CFUW Perth, Ontario

Swinging against poverty

When Canadian women work together for a common cause, they are a powerful force.

The Perth Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) proved you can exert this power and have fun at the same time with th  glitzy Swing into Spring Event.

The CFUW is an organization that promotes education and equality for girls, and who has partnered with CARE through our Women's Network.

Together with CARE Canada and the World University Service of Canada, they are helping women in Afghanistan  by supporting the Vocational Training for Afghan Women Program (VTAWP).

VTAWP teaches job skills like sewing, baking and mobile phone repair to Afghan women, as well as teaching things like nutrition, money management and women’s rights. When the women graduate, the program helps them find jobs or start their own businesses so they can support their families and send their children to school.

CFUW Perth’s Swing into Spring event, held at the Old Mill in Perth with big band music and lots of swing-dancing fun, was a swinging success. Over 300 people attended, and together they raised $6000 for the VTAWP program. Every dollar raised will be matched by the Government of Canada through the Afghanistan Challenge.

The contribution was included into an overall donation of nearly $12,000 from CFUW nationwide. 

WIth the match, that’s a grand total of $24,000 from the women of the CFUW for the women of Afghanistan!

Way to go CFUW! You are a powerful force for change!

Want to know how you can hold powerful events like CFUW Perth? Check out CARE Canada’s events toolkit.