Press Release 1
For Immediate Release 21/11/00
Freelance film-maker Michelle Savage from Norwich is one of around 230 people in the UK set to receive funding for projects connecting our lives in the UK with those in countries in West Africa on the Greenwich Meridian, the On The Line project has announced.
Michelle has been given this opportunity by the On The Line Millennium Awards scheme for her project to make a video about women's credit circles in the developing world. She will travel to West Africa early next summer and examine the way women there form their own lending circles to finance business enterprises.
Michelle first came up with the idea after working with the Women's Employment Enterprise Training Unit (WEETU) in Norwich, a group which offers free training and advice on setting up businesses to women on low income. "It is often difficult for women with little financial muscle to get the necessary credit to fund their ideas," says Michelle, "but by forming credit circles they can help provide the backing for each other. The idea is becoming more widespread in this country, but it is firmly established among communities in poorer countries. The On the Line award is a fantastic opportunity for me to make links with those communities."
When she gets back from her African travels, Michelle will be distributing her video to job centres and educational establishments, in a move to inspire people to think differently about their approach to work and life. She will also be giving talks about her experiences. "These lending circles show that by coming together as a community, people can achieve things that would be impossible alone."
On the Line is a partnership between Oxfam GB, Channel 4 and WWF-UK, and is the brainchild of Channel 4 broadcaster, Jon Snow and focuses on the similarities of life and culture from the UK to Ghana along the meridian line. Its aim is to change the way we in the UK see, think and act towards the developing world. The On the Line Millennium Awards scheme, funded with a National Lottery grant by the Millennium Commission, has given awards to over 200 people to fund imaginative projects that bring the UK and Africa closer together.
ENDS
For general enquiries see www.ontheline.org.uk
On The Line was founded by Oxfam GB, Channel
4 and WWF-UK and is registered charity, number 1073841
For
more press releases, click below
28th June 2001
20th September 2001