2010 News

In the Market for Western Heads East

By Karmen Dowling
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

On Thursday, March 25, The Great Hall at Western will be transformed into a lively East African market. Displays, food and wine, busker entertainment, multi-media presentations and a silent auction featuring Tanzanian and Kenyan hand-carved crafts, will all be a part of the fundraising event where proceeds will go to Western Heads East, Western’s community response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa.

Ambassadors of Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Zambia will be in attendance as guests will celebrate the successful women-led, micro-enterprise initiative utilizing probiotic yoghurt developed by two Western professors.

Western Heads East, first established in East Africa in 2004, is a unique collaboration between Western, governmental and non-governmental organizations in Tanzania, Kenya, and more recently, Rwanda. Documented evidence shows that the probiotic yoghurt has health benefits, especially for people with compromised immune systems and suffering from under-nutrition. This simple, life saving technology has formed the core of women-led social businesses in Africa, with a goal to make this probiotic yoghurt accessible and affordable to all community members. So far, 34 Western students and 10 staff members have visited and spent time with the women's groups, government agencies, and institutions of higher learning in these three countries, and these have become our firm partners in the transfer of technology, research and service learning.

Anyone is welcome to experience the unique East African marketplace in the Great Hall on March 25 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and give support to Western Heads East. Tickets are $50 per person, $25 for students. Wine and traditional food will be served. Tickets are available at InfoSource, Books Plus, and the UWO Book Store.

For more information visit: http://www.westernheadseast.ca/event_inthemarket_2010.cfm