Many congratulations to Mike Boddington, the founder of POWER International, who has just been awarded an MBE for his services to the victims of unexploded ordnance in Laos.
See The Difference our work can make by clicking below..
Did you miss the ballot for the London Marathon? Don't worry - we are delighted to have secured 5 places in this event for the next five years. These highly sought after places may be secured for the April 17th 2011 race by a £50 deposit in the first instance; the balance of £250 to be paid by 3rd April 2011 and a commitment to raise £1200 for the work of POWER through personal sponsorship. Please ring Moira for more details on 01494 614604.
Not all talk! The story of Muajama.
FAMILY TIES
Muajama David (left above) is 31 years old and was born with a disability in
Muajama attended school up to Grade 8 but had to leave in 2000 because she became pregnant. Her family wanted to keep her close to protect her, so opposed her move to another district to live with the father of her child. He eventually married someone else and took Muajama’s daughter to live with him and his new wife. The daughter is now 9 years old and has returned to live with her mother.
NEW VOICE
In 2005 Muajama was invited by her friend, Mario Acacio, to join the POWER International radio club - RC Progresso. This radio club devises and broadcasts its own programmes about disability issues. Muajama was soon taking a leadership role and found radio was a very powerful way to communicate and bring about change.
NEW LIFE
The members of the radio club were delighted that their radio club was awarded a grant of $1.200 to also run income–generating activities. Many people with disabilities find it extremely difficult to find any employment and often live in extreme poverty.
The group ran a small general goods and groceries shop and after 6 months had a profit of $360 which they then split between them to start individual businesses. Muajama began a business selling charcoal and cigarettes making a weekly profit of $3.70. This small amount makes a huge difference to Muajama.
Now she can pay for her food, hospital treatment and books for school – not only for her daughter but also herself as she has returned to school. She wants to open a bank account so she is saving her profits for this; she needs $19 and already has $14 towards it.