A new friendship has developed between two Southern Manitoba women's groups. In late April, the Woodmore Women's Institute hosted a potluck and fellowship with members of the Muslim Women's Institute from Winnipeg.

Janet Kroeker says the Woodmore group started relating to the MWI about a year-and-a-half ago when she heard an interview on the radio. "...and my ears perked up when I heard 'women's institute'."

"I knew that they weren't affiliated in any way with the Manitoba Women's Institutes and so I suggested to our membership, we were actually talking about cultural exchange in our programming, and I said 'What about the Muslim Women's Institute and inviting them for a visit?' "

Kroeker adds the Winnipeg women were pleased to come out to the country and says the afternoon included some warm sharing of stories and food. She notes that while the two groups come from different backgrounds, the afternoon taught them that it is the big things that make them similar.

"We want to have a safe and healthy environment for our families to grow up in. Our food was a little different, our dress was a little different but at the heart of it we really clicked."

Kroeker hopes for a continued interaction between the two groups and says discussions are underway for the Woodmore women to visit Winnipeg in the future.