The fabulous DJ and television presenter Lauren Laverne has launched Oxfam’s new fundraising campaign Get-together, to raise money for women around the world.
Lauren was joined by Miquita Oliver and Whistles’ Jane Sheperdson, who both spoke about visiting Oxfam’s programmes and seeing how the charity’s work is transforming the lives of women.
A host of other female celebrities including Shazia Mirza attended the exciting event on 17th January 2012 in London in support of the campaign.
There are 1.3 billion people living in poverty worldwide – more than two-thirds of them are women and girls. Lauren and pals are leading by example aiming to inspire UK ladies to get together and hold their own fundraising events for International Women’s Day on 8th March.
Oxfam is inviting women to arrange anything from a dinner party or cocktails to an afternoon of knitting or doing a favourite work-out routine, all to raise money to support women living in poverty around the globe. Oxfam hopes women around the country will jump at the chance to get involved as a survey carried out by the charity reveals that many UK women don’t get together with friends as much as they would like.
According to the survey, 54% of British women get together with their girlfriends less than once a month and this figure rises to 62% amongst the 35-44 age group who are often juggling careers and young children. The survey also showed that 58% of women say one of their biggest motivations for getting together with friends is to have fun, while 63% say they are looking for good company, and 44% want to catch up on gossip.
The Get-together events will be a great way of catching up with friends, and what better reason to get together than to raise vital funds to support other women worldwide.
Every minute a woman with no medical care dies in pregnancy or childbirth, but £46 raised through a Get-together coffee morning could enable Oxfam to train a midwife in Ghana, saving the lives of babies and their mothers.
Two thirds of all children denied school are girls, but £135 raised at a dinner party with friends could train five teachers in Mali, providing a whole generation of children with the skills they need to work their way out of poverty.
Get-together ambassador Laverne says: “Nothing beats a night out with your favourite ladies - and what better excuse for a get together than to raise money to help other women around the world? On 8th March we want everyone to celebrate International Women’s Day by hosting a Get-together which raises money for Oxfam and is fantastic fun. I’ve started organising mine already!”
For more information on the campaign, please visit www.oxfam.org.uk/womensday.
