and food.
There are currently ten Grenadian girls from secondary schools around the
Grenada stall
Island who benefit from the scholarship programme. Grenada’s participation at the Fair was supported by the Grenada Marketing and National Importing Board (GMNIB) and Mr. Denis Noel of Noelville Ltd.,
In a year when the Commonwealth Theme “Women As Agents of Change” was widely supported and examined, the High Commissioner was pleased to see the strong support for the Education of girls in Commonwealth Countries. There was a steady stream of visitors throughout the day and the High Commissioner has expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who volunteered their services as well as the many who attended.
The CCL’s charitable arm is the CCL Education Fund which sponsors bright needy girls to give them equal opportunities for secondary/high school education in their own countries. Over 3000 girls from challenging backgrounds, have been supported in this way. Their progress is closely monitored and their success stories are heart-warming.
The philosophy behind the CCL’s work is that educated girls with a highly developed sense of responsibility are more likely to provide a better future for themselves as well as for their communities. Sponsorship has enabled our girls to enter many professions. The scheme enables girls, who have academic potential but whose parents or guardians cannot support them financially, to continue their secondary education in their own Commonwealth country. Even where secondary education is free help may be needed with providing school uniform or writing materials, transport costs, tuition and examination fees and incidental expenses.
CCLEF: Commitment to Changing Lives through Education and Friendship.
High Commission for Grenada – London – November 12 2011
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