Rain City Rotary donates to West African training center

Rain City Rotary members present check to training center
Photo courtesy Rain City Rotary

On Thursday night, Rain City Rotary presented a check for $1,500 to Carol Schillios, founder of He’re’ Je’ Training Center in Bamaco, Mali in West Africa.

The He’re’ Je’ Training Center takes girls who are begging on the street and teaches them an income-generating skill such as making beaded jewelry or making batik fabrics. But more than that, they learn “life skills” such as health and nutrition and reading and writing. And they learn how to manage the money they are now making.

The center takes them “from beggars to businesswomen.” The $1500 represents what it takes to put one girl through the 18-month long program.

The members of Rain City Rotary have worked hard to raise this money and they are happy to have reached their goal. “Because of us a girl will have a much better life. That really warms my heart,” says member Donna Eggen. And there is a “ripple effect” because as the young women prosper, they send money to their families and home villages.

The batik fabrics and beaded jewelry and many other beautiful crafts they make are sold at the Fabric of Life Boutique, 523 Main Street in Edmonds 98020.