Standing Committees of the EAWL

Here, at the end of the 1950's, seems a suitable place to summarize the work of the League's Standing Committees since their inception in 1942.

 

I.) African Social Welfare

This committee formed in 1946 carried on the work done by the League as a whole since it started. One of the first tasks of the new committee was to collect articles for translation for the vernacular newspapers on home making, health, better gardening, children's diet, etc. In 1950 Summer Schools were started for African women whose husbands had gone overseas for training, and the League supported two training schools for African women, at Londiani and Kericho. EAWL members in remote districts ran clinics and dispensaries for Africans.

 

African women's clubs were started in country districts during the 1950's by League members assisting the African Community Development workers trained at Jeanes School. In 1955 the D.C. Nairobi approached the League for help in forming Clubs in the town area.

 

Much work was done in conjunction with the Save The Children Campaign until the Child Welfare Society took over this work.

 

All through the four decades of its existence the EAWL had worked to improve the lot of African women and children by pressure on Government, raising funds, education and the formation of women's clubs, as well as the individual work done by members to help the Africans around them.

 

II.) Bulletin (or Publicity)

Many pamphlets have been printed to help women in everyday life, and in 1946 the League's Bulletin started as a quarterly magazine for members. In 1956 it changed its format and its title to "Women in Kenya", under which title it is published today.

 

III.) Cost of Living

This committee was particularly active from 1950, when concern at the rising cost of living was rife. It published articles of advice in the Bulletin and ran the EAWL Market Stall as a co-operative effort. It campaigned against high prices and excessive profits.

 

IV.) Education

From this committee was drawn the EAWL's representative on the Government Advisory Committee on Education. It also had members on the Boards of Governors of many schools in the country.

 

V.) Health

The main concern of this committee was the provision of adequate hospital facilities in the country. In 1952 they were asked to make a survey on the detrimental effect of excessive weight carrying on the health of African women and in 1956 started a fund to assist polio patients to go overseas for treatment.

 

VI.) International

The EAWL has always maintained liaison with overseas women's organizations, both to learn and to distribute information about Kenya.

 

VII.) Inter-racial

From the work of this committee grew the Frangipani Society and the Kenya Women's Society. The Homemakers, started in the 1930's by Mrs. Dorcas Aubrey, MBE, was also their concern.

 

VIII.) Child Welfare

This committee grew from the work of the League representatives on the Government Committee for Child Legislation and the Save the Children campaign.

 

IX.) Hospitality

EAWL members have always welcomed visitors to this country into their homes and the Hospitality Committee helped to co-ordinate the work. A welcome was given, not only to visiting V.I.P’s but to V.S.O’s and members of the armed Forces, especially ratings from H.M. ships visiting Mombasa.

 

X.) Balloting

Organises the annual postal election of League Officers.

 

XI.) Library

 

XII.) Home Industries

Arranges the Home Industries exhibit at Shows.

 

XIII.) Employment

Ran the Employment Bureau until it closed in 1961.

 

XIV.) Catering

This committee not only did the catering at the Nairobi Show for ten years, but also catered for many other functions, raising thousands of pounds for League Charities.

 

XV.) Benevolence

 

Please Take Note:

- The National Embroideries Project was also inititated in the 1950’s,

- The Weal House Project was also initiated in the 1950’s but for more information please go to the “Weal House” Page.