1935-09-14 — Page 7

No. 27

I

China Mail

HOME SUPPLEMENT

HONG KONG, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1935

TRAINING IN EMPIRE CITIZENSHIP

LADY SOUTHORN, O.B.E

spite of the fact that the

most travelled nation it is re markable how ignorant the majority are regarding tropical conditions of life. A distin- guished doctor who has just passed through Hong Kong stated that he went to one of

at he we the leading stores in London to get his tropical outfit and he was astonished and irritated at the ignorance of the man be- hind the counter, The doctor had had experience of West Africa and knew what was re- quired. while the assistant pressed on him khaki material which "made you perspire to look at it." You are still offer- ed "topees in London which ought to be in a museum.

Even otherwise sensible but un- travelled people bestow gifts on friends going East which are al mpst incredible. A young Govern- ment servant going out to Ceylon was given a copper kettle hanging on a wrought iron stand to make tea for yourself on board ship. Cakes are sent out in cardboard boxes and arrive covered with blue fungi. A well-known firm of con- fectioners still sends. Its boiled sweets in bottles to the East with- out a paper wrapping round each sweet, so that the sweets become" a zolid block and cannot be extracted from the bottle.

Empire Citizenship

One could multiply instances in- definitely and, when it comes to the personal element, those of us who have spent many years in the Tro- pies realise how sadly unprepared with knowledge, are many of these young women who come out to the Colonies to be married or to take up work Indeed it is amazing how few people who have lived in the Tropics seem able to give lucid in- formation - even as to clothing.

(By Lady Southorn, O.B.E.)

Tourists appear with fantastic out- fits bought on the advice of people who have already been in the East. To the tourist the question of ignorance is not so vitally import- ant as it is to the woman who is to make her home in the Tropics and it is time that some means of equip- ping herself for this, new life should be available. The opportunity has- now been presented to her in a very attractive and interesting manner. A non-residential course of Train- ing in Empire Citizenship is offered in London to:

1. Women engaged in or con- templating social service in their - own vart of the Empire.

2 Married women home from overseas, requiring some addition- - kucwedge of tropical Domestic Hygiene and Citizenship training. to enable them to share in build- ing up the social services of the Colony on their retarnI

3. Girly engaged to be married to mea resident overseas who wish to take up some form of so- cial service.

Residential Course

In addition to this non-residential course, a residential course has beeN«: arranged for women and girls-18: Years and over-at Citizenship House. Westonbirt. Tetbury, Glou- cestershire, each member having a separate bedroom with central heat- ing and fire. Tennis. golf, swim- ming and riding are available.

It is hoped that many women and girls will take advantage of these admirable courses:

History and Geography of the Empire,

Will include an outline of Empire History and Constitutions together with current. Empire problems.

Sociology in relation to Anthro- pology..

Evolutionary history. Social cus- toms of different races, research work in the Empire and its bearing on current problems, e-g. autrition, pests and insects.

Tropical Hygiene and Nutrition.

Health in the Tropies, acclima- tisation, diets, purification of water, care of milk, fresh foods, clothing, mosquito-borne and water-borne diseases,

First Aid and Home Nursing. General principles of First Aid treatment. Sick room routine care of patient.

Social Biology and Social Hygiene.

Biological laws that underlie social and individual life and their application to problems of human welfare. Evolution. heredity and

the associations among living crea-

tures. Physiology.

No. 27

Household Management in the Tropics.

A course to be given by experi- enced householders from various. part of the Empire, on practical "veryday problems.

The Educational, Practical Service

Medical and

Related Voluntary Services, In- fant Welfare, School Care Commit- Tees, Hospital Almoners, Probation.

Girl Guide ovement.

History of the Guide Movement throughout the Empire, running of companies, Brownies" Packs.

The Initiation and Management of Voluntary Work

Conduct of Committees, Initiation and running of an Infant Welfare Centre. »V A. Detachment, etc. Practical experience and demonstra- tions are offered to students by the Girl Guide Association, the Associa- tion of Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, British Red Cross Society,

Of Great Value

For the woman who is taking up work in the Tropics the course will be of the greatest value, while the difficulties of the young housekeeper in the East will be minimised and the lot of her husband will be a han pier one if she does not arrive with a complete ignorance of white ants.. tropical diseases and damp. Eastern seivants and suitable food for the Tropics. The course will probably inspire her as well with sympathetic interest in the races among whọm her lot is cast.

The enterprise is sponsored by Dr. Cyril Norwood, whom we had the pleasure of hearing a year or so ago in Hong Kong and by Dame Rachel Crowdy, who also. needs zo introduction, as her Empire work is well known The Committee com- sists of men and women with wide experience of Indian and Colonial conditions.

Full information regarding the course can be obtained from the Secretary, Empire Citizenship Training Council, Carteret House, Carteret Street, London, SW1..