Women from across Lancashire were honoured for their voluntary and community work at Aawaz annual celebration event on 5th March 2015
Women from across Lancashire were honoured for their voluntary and community work at Aawaz annual celebration event on 5th March 2015
Aawaz’s annual celebratory event was attended by236 guests, held in the ballroom at Accrington Town Hall, on Thursday lunchtime.
This year’s event will celebrated the completion of the very unique heritage project, named “Women of Achievement” an oral history project that depicts the experiences of 20 south Asian women who arrived in the period 1965-1985 to East Lancashire. The project has created a Resource pack which can be used by schools right across the country
The Mayor of Hyndburn launched the Citizenship Resource Pack that the project has created for use in schools across the country.
The charity organised the ceremony during the International Women’s week as a reminder of the important role women play in the family, neighbourhood and society.
This year we received many nominations and the Panel of Judges had a difficult task to select the winners. Amongst the winners were two women who were honoured for their motivation and hard work, they joined Aawaz as unemployed and struggling with the English language.
Manager Zulekha Dala said: “They worked extremely hard to make themselves employable and to get a job. “They had no education and could speak little English, but now they work at Express Gifts in Accrington.
The winners included:
Dominique Harrison-Bentzen, who raised over over £21,000 for the homeless man known as Robbie.
Philomena Cordeivo a 78 year old lady who gives her time selflessly, helping those in need
Valerie Hunt and Penny Smith both dedicated volunteers in Accrington
Urmila parekh , a lady who has devoted herself to community work despite experiencing health and disability problems.
Naziran Ali- a woman who joined Aawaz as a service user to build her confidence and to improve her communication skills, she has recently been appointed as a volunteer with the charity
Mrs Roqyia Akhter, described as a woman who helps young and old, who has given so much, for all her charitable work.
Aawaz Patron explained “It’s really good motivation for other women who are having a tough time in their lives.”
A special award was presented to Peter Goodall, who works with the Hyndburn Disability Forum and the Blind Society. This award was in recognition of all the good work and Aawaz members wanted to acknowledge Peter’s role with the various charities.
Hyndburn mayor, Cllr Munsif Dad, was among the guests at the event and said he was glad to commend the important work the organisation was doing to help women get into work and feel better about themselves.
He said: “The Aawaz group is doing an excellent job in trying to give women of all ages and ethnicities the support that they need.
“It is important that everybody supports them in achieving their aims and objectives to give self confidence to women from the Asian subcontinent and to try to get them to integrate in society. “It was an excellent afternoon with a fully packed town hall in Accrington. “I was absolutely delighted to attend with my colleagues from other areas.”
The mayor of Preston, Nick Pomfret, mayor of Pendle, Cllr Graham Roach, the chair of Lancashire County Council, Cllr Kevin Ellard, also attended.