Five years after aid worker Linda Norgrove died in a failed rescue attempt in Afghanistan, the foundation established in her name has raised £1 million
It was five years ago that the 36-
She tragically died in a failed rescue attempt by US Forces on 8 October 2010.
Her parents, John and Lorna, wanted Linda to be remembered for her contribution to life rather than her tragic death and established a foundation to help women and children affected by the war in Afghanistan.
Linda Norgrove Foundation raises £1 million
8 October 2015
John Norgrove explained: “Our daughter Linda loved the Afghan people and a number of people she met there became close friends.
"She was in the country because she wanted to make it a better place to live, particularly for women and children. She recognised there were hugely positive aspects to Afghanistan which we rarely had the chance to see because of the constant coverage of the war."
Mr Norgrove added: “We don’t have the resources to change the world, but we do help in our own small way to fund projects which have a direct impact on individuals. And because we are small we can keep a closer eye on what we are funding and we can keep our overheads to an absolute minimum.”
The charity has now raised more than £1 million for almost 76 grass roots projects such as scholarships enabling 44 poor girls to attend university, including five training to be doctors
It includes SCAWNO, a school in a rough neighbourhood of Kabul which is attended by more than 300 kids. As well as school for the children they also teach commercial tailoring skills to their mothers
A project digging underground tanks from solid rock to provide safe drinking water to isolated villages has been funded.
Financial help is also given to the Children’s Medical House which pays for ten operations a year at the French Children’s Hospital in Kabul.
There is also support for an orphanage caring for children with special needs.
The charity has also, in partnership with Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan,
funded Afghanistan Reads! – a network of community-
One of the major fundraising projects is the annual run in early October which marks the anniversary of Linda’s death. As well as the Valtos 10K on Lewis, runners have taken part wherever they are in the world from Washington DC to Melbourne, from Edinburgh to Liberia.
Unusual locations have included an oil rig off Shetland and a research station in Antarctica where the runners faced temperatures of minus 55 degrees.
John and Lorna visited Afghanistan earlier this year to see some of the projects, their second trip since Linda's death in 2010.
Lorna Norgrove commented: “Afghanistan feels like a very different place and has changed a lot since our earlier visit. Security remains an issue, but we felt much more relaxed.
"We enjoyed seeing the difference we have made on the ground and it was a delight to reacquaint ourselves with some of the children from the orphanage we had met on our previous visit.”