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BIG LOTTERY of UK has announced project funding to invest in skills and new opportunities for tsunami-hit lives in Thailand, Sri Lanka and India. Transrural Trust, an Oxfordshire-based charity, is gearing up to embark on a £501,550, five-year project to help the affected women to create sustainable livelihoods; the planned modus operandi involves making optimum use of additional household income for the benefit of their children’s health and education. Moreover, there is a need to empower women to earn autonomous incomes in countries where many men work overseas.
Mrs Pappa, leader of a women’s group, in Tamil Nadu, explained: “Money from abroad has paid for some new homes and new boats for fishermen. In fact, there are now so many boats that there is a problem of over-fishing! But the markets that we rely on have not recovered. We need support to help us rebuild our markets in a new way over the next few years”.
Trevor Lucey, Transrural’s director said: “The Tsunami knew no political boundaries. Our project will roll out not only in Thailand but also on the southernmost tips of Sri Lanka and India. This new project will enable craftswomen hit by the tsunami to make imaginative use of a selection of locally-available coastal materials, including fish bones and scales, coconut and sea shells, and natural fibres from the banana and sisal plants. This new project will result in some intriguing products for the expanding local market and also for Fair Trade markets here in UK, notably in Oxfordshire. Watch out for fish-scale earrings!”
Big Lottery Fund Chair, Sir Clive Booth said: “Today’s awards, which I’m delighted to be announcing, are continuing a long tradition of Lottery good cause money for UK charities working overseas. Tackling heavyweight issues like HIV/AIDS in Africa, human rights and post-tsunami reconstruction is a big priority for the British public. We have earmarked a total of £72 million pounds for UK-based charities working overseas, and I hope our money will continue to improve life chances and opportunities for some of the most disadvantaged people in the developing world.”
The Big Lottery Fund has also announced a number of small grants of up to £10,000, awarded to UK charities to carry out research and analysis as part of their project planning and to facilitate future funding bids. The new International Small Grants awarded today are:
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Organisation |
Location |
Project |
Award |
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The Kenyan Society of London |
Suswa, Kenya |
A project in Suswa, Kenya to conduct a feasibility study towards the establishment of a 'Malarial STOP' clinic for the disadvantaged rural Maasai Community. |
£9,500 |
|
Croydon Community Care Service |
Qadian, India |
A project in Qadian, India to establish a research centre in association with their partner organisation. This research centre will be used to carry out a situation analysis in twenty surrounding villages that are deprived and underrepresented. |
£10,000 |
|
Project Hope UK |
Aceh Barat, Indonesia |
A project in Aceh Barat, Indonesia to conduct a situation analysis to inform the design of a comprehensive mother and child health project which will seek to reduce mother and child morbidity and mortality. |
£9,085 |