Strathaven Friends of HHI is an autonymous sub-committee of the Charity Health Help International, which is based in Newport, South Wales.
Health Help International was founded in 1999 by a former resident of Strathaven, Ron Prosser. It is a Christian Charity providing medical aid and educational support to those in need in Zambia and in the southern states of Kerela and Tamil Nadu in India.
The SFHHI committee has the backing of about 100 supporters in the Strathaven locality. It has been supporting its parent Charity since 2008, raising up to £10,000 each year on its behalf.
Our fund raising efforts include a Bridge Drive held usually in May each year and a bi-annual Burns Musical evening in January and also the organisation of the on going Ragbag scheme.
Monies are also raised from the sale of Painted Leaf Cards. These are painted by lower caste women of Kerala providing much needed income to help them raise their families.
Help us to support these women by purchasing some of these unique cards. There is a wide range of designs including flowers, birds, Indian cards, Scottish cards and lots of very special Christmas Cards. View these cards in the Shop and order on line.
Following the sell-out of the 200 copies of Iain Park’s climbing book entitled ‘Eye to the Hills’ a reprint of 100 further copies was ordered. These have continued to sell well and the 30 copies now remaining (at £25 each) are now being sold via the shop with all of the proceeds going towards to Health Help International
Iain’s biography of Tom Sutherland with the sub title of ‘In the Shade of the Banyan Tree’ is a high quality paperback book of 165 pages with over 100 colour photographs. Priced £15 again all of the monies raised from this will go to Health Help International to help continue Tom’s work in India. Order copy from the shop or contact Iain on 01357 520204 to obtain a copy. More information about Tom’s life can be seen in the News section.
Iain’s latest book entitled ‘Love Letters Down Under’ is also available from the shop or by contacting Iain, for a minimum donation of £15. All monies raised will again go to Health Help International. The book is a compilation of the letters of local farmer’s daughter and Strathaven teacher written to her future husband during the first world war and giving a great insight to the life of the Avondale community during the war. Fuller details about the contents of the book can be seen in the News Section
Two books are also available from the shop about the creation of Health Help International and about its founder Ron Prosser. ‘Journey of Faith’ is Ron’s story of his founding of the Charity and ‘A Heart Poured Out’ describes the early years of the Charity. Both books make for fascinating and inspiring reading and provide heart warming stories of the lives of individuals and families improved by the help of HHI.
Strathaven’s first involvement with HHI was in 2008 when a party of Strathaven Explorer Scouts visited Zambia to undertake work on various projects for the Charity, a visit repeated in 2011. Ron had been a member of the Strathaven Scout Group, as have been three of the members of the present SFHHI committee.One of these, Iain Park, became a Trustee of Health Help International in 2014.
