North Shore Vineyard’s women are connecting a universal love for fashion with the desperate needs of damaged African mothers, in an innovative way that is creating a stir across generations.
The church will host a Frock Swap — a fashion event with a mission — accenting the resurgence of vintage clothing, and the global social responsibility of recycling, all for a poignant purpose.
Women of all ages will donate their past-favourites, last-season’s purchases, or an item loved but no longer worn, to help transform the lives of their sisters in developing nations. The proceeds from outfits and accessories available for a donation will provide funds for Mercy Ships, long-term obstetric fistula work in West Africa.
The event will be held at Windy Ridge School Hall in Glenfield, on May 21 beginning at 7pm. The entry price of $20, or $10 for students, includes bubbles, cupcakes and coffee. This, plus a donation for the clothing, will go directly to support women’s health care in Sierra Leone.
Obstetric fistula is a condition that affects girls and women in many developing nations who experience difficulty during childbirth. Simply due to the lack of healthcare services, as many as two million mothers — young and older — are estimated to have become permanently incontinent due to problems with the baby’s delivery.
Each year, Mercy Ships spends 10 months in a different West African nation at the invitation of the local government. Mercy Ships addresses women’s health needs in a variety of ways which have included: surgical interventions (obstetric fistula repair), surgeon and nurse training, and facility renovation for maternal and general hospitals.
