THE Y.W.C.A. IN EGYPT

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21370, 14 March 1941, Page 3

THE Y.W.C.A. IN EGYPT

FORMER • SECRETARY CAIRO RECREATIONAL CENTRES Miss Jean Begg, who is superintending the war time services of the British Y.W.C.A. in the Middle East, sends from Cairo the interesting news just received, telling of the work which she has assigned to Miss Margaret Saunders (at one time Y.W.C.A. secretary in Hamilton) and Miss Betty Lorimer, the two Y.W.C.A. workers who have been sent from New Zealand to assist Miss Begg in recreational centres for uniformed women in the Middle East. Miss Begg writes as follows: “Miss Saunders will be in charge of the work of the War Service m Jerusalem. Her arrival was most timely as we had been urged more than once to open a Residential Club for Sisters in Jerusalem. We both proceeded to Jerusalem one week after her arrival and have now secured suitable accommodation which should be free within two months. In the meantime, Miss Saunders will secure a small flat in a central position and will begin to acquaint herself with Jerusalem and Palestine as well as with the Sisters who flock to Jerusalem either for the day or on leave from Egypt. The furnishings of the new club will also take some time to purchase and acquire. The general secretaries of the Y.M.C.A and Y.W.C.A. in Jerusalem are excellent folk and will be good advisors, and Lady MacMichaei, wife of the High Commissioner, with several other ladies, have promised their cooperation whenever required. We have also secured an excellent housekeeper who should ease considerably the responsibility of the big task. Hut Nearly Completed “Miss saunders is undertaking this appointment with real enthusiasm, and will have large opportunities of serving every unit of the nursing services in the Middle East. She has received a warm welcome and we have had great pleasure in informing everyone that she is not only sent from the Y.W.C.A. of New Zealand, but that the N.Z. Government and the N.Z. Patriotic Fund Board have made her services possible. “Miss Lorimer is to be in charge of our first Recreational Centre for uniformed women in a desert camp. The hut is not yet completed but Miss Lorimer has already made the purchases of the furniture needed and is now planning for the activities to be undertaken at the Hut. The entirely new conditions under which this Hut is being built demand much patience as well as ingenuity, and Miss Lorimer is most helpful in her contacts with the contractor, because of her knowledge of the building details which need careful supervision. She is looking forward to her work under these unique circumstances. The Club will serve the nearly two nundred English Sisters, from two base hospitals, who will be living in tents and who will, without doubt, be gratified with this service of the Y.W.C.A. which will give a somewhat homelike touch under trying circumstances.

“Miss Lorimer’s temperament and gifts are exactly what is needed for such a job as this, and I am sure we can expect good results from her work in the Desert Hut.

“Miss Lorimer has been busy designing a summer uniform for our service, and we expect shortly to wear uniforms whenever we appear in public.

“Will you kindly extend to all who made it possible for these two helpers to come to us here, our deep gratitude and appreciation.”