34 - Sunday, February 23, 1992 - North Shore News NAME: Liz Bannister BORN: Brighton, Engtand RESIDENCE: Horseshoe Bay EDUCATION: University of Birmingham grad OCCUPATION: Executive direc- tor, Save the Children Fund of B.C. FAMILY: Married to John; two sons HOBBIES: tennis, sailing Travelting, cycling, SOME LIVES are transformed by religion, others by a birth or a new career. By Evelyn Jacob News Reporter Liz Bannister’s tife has been touched by the haunting faces of poverty and famine, and the Horseshoe Bay resident says she will never be the same. “Once vou go to a developing country and see how people five you’re never the same,’’ says Bannister. “These people lack the most basic things like water and food, and yet it’s amazing how re- sourceful they are,’’ she says con- juring an image from a recent trip to Africa of black women working and singing spirituals by the road- side. “If we're going to change the gap between north and south we're going to have to be less wasteful. Our affluence, after all, is partially responsible for their poverty.”” Bannister is the new executive director of Save the Children Fund of B.C., a provincial non- governmental organization work- ing at the grassroots level to bring relief to the world’s poorest children and their families. A former elementary school teacher, she and husband John Bannister have committed their lives to improving the lives of the impoverished and telling the world of their plight. ft all started in the early °70s when they went to northern Nigeria to teach as part of an in- ternational aid program. Being exposed to the daily struggles of African life and its joyful cultures gave them a whole new perspective and forced them to question their own set of HIGH PROFILES Haunted by the faces of famine NEWS photo Mike Wakefield EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of Save the Children Fund of B.C., Liz Bannister is committed to improving the lives of the poor. Here, she discusses a recent project in her Horseshoe Bay home, surrounded by artwork she has collected on her many travels to developing countries. priorities and values, says Ban- hister. “It’s a whole different way of life, of thinking — a different re- ality. Our experience made us want to pass on our own ideas of what we learned to the people we taught back home.*’ They’ve been doing that ever since. Three years ago the Bannisters established a student exchange program and have been leading Grade 11 students to Zimbabwe and Kenya every year. John developed an African 2000 Program for Lower Mainland schools, and Liz spent a year - working with teachers on how to adopt a more global approach to teaching in the classroom. She says it will take more than . FURNITURE SALE We are consolidating & Moving our business Only one month left up to 20% off ali custom orders sofas, chairs, loveseats, tables Pictures, lamps, Plus much more WEST VAN INTERIORS 71469 Marine Drive, West Vancouver money to eliminate the gap be- tween the northern and southern hemispheres. By the turn of this century roughly 80% of the world’s popu- lation will inhabit developing countries, and the Brighton-born mother of two says it’s incumbent upon developed countries to think beyond their own shorelines. See Save page 33 [MEMBERS MONTH OF @ FABRICLAND J METTLER THREAD, BS UTTONS, & FABRICLAND = SHOULDER PADS [> All regular stock. 5 =: * Refers to , Fabrictand Sewing Club Members “SNORTH VAN. | - ABBOTSFORD #400 3033 imme! SI. CHILLIWACK ° (45460 Liichateuck wey . 341 Lonsdale Ave. =. N ORTH VAN 01.935 Marine Or iano. Mall ‘ : vat * COQUITLAM - LANGLEY. 2562 Barat Hy, 7 19708, Langley Bypass’, ORITY 9] BUTTERICK PATTERNS a Alt In—stock Patterns § *Members Buy 1, Get§ is » VANCOUVER: p 7814 West-éin 8 Whllow = peaone . ian Aerondge Way, NEW SURREY a yu ve Prints. All stock excluding Ca ’ Signature Collection. Varied contents & and widths. Challis Prints, Rayons, and Polyester E nadian