The Western Heads East team is most appreciative and proud of the turn-out and community support at the event held last Thursday, March 25th in the Great Hall. The event was called, In The Market For Western Heads East and featured the High Commissioners/Ambassadors from Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The presentations by the dignitaries were powerful and held promise of further collaboration between Western, the Western Heads East Project and their respective countries. It was an opportunity to share with the community, progress made with the program in Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda, to celebrate accomplishments of the women's groups and our African partners, and to fundraise for future activities.

More than 300 students, staff and faculty experienced the energy of an East African Market with stalls featuring student interns presenting poster programs, African inspired foods paired with wines and beers donated by Gray Hawk Winery, buskers, African folk entertainers, and more. The silent auction included genuine batik art, a VIA Rail return trip for two to Montreal, and a Travel CUTS flight to London, UK. There was a celebratory feeling in the room and everyone left knowing more about what Western was doing with probiotic yoghurt in Africa.

Nearly $10,000 was raised to support more women's groups making the probiotic yoghurt and the student interns who work with them. The economic empowerment of the women, the skills they learn and pass along to their children, and the contribution they make to the health of their communities would not be possible without the generous commitment of our community!

Asante Sana
(Thank You Very Much)
Western Heads East Team

You are cordially invited to "In the Market for Western Heads East." Support Western's community response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. Come celebrate the successful women-led, micro-enterprise initiative utilizing probiotic yoghurt developed by two Western professors.

Join us in extending a warm Western Heads East welcome to the Ambassadors of Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Zambia who will be in attendance for the evening.

The Great Hall at The University of Western Ontario will be transformed into a lively East African market with stalls where interns will provide poster programs of their experiences. We will also have food and wine pairings, busker entertainment, multi-media presentations, and much more. We will be featuring a silent auction of hand-carved crafts made by Tanzanian and Kenyan crafters, and paintings from local London artists.

Western Heads East, first established in East Africa in 2004, is a unique collaboration between The University of Western Ontario, governmental and non-governmental organizations in Tanzania, Kenya, and more recently, Rwanda. Documented evidence shows that the probiotic yoghurt has health benefits, especially for people with compromised immune systems and suffering from under-nutrition. This simple, life saving technology has formed the core of women-led social businesses in Africa, with a goal to make this probiotic yoghurt accessible and affordable to all community members. So far, 34 Western students and 10 staff members have visited and spent time with the women's groups, government agencies, and institutions of higher learning in these three countries, and these have become our firm partners in the transfer of technology, research and service learning.

We ask that you set aside Thursday, March 25 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm to come experience this unique East African marketplace in the Great Hall, and give your support to Western Heads East. Tickets are $50 per person, $25 for students. Wine and traditional food will be served.