THE image of the Mothers? Union only being applicable to any mother over 60 who is able to provide tea and cakes is being challenged by the Whitchurch Mothers? Union at St Andrew?s. The organisation, in addition to the support it gives mothers and families, is also a campaigning organisation in this country and overseas. Throughout 2007 the Whitchurch group is raising money for the MU Literacy and Development Programme in Burundi, Malawi and Sudan. Designed to use a holistic approach and do more than just make people literate, the programme uses participatory skills to enable community members, men and women, to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills whilst discussing and planning action on issues and challenges they face on a daily basis. It has been found that children born to mothers with no education are twice as likely to die in infancy as those born to mothers with even a few years schooling. There will be a Strawberry Tea on Saturday, June 23 in Whitchurch Village Hall from 3pm to 5pm to raise money for the programme, at the cost of £2.50 per tea. Everyone is welcome.
