Aid worker fights for women’s rights

BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

A volunteer spoke out about the important work relief organisations do for gender equality ahead of International Women’s Day yesterday.

Vix Anderton, from the Oval,  was inspired by her experiences volunteering in Bangladesh to continue challenging inequality at home.

The former RAF officer travelled to the mainly Muslim country with international development organisation VSO as part of the UK government-funded International Citizen Service (ICS) programme.

It allows people aged 18 to 25 to help development projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

She led a team of young British and Bangladeshi volunteers on a project to develop small businesses to reduce unemployment in the community, particularly for young women.

Vix said: “Women and girls face so many challenges in Bangladesh.

“The unemployment rate in Bangladesh is about 35 per cent but is even higher for women, for whom there are very few opportunities.

“Our project aimed to employment to a dozen marginalised women and youths, hopefully giving them the opportunity to improve their lives. Seeing these young women coming to training for the first time dressed in their best saris was an amazing day – they were so proud to be there.”

Vix has continued to use the skills she developed to work in London.

“She now works to reduce gender equality in UK organisations as an inclusive leadership and gender consultant, while promoting women’s rights in fragile and conflict-affected states as a gender and conflict adviser for the UK government’s Stabilisation Unit.

Vix said: “I have been passionate about women’s rights for years. My ICS placement enabled me to live with and help some women in Bangladesh and reinforced my desire to build a career focused on changing the lives of women and girls around the world.

“For me, that starts at home. Women in the UK still face many social and structural barriers. The
gender pay gap in the UK costs women £140billion a year. I help organisations build diverse and inclusive cultures. I love my work and feel very lucky that I have the opportunity to do work that is fulfilling and having a positive impact on the lives of other women.”

ICS is funded by UK Aid, so young people don’t need cash, qualifications or work experience to take part, just the desire to make a difference to the world’s poorest communities.

Before Vix travelled to Bangladesh, she raised more than £1,000 for VSO, which will enable communities in developing countries to continue to benefit from the work of future volunteers. Felicity Morgan, director of ICS, said: “It’s really inspiring to hear about the fantastic work Vix is doing.

“We’re incredibly proud that UK Aid is supporting young Brits to bring about positive change
in some of the world’s poorest communities.

“As an organisation working on the front line against poverty, VSO sees how people across Britain play a role in delivering UK aid, from the NHS and Army helping end the Ebola crisis, to the millions who donate, and the contribution we all make through taxes, together we are all making the world a fairer, safer place.”