By Karen Braynard
Correspondent

It is easy to take for granted the freedoms we have in this country. Male or female, U.S. citizens have the right to choose our religion, the right to a primary education and the right to freedom of speech. In some countries those rights do not exist - especially for children and women.

The weekend of Oct. 15, members of the Sisters In Service Organization will host a fundraiser at Lake Massabesic, near the traffic circle, to raise money to enhance the lives of such women and children.

"On Oct. 15th, we will hold a local Walk to the Water fundraising event. We hope to raise around $5,000 this year," said Yvonne Fish, chapter president of the Candia Sisters In Service Organization.

The Walk to the Water is a fundraiser with a slant toward education and awareness. According to the Sisters In Service Web page, a typical woman from Senegal walks 7 miles a day just to collect clean drinking water. The walkers in this fundraiser will walk 5 kilometers with water buckets on their heads.

The money will be sent directly to Iraq or Senegal to support the projects sponsored by the SIS. Those projects include a children's school and a women's center in Iraq.

"While the schools we build are Christian schools," said Fish, "we welcome all faiths. The purpose of SIS is to extend the good news of God's love and mercy to women and their children in some of the leastreached parts of the world."

Fish said that in Iraq they are able to build centers strictly for women. These centers are very private and provide a nonoppressive atmosphere where the Iraqi women can learn how to read, work on job skills and receive counseling if necessary.

The SIS Chapter in Candia is made up of 15 dedicated members and approximately 10 more who help out when called upon. The chapter currently sponsors two projects. The one in Iraq is on-going and long term. Their newest project is to support the women and children of Senegal in Africa. Here they hope to help build Health Huts which will provide continuing education to the Senegal women.

"The huts," said Fish, "will provide a location for our counselors to teach basic health care, sanitation and provide certain medications."

The local fundraiser which is from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday Oct. 15, is at the park on Lake Massabesic and is open to anyone. They will also provide information about their services overseas and encourage families to attend. There will also be events for children to participate in. For more information, visit the Sisters In Service Web site at www.sistersinservice.org or call Yvonne Fish at 483- 5260.