Our Programme of Morning Presentations and Afternoon SIG Sessions are coordinated by Jocelyn Welch and Sandra Hill. They can be contacted by email by clicking on their names and using our "Contact Us" page.

Autumn Term 2026

Thursday Morning Presentations in the Studio

Date	Speaker and Topic
17th September	Teresa Haine "Madagascar"
	Programme being organised

Thursday Afternoon - Special Interest Groups

Date	First Session 1.15 pm -2.15 pm	Second Session 2.30 pm - 3.30 pm
	Programme being organised	Programme being organised

Autumn 2026  

Background Information about the Morning Speakers and their presentations

17 September - Theresa Haine - Madagascar

'I first went to Madagascar as a Quaker volunteer teacher in 1967. I initially signed up for just one year but fell in love with the place and stayed for four years.  In the 1980s, the then President wanted to minimise the connection with France and turned to the USSR instead.  This proved disastrous for the country.  Poverty increased hugely and there was starvation in the south.  A friend and I wrote to some of the big charities who said that they knew about the situation in Madagascar but were fully stretched alleviating poverty elsewhere in the world.  My friend then said to herself that if no one else could help then she would have to do something. So in 1986, with the help of Swansea Quakers, she set up Money for Madagascar. She and her husband ran the charity for ten years. Then I took over and ran it for 17 years.  We have recently handed the charity over to a very efficient team of Malagasy people.  The hand-over has not been easy but I think everything is on track now.

Since the early 1990s, until COVID hit the world, I visited Madagascar every two years. I spent 5 weeks there last year.  I am still an active trustee.'