A woman's place is in the House of Parliament

Dinner Club

Aims and Purposes

The purpose of the Dinner Club is to provide a venue for women, and supportive men, to advance the aims of The Fifty Fifty Group.

It is able to do this by

The international community whole-heartedly supports it; and it is of special interest to:

It is particularly useful for persons who have just arrived in Freetown and need to make contact with what is going on in Sierra Leone and how they can access information on a whole range of issues, not just gender.

The value of the gender-based dinner club is that is attracts a cross-section of women who are members of more than one group, for example, work, university, church and some may be involved in their own children's schools. Fortunately, the members of the Dinner Club are all like minded people who want to help, support and mentor other members and visitors.
Newcomers are always welcomed and provided with the opportunity to say a few words after dinner and to make any specific appeals for assistance.
It is one of the few places in Freetown where dinner club members and guests can benefit from a vast amount of knowledge that is contained in one location. It is not virtual reality, it is reality. No need to browse the website, visit The Bamboo Hut Bar & Restaurant.
It is non-political and it is supported by the local community, especially those who returned after the war ended and those who wish to support the furtherance of younger women in public life; including young people who have returned after graduating from overseas universities.

A voluntary mentoring service takes place. The regular supporters of the Dinner Club provide a counselling and mentoring service to make sure those women who want to enter into public life have the confidence to take the first step and embark on their action plan. Discussions also take place at the Dinner Club on various topics.

Recently in his speech to the State Opening of Parliament on Friday, 23rd June 2006, the President, said:
'Mr. Speaker, One of the most important decisions we made so far is to increase the representation of women in decision-making positions in Government. I strongly urge women to come out and contest for seats or other positions at the forthcoming general elections. It is now the goal of the African Union to achieve 50 per cent women representation in the management of public affairs. Ladies, you have the constitutional and equal right and now you also have the political support. I entreat you to take advantage of it'.

The Dinner Club provides what is needed to explore how to encourage more women to take advantage of' the present political climate - which is a global phenomena.

Meeting Details

The Fifty Fifty Dinner Club usually meets at The Bamboo Hut Bar & Restaurant, Wilkinson Road, at 7.30 p.m. for 8 p.m. on the 1st Saturday of the Month, except January and August.
At present the cost of a dinner, dessert with a glass of wine/water is Le25,000 leones, and that includes a percentage for management on-costs.
Non-members including Members' guests, Le30,000.
There is always a speaker on topical issues. Men as well as women, are welcome at the Dinner Club.

Events

Fifty Fifty Dinner club meeting 7.30 p.m. on Saturday, 3rd February, 2007 at the Bamboo Hut.
The speaker is Dr Christiana Thorpe who is the Commissioner of the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
She will be speaking on the challenge she is facing in the run up to the elections. One of the objectives of the NEC is to ensure that the elections are declared 'free and fair' by the electoral monitors/observers. Without that declaration the candidate/party will not have the validity to truly represent the people.
Price : Le30,000
Contact : Mo Poole on 076 601812 /mopoole@hotmail.com or the Bamboo Hut.

Executive

Co-ordinator - Maureen Poole

Secretary - Dentuma Magili

Contact Details

Address: 16 Babadori Hills, off Spur Road, Lumley
Tel: 00 232 22 236518
mobile 076 601812
Email : mo-poole@sierratrel.sl or mopoole@hotmail.com