 | | | | | | 'Women Changing Lives in Africa' - An Evening of Celebration
| | | Celebrities, leaders of national organisations, country directors from Africa, Government officials and members of the press were among more than 200 people who attended the Evening of African Culture, organised by Vita at the European Commission offices in EU house, April
The theme of the evening was on women changing lives in Africa, and how hunger and climate change affects everyone in the world regardless of their native country.
John Weakliam, chief executive of Vita, a former banker, who has lived in Eritrea for more than 12 years, said that women in Ireland and women in Africa have much in common. They have common objectives of providing for their families and in attaining better standards of living and quality of life from scarce resources.
Like the women of the ICA in Ireland who for over 100 years led thinking and development here, the women of many parts of Africa are now to the forefront of development there. | | | | Click here to read full report by Tom Carroll | | Pictures by Liam Mulcahy and Tom Carroll | | |  | | Jessica Steinitz, USA, Rachel Gililland, Vita, and Patricia Gray USA, all Trinity College graduates at at the Evening of African Culture |
| | |  | | Tom Barry, member of the board of Vita, Smret Kahsai, Richard McQuillan and Ann King-Hall McQuillan during the talk on Women Changing Lives in Africa |
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|  | | John Weakliam, chief executive officer, Vita |
|  | | Salome Mbugua, AKIDWA director speaks about the role of women in Africa |
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| | |  | | Brendan Casey, chairman of board of Vita |
|  | | Smret Kahsai from Eritrea leading a lively African dance |
|  | | Mary O’Kennedy, of Mary O’Kennedy Consulting, a native of Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, advisers to Vita, Liam Lynam, Co. Wicklow, fundraising adviser to Vita, Diane Orr, Shankill, Co. Dublin and Meuret Kaleb, Ethiopia |
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| | |  | | Asfaw Mekuria, Ethiopia country director for Vita, with his wife Mehret |
|  | | Ballyouskill Vita Friends of Fr. Kevin Doheny group presented a giant cardboard cheque for €9,000 to Vita. They had raised the funds from events held throughout the year. From l-r are: Asfaw Merkuria, Kathleen Mooney, Frank Brennan, chairman of Ballyouskill Vita Friends of Fr. Kevin Doheny group, Patsy Cody, Ballyouskill, Fr. Norman Fitzgerald, Cssp, president and co-founder with Fr. Kevin Doheny, Ballinakill, of Vita, formerly The Irish Refugee Trust. |
|  | | Tigisti Ghitmay, Liya Mesfin, Ruth Twegaye and Ribyia Musa in national costume who demonstrated African dance to the attendance |
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| | |  | | Iyassu Ghebrerufael, Eritrea country director for Vita, with April's edition of the Vita Update Newsletter which highlights the key role of women for development in Africa |
| | |  | | Heinok, Adyam Amanuel, Asmeret Teklai and Minasie Haile at the evening of African culture |
|  | | John Weakliam, chief executive officer, Vita, Eanna ni Lamhna, RTE Radio One, Ciara Feehely, Eirgrid and Larry O'Loughlin member of board of Vita |
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|  | | Members of the Ballyouskill Vita Friends of Fr. Kevin Doheny group from the Laois/ Kilkenny border, Ger Carroll, on left and Patsy Coady, on right, with Bernadette McKenna of Vita |
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Show your support
for women in Africa.
For further information
or to donate now,
contact Teresa
(01) 8820108,
info@vita.ie
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|  | | Sr. Patricia Fahy, Bobby Gahan, former deputy director general RTE, Éanna ní Lamhna, RTE Radio One, Deirdre Ruane, Ballina, Co. Mayo, a Vita monitor of community led projects in Eritrea and Ethiopia, Sr. Juliet Walsh and Sr. Mary Concannon from the Sisters of Mercy |
|  | | Tom Carroll, programme officer, Vita, Salome Mbugua, AKIDWA director, Larry O'Loughlin, Vita board member and Teagasc area manager, and John Wallace, company secretary of Vita, former popular AIB bank manager, Portlaoise |
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