Pauline Latham OBE MP hosts event to celebrate two charities: The launch of Energy Aid, and the work of Seeds for Development
2nd February 2012
Pauline Latham, MP for Mid Derbyshire has this week hosted an event in the Palace of Westminster in order to celebrate the launch of a new, global energy NGO, called “Energy Aid”, and to commend the work and success of a smaller charity, called “Seeds for Development.”
Energy Aid is a new NGO, which was formed with the purpose of tackling energy poverty on a global scale. Currently, there are 1.3 billion people who do not have access to energy. The problems of energy poverty are well documented - nearly half of the world’s population cook and heat their homes with solid fuel, which leads to the early deaths of more than a million people a year through respiratory disease, and huge environmental damage is caused by deforestation and soot emissions from poor-quality combustion.
Seeds for Development, founded by Alison Hall, is a small charity which started out with the aim of helping to get one farming family out of grinding poverty. Today, Seeds for Development now supports over 700 farming families – that 7,000 people in Uganda. The charity works upon the basis of a seed exchange system.
The event was attended by a number of charities and NGOs, Industry experts, Members of Parliament, Lords, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, and many other stakeholders of development.
Pauline Latham OBE MP said:
“I am absolutely thrilled to have been able to support these two superb charities, both of whom have such potential to change the lives of so many people.
It is so important that we as individuals, can contribute to the development of countries, and to provide innovative solutions to save lives, and improve life quality and expectancy, which is why this event was held”
Alison Hall, Founder of Seeds for Development said:
“Seeds for Development felt so privileged to be participating at the launch of what, I'm sure, will be the hugely successful NGO - Energy Aid.
To be able to share our story with such a diverse and important audience was a very proud moment indeed for me. The opportunities last night created have filled us all with enthusiasm and motivation for a very exciting time ahead!”
