She changes lives

e h S s e g n a h c s e v li

We’re working with some wonderful women to highlight the incredible work of female health and education workers in developing countries.

These inspiring health and education workers are changing the lives of some of the world’s poorest people, but many still have no access to medical treatment because they cannot access or afford the vital healthcare they need, and 72 million children still miss out on having an education.

Throughout the developing world women like these are working hard to change this situation.

Annie Lennox has chosen Nonkululo, a 28-year-old HIV and AIDS counsellor from Eastern Cape, South Africa. Nonkululo is HIV-positive herself– and is teaching people that they have a right to treatment.

“Nonkululo is a true inspiration and is very empathic because she has a direct experience of living with the HIV virus. The whole region where she lives is very poor and remote and has been devastated by HIV. I bow down to the people that I met in Africa. They have so little materially and are swimming like salmon upstream against all the odds and yet they have a magnificence of human spirit. I’ve seen Nonkululo dance and I’ve seen her sing and I think ‘My god, I bow down to you’. She’s got this incredible spirit – she truly is one of those exceptional women”

Emily Eavis, Glastonbury organiser, chose Pastor Mary Crockett who, since finding out she was HIV positive, preaches AIDS awareness and also runs an AIDS hospice in the QwaQwa region of South Africa. �Pastor Mary is an extraordinary woman.

All her energy goes into running a hospice for HIV sufferers. The hospice is relatively small, but absolutely crucial, in a part of the world where HIV is rife, but not properly addressed.

It is this kind of project which sees people through extremely difficult times, where no other support is available.�

Mariella Frostrup, broadcaster and journalist, chose Bineta Diop, Executive Director of Femmes Africa Solidarite, who she met in Chad.

“Femmes Africa Solidarite aren’t interested in taking a rose tinted glasses view of what is happening in the world and are all about changing reality on the ground for these women. Oxfam are supporting them and I think that one of the things that really inspires me about Oxfam is that they’re not afraid to take on tough causes.”

Zoe Ball, broadcaster and TV presenter, chose Eunice Victory a HIV carer, who she met on an Oxfam trip to Malawi.

“When I met Eunice I was blown away by her strength and humour. She doesn’t get paid but helps people because there are lots of people in her village who are sick and suffering, and there is no one else to take care of them. It’s awe inspiring how one woman is giving so much hope to a whole community.”

Zina Saro-Wiwa, Film-maker, presenter and founder of AfricaLab, chose Madame Kady Baby who represents the Malian Association for Schooling Education of Girls and the female Educators Forum, in Africa. “Madame Kady Baby is working to improve the provision of education in a country with some of the worst literacy statistics in the world. Fewer than a quarter of Malian adults can read and write and only 16% of them are women. There is a lot of work to do and Madame Kady Baby is at the forefront of trying to turn around this dire situation.�

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