WI

MEMBERS of the Bala WI met at the Canolfan Bro Tegid on Thursday, 14 April.Secretary Beryl Roberts gave everyone a warm welcome. Meirion was sung. The business part of the meeting then followed including the discussion of various items from the Federation Newsletter, spring council – Rhydymain Village Hall, 9.30am for 10.30am 26 April; quiz night – Rugby Club, Dolgellau, Friday, 29 April 7pm; Portmeirion lunch – 30 June; sports – 10 Pin Bowling, Glanllyn 3 May, 5.30pm and afterwards at The Eagles.There will be a Berwyn Group meeting at the Pavilion on 5 May at 7.30pm.The speaker for the evening was Hilary Murray, who gave a very interesting talk with slides and video about Milo, a village of approximately 4,000 people in Tanzania, which twinned with St Asaph Diocese. Milo keeps contact with the outside world by a mobile phone line as it has its own mast. E-mails are the order of the day. The video showed people making bricks to build their own houses. They also grow all their own vegetables.Primary education is funded by the government and all children wear smart school uniforms. Doctors and teachers are paid for by the state, but the people themselves have to pay for medical care and secondary schooling. Last September, Hilary and her husband Adrian, took two students out with them to Milo to work on a joint project to build a workbench. The tools were donated locally and the wood was from Milo itself. They will be going again this September with two more students, this time from Ysgol y Berwyn.Beryl Roberts gave the vote of thanks and members then enjoyed tea and biscuits.The next meeting will be held at Canolfan Bro Tegid on 12 May at 7pm. New members are always welcome.