No-one who sees the poverty and appalling living conditions of children and their families living next to the busy railway line in Guwahati could go home and do nothing. Home for these children is at best a hovel made of old cardboard boxes, tins and rags. There is no electricity, no running water, no toilets, no medical support and no education.
Some women work as rag pickers, collecting metal, cardboard, plastic bottles and any other ‘useful’ rubbish; others are low paid domestics or prostitutes. Whatever it takes to survive. Men work the slow passing railway carriages, stealing; almost all are drug users and alcoholics. Boys, some as young as ten, are glue sniffers. Once hooked on it, it takes eight to ten years to kill them. There are few girls over 14 in the slums – rape and trafficking into prostitution are common.
Their story inspired TFWA Care to build a home for these children in the countryside in the outskirts of town, where their parents are welcome to visit, and close to a school. The children there are happy and making excellent progress at school – but more space s needed.
Our challenge this year is to raise €20,000 to build two more rooms and an extended kitchen. Simple things that will give the opportunity of a real future, a life, to 30 of the world’s poorest children…
The fund-raiser is part of WiTR’s annual TFWA World Exhibition meeting which will take place on Tuesday October 20th (1730-1900) on level 1 , near the Business Centre and Hotels Desk at the Palais des Festivals. It’s a great opportunity for women in the duty free and travel retail industry to exchange news, views and experiences – all women in the duty free and travel retail industry are welcome to come along.
Fund raising has already started with commitments from industry colleagues of auction and raffle prizes for the grand draw*, and donations. Many dynamic Women in Travel Retail will be inviting exhibitors and visitors to participate by entering the draw to win fabulous prizes. Each business card entry raises €10 towards the lorry (three entries for €20).
Please help WiTR to make the meeting in Cannes the best ever and achieve its target of taking 30 children out of utter squalor and giving them a new life..
We know we can do it with your help.
* Please deliver donations to the Furla stand (Bay Village Bay 15) by 1500 on Tuesday October 20th.
For more information and to donate prizes, please contact any of the following:
Sarah Branquinho - sarah.branquinho@wdfg.com
Gerry Munday – gerry.munday@furla.com
Catherine Bonelli – catherine.bonelli@paulshark.it
Amanda Felix – amanda.felix@dfnionline.com
Lois Pasternak – parsnip5@aol.com
Tina Tam - tina.tam@burberry.com
Marissa Phanivong – m.phanivong@tfwa.com
WiTR thanks Rob Grossman of Questexhibits for his assistance with the logistics
Media queries to:
Rowena Holland - row@essentialcommunications.org
Note to Editors:
Lotus Flower Trust is a UK based charity (Reg. no. 1127316) which over the past five years has changed over 2000 children’s lives by building over 30 schools, homes and skills centres, typically in remote rural areas. Lotus Flower Trust has few overheads - no office premises, no paid staff, so almost all the funds raised go direct to the projects.
Women in Travel (WITR) was established over 5 years ago as a forum for the women in the travel retail industry. It allows us a privileged medium to exchange ideas, and just as importantly to support people in need who we believe would benefit from our help. From year to year we help different groups or communities (from Haiti to Africa to China) to help themselves, with a strong focus on children.
No comments:
Post a Comment