Woman works as volunteer in India

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Friday 9th Jan 2004.

A WOMAN from Avoncliff is jetting off to India today to work as a volunteer at a home for boys with polio.

Kathy Miller, 55, travels regularly to Tirunelveli, in southern India, and this year set up a registered charity to raise money for the home.

The Neem Tree Trust aims to advance the education and skills of the boys at the home, so they can leave when they are old enough with qualifications and equipment to earn their living independently.

Mrs Miller said: "These days you have got to have credibility and if I am going to approach businesses and ask them for financial support it is easier with formal charitable status.

"I will be living with the boys at the home for six weeks and teaching them how to make things like cushions and bags which I bring back and sell in Wiltshire."

When she is in England Mrs Miller travels all over the country giving talks about the Trust and getting sponsorship and fundraising.

She said: "I am a familiar face now and I really look forward to going to India.

"I would not be myself somehow now if I did not go every year.

"It stands out even more how poor they are there when we have just had Christmas here.

"Some of them are very disabled and in India if you are disabled you are at the bottom of the pile so they really need the support of the home to set them up for life."

During her stay Mrs Miller will also visit a leprosy hospital in the town, where recovering patients have made bags which will be sold through the Mace Store in Bradford on Avon.

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