The British Asian Trust, the UK’s leading organisation for British Asian philanthropy, launched it’s first public appeal, Give a Girl a Future at an exclusive pre-London Fashion Week fashion event on Monday 12th September.
In partnership with the GMSP Foundation, organizers hosted a gala evening at the Waldorf Hilton, which was graced by acid attack survivors Laxmi and Adele. The two brave women inspired the room with an appearance on the catwalk, which also saw collections showcased by leading designers Raishma and Lucy Choi London.
During the event, the British Asian Trust, which is also one of The Prince’s charities, launched it’s first appeal video for Give a Girl a Future, featuring chart topping music producer Naughty Boy, British TV stars Anita Rani and Sanjeev Bhaskar, Bollywood icon Anil Kapoor and British actor Ray Panthaki.
British Asian Trust ambassador Laila Rouass, British singer Sonique and ex-West Indian cricketer Carlos Braithwaite also attended.
The funds raised from the event will be donated to the Trust’s Give a Girl a Future appeal, with every £1 donated matched by the UK Government. Matched donations from the UK Government will support girls, women and their families across Pakistan in livelihood projects.
The GMSP foundation, set up by Ramesh and Pratibha Sachdev, invests in immediate needs and long-term mindset change with a focus is women and girls who they believe are the engine of social change.
The Give a Girl a Future campaign is aiming to transform the lives of 100,000 girls, women and their families in South Asia through a campaign that will see the UK Government match all donations by members of the UK public made before 7th December.
In some rural areas, 94 women in every 100 have no work and even those with work, may earn as little as 17p per day. With no skills or hope the brutal reality for thousands of girls born into poverty in South Asia is that they have no real future.
Money from the UK Government will support girls and women in Pakistan to access the skills they need to secure a sustainable livelihood.
Speaking at the event, Richard Hawkes, CEO, British Asian Trust said: “Tonight’s event in partnership with GMSP Foundation is a unique night of fashion and a chance to share the stories of vulnerable women in South Asia.
“Our first public appeal ‘Give a Girl a Future’ aims to transform the lives of girls, women and their families in South Asia and this will be an opportunity to raise funds to support the appeal and unlock the potential of a new generation.”
Donations to the British Asian Trust before 7th December 2016 will support some of the poorest people in South Asia. The UK Government will match all donations up to a maximum of £5 million during the appeal. This match funding will be used to give girls a future in Pakistan by supporting them to get the skills and opportunities they need to secure a sustainable livelihood.
