Culture and community in the WI

Here we bring you stories of the WI doing what it does best: welcoming in women and extending friendship to those of all faith (and none) through fun, food, and festivities. Sisterhood abounds in the WI, and here are stories from two regions from January.

To mark World Religion Day on 18 January, GoGuetters WI President Selina Moodliar led the group on a "heritage tour" of India...in Guernsey!

Selina led a presentation about Hinduism, and gave members a immersive cultural experience; tying sarees, folding Chinese samosas, and rolling rotis! The women were beautifully adorned with henna tattoos and colourful bindis, and enjoyed learning all about Yoga, traditional dance and - ahem - even the Karma Sutra! What a lovely way to start the New Year. Here are fantastic pictures from the day, and thank you for sharing with us, Selina.

Elsewhere in January, Bretton Belles WI welcomed in Faustina Yang, founder and leader of the both the Chinese Community and the Chinese Women's organisation in Peterborough. Faustina initially came to study in the UK with the Chinese Education Bureau 22 years ago, but ultimately decided to call Peterborough her forever home!

Faustina told us that it felt "deeply meaningful to celebrate by sharing my culture - and Tai Chi - with the Women’s Institute."

The session was a wonderful coming together of curiosity, warmth, and community, and proved "a joyful, heart-warming experience." Faustina says it was a day of "laughter, questions, red fans, lanterns, gentle movement, real connection - and an openness to learning about Chinese culture, wellbeing, and community life."

Sounds brilliant, and thanks for sharing it with us, and for the wonderful photos!

If you have stories of learning, sharing your culture, and making new friends at the WI - why not tell us about them? You can send them to PR@NFWI.org.uk.

We can't wait to hear what you've been up to!