The Buzz for International Women's Day

It is International Women's Day on Monday, March 8th. And in brief, here is what's cookin'!

#HelpTheHive

Throughout March, we really want to help and support The Hive, Mwanza, the project empowering women with albinism and supporting rural beekeepers in Tanzania. There are so many needs all over the world right now but this is one small way we feel we are able to make a difference and we know many of you who have followed our blog know and love these women and beekeepers too. We hope you can get involved in whatever way you are able to!

You can find our Virgin Money Giving Fundraising Page here! 

The girls and I will be using this blog over the following weeks to communicate about the fundraiser and things related, so please come back soon! And get ready for the READY STEADY COOK Hive Challenge! (Details coming soon!) If you have any ideas or things to share, please do post or message as we really want you all to get involved and enjoy this month too! We will also be sharing on social media, so please join us and follow, share and contribute on what's happening with #HelpTheHive!

And now for a bit more story (you all know I am not so good at "brief"!!) 

It feels rather good to be back on the blog ... I realise I miss it! But now I am writing from our little home tucked quietly in the valley near Bath in lockdown and I'm not sure how interesting my posts would be! Our thoughts and prayers are very much with those we love in Tanzania. You may have seen Tanzania featuring on the international news recently, as a country dismissing the need for vaccines as a "respiratory illness" seems to spread across regions... 

There have been so many effects of the virus globally. Physically, mentally, economically, spiritually. It has been devastating in so many ways and yet there have also been many good things that we have seen to come out of it in areas of science, community, faith and values. 

There are huge global issues which personally affect each one of us differently. But we can all help one another in whatever way we can! And as we have seen, it is easier than we perhaps previously thought to be together virtually with those physically very far away. And that is why the girls and I are focussing in March on helping the women and beekeepers in Mwanza, Tanzania. 

As we raise support for The Hive, in particular, we are seeking to raise money to enable Aikande to continue in her role supporting the Upendo wa Mama women and also Bhatendi in her work with rural beekeepers. Aikande and Bhatendi are doing a really amazing job (in very challenging circumstances) working with The Hive and we really want to make sure they have they funding they need to continue this work. As of this month, we are so excited that Aikande will be working officially with Emmanuel International. If you are joining us for the first time, we will be celebrating these two inspirational women more throughout the month and you can find out more about who they are and the work they are doing!

International Women's Day is a good occasion to celebrate and give a voice to women who have been marginalised and recognise women who have made a difference. It is a chance to honour and applaud women who are using their gifts to serve and help in wonderful ways and also an opportunity to for us all to serve and pray for women who are oppressed and hurting. Many women today are looking for value and worth, for equality and rights. As a Christian, I am thankful for the truth I believe, that women are created in God's image, and this is where our true value and worth is found. This is life-changing! And if this is our starting point, we just need to look to the example of Jesus as we see just how valued women are in His eyes. It changed society in the first century and it can do it now!