Providing Healing, Promoting Hope
The month of March is known as women’s history month and this year’s theme is Providing Healing, Promoting Hope. This is a month-long observance of events to correspond with International Women’s Day on 8th March. Throughout the month, events are held across the country to celebrate the achievements of women and their unique contribution to society.
As we slowly emerge from the pandemic, the theme for this year is a significant one as it is all about paying tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic, as well as recognising the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.
It is on the backdrop of this theme that Leah; our Director was invited to attend as one of the key speakers in a charity fundraising event for children with special needs in Africa. The event in Reading, UK, was the launch of the charitable organisation, ‘Service for a Reason’. The glamourous gala dinner was vibrant with many attendees raising funds by buying raffle tickets or taking part in a live auction. The speakers were inspirational, and it was wonderful to see everyone so keen to contribute to this worthwhile cause.
As one of the key speakers, Leah talked about her lived experiences as a parent of a child with special needs. Her son, Raphael, has endured multiple surgeries and hospital stays since he was born and so from the onset, she has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by the families of these children.
She spoke of how she had always been career focused and even with her employers’ support and help from carers here in the UK, it has not been easy. Whenever she has travelled to Africa with her son, she noticed that there is still some stigma associated either with him being in a wheelchair or people not expecting him to be as independent and confident. Often, his confidence and sociable personality surprises those around him.
In this for a reason…
Leah said, “The support my family has had in the UK has been amazing and it would be good to see this too as a reality in Africa. There is a need for charities like Service for a Reason, which are raising awareness and making a difference in Africa especially by helping to provide the resources that are needed”.
“These are children that have a voice and their own minds, and we are their voice when they can’t speak up. I believe that there are many children who still don’t have that level of support in Africa. Until you have walked that journey, you really don’t know the challenges. We are in a responsible position to raise the funds and make a difference.”
As a caregiver, and an entrepreneur, Leah acknowledges that without the help and support she has had from the various organisations that exist in the UK, she would not be able to run a successful business.
There is no doubt that March is truly a special month! With the days getting lighter and now that spring is here, it is indeed a month full of hope.
Happy International Women’s month!
“My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive and to do so with passion, some compassion, some humour and style.” – Maya Angelou
