A fundraiser in Newport next month will raise money for beds, blankets and food for women and children escaping family violence in Uganda.
Four years ago, Tricia Salau, Jill Bilston and Kim Reilly, who were all working or volunteering at Altona’s Louis Joel Centre, established a project to help women from the Bwindi region start their own business and generate an income to support their families.
In 2013, the trio raised $10,000 to build a hostel and refuge for family violence survivors from communities surrounding the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
The Bwindi Community Project Uganda is now focused on furnishing the refuge and buying supplies for women often fleeing with nothing.
“One side of the hostel is to be a refuge for women in need of crisis accommodation,” Ms Salau said. “The other side is to be affordable accommodation for volunteers at the Bwindi Community Project.”
Ms Bilston said the Newport fundraiser would be at Paris Lane, corner North Road and Hall Street, from noon-3pm on October 24.
She said the owner would donate 20 per cent of all sales from the day to the Bwindi refuge.
Items for sale include clothing, jewellery and accessories.
