Under the tongue in cheek (or was it?) email title of Angel meets Liz, I was sent two stunning photographs of Angel Benedicto doing just that on Monday evening at Buckingham Palace, the Liz in question being HM Queen. Unfortunately, the photos are marked copyright Press Association, so my conscience says I shouldn’t include them in the blog. But here is one of Angel, former child domestic worker from Tanzania, ahead of her current visit to the UK. Here she has been promoting the rights of children in domestic work, speaking at events and receiving an award from Her Majesty the Queen. Children Unite, with whom MWiB worked in partnership for 2 years, has been working with Angel for the past five years, helping her to develop her organisation, WoteSawa, which empowers child domestic workers to advocate for their rights.
On Monday, Angel was one of over 50 young people given The Queen’s Young Leader Award. This new award “….recognises and celebrates exceptional people aged 18-29 from across the Commonwealth, who are taking the lead in their communities and using their skills to transform lives. Winners of the Award will receive a package of training, mentoring and networking, including a one-week residential programme in the UK during which they collect their Award from Her Majesty The Queen. With this support, Award winners will be expected to continue and develop the amazing work they are already doing in their communities….”
I heard a radio interview with two other winners on Monday afternoon, and was thrilled to learn later that Angel was also to be honoured in the same way. It is wonderful to see the growth in confidence and stature not only of her work in Tanzania, recognised like this, but also of Children Unite itself. Take a look at their website for the latest news – click HERE – including more on Angel’s visit to this country. Linda
