This March marks the return of The Mustard Seeds Project‘s infamous fashion show – otherwise known as ‘Knickers for Knowledge’!
As many villagers will already know, the Ruddington based project supports women and girls in rural Uganda through economic projects and educational initiatives. Not surprisingly, COVID-19 has impacted the lives of women in this marginalised area of Uganda very significantly. Schools and clinics have been closed for two years – leading to increased poverty, disease and gender-based violence. Due to the severe lockdown teenage pregnancy cases has risen five times higher than COVID infections.
Meanwhile, fundraising has been most difficult for the charity over the last couple of years, due to the pandemic, so next month’s fashion show is aiming to make a huge impact. Every penny it raises goes directly to the projects and its trustees are all volunteers, who pay their own way when they visit Uganda.
Sally Squires from the project says: “The show marks ‘International Women’s Day’ and not only are we raising funds to support our vital projects but we are also asking for donations on the night of bras in good condition and new packets of knickers! Many girls can’t attend school due to a lack of suitable underwear. Donated items will be sent to our projects.”
She says they can’t wait to celebrate the wonderful work Ruddington has helped them to achieve to better lives in Uganda since 2016: “Together we have funded a school, clinic, and community centre on a forgotten swamp island of 6000 inhabitants called Tisai. Teachers and nurses have been sponspored and we have provided posho (porridge), clean water, and latrines for the children of Tisai. We have supplied chickens, goats, sheep and cows to women’s agricultural projects and esablished a football team to help girls stay in education. In 2019 we sent a container to Uganda filled with resources donated from our community including sewing machines, school and hospital equipment. We are looking forward to celebrating these achievements in person with our fabulous community!”
Sally adds: “This year we will serving fizz and beverages tables so that you can share time with your friends and family, whilst viewing high street clothes from a fantastic new company. We will be holding a raffle, with the opportunity to win two holidays. There is also the opportunity to win a fountain of fizz or visit the popular Bra Bar!”
The Mustard Seed Fashion Show is taking place on Friday March 4th at 7.00pm in St Peter’s School on Ashworth Avenue. Tickets are just £5.00 and available from both our village schools or Jaspers Cafe and Perkins Hardware on Ruddington High Street. The raffle tickets are also available to purchase from the two schools – with dozens of great prizes to be won, many generously donated by Ruddington businesses.
