News

On the 5 December 2015, students from the Centre for Global Women’s Studies MA programme co-organised a "High Tea for Hamlin", with local Hamlin volunteer Sarah Bettaney.  The coffee morning aimed to celebrate and raise money to help support ongoing efforts to treat and prevent obstetric fistulas in Ethiopia. The fundraiser took place on the NUI Galway campus in the Life Course Institute (ILAS) and was a huge success and exceeded the 1000 Euro target set! MA student Kathryn Castillo took the lead in promoting and co-coordinating the event, with much valued assistance from Katie Hennessy and Global Women’s Studies staff on the day.  It included a short film depicting the work of the Hamlin Foundation in Ethiopia and a raffle of gifts donated from local Galway businesses, including 37 West, An Tobar Nua, The Lobster Pot Resturant, Easons and Marks & Spencers 

All proceeds from the coffee morning went directly to support the invaluable and much needed work of the Hamlin Foundation. Fistula is a child-birth related injury which causes immense but avoidable hardship for many thousands of women each year. Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia is a world-class centre of excellence for treating obstetric fistulas and training doctors to specialise in this surgery. Rehabilitation services such as physiotherapy, counselling and skills training are available to assist patients regain their self-esteem, find meaningful employment and reintegrate to village life.  The ‘High Tea for Hamlin’ fundraiser was also timely in marking the 2015 Annual Campaign of 16 Days of Action to end Gender-Based Violence.