Leah Pattison from the women’s charity WIN (Women in Need) came into St John’s School & Sixth Form College – A Catholic Academy, to speak to students from Year 7 – 13 about her working life since finishing her Fine Arts degree 22 years ago.
Leah set off travelling on a gap year but, whilst in India, was so touched by the plight of the Indian women suffering from leprosy that she changed her direction in life and stayed to help them.
In a national newspaper article she has been described as the “Angel of Nagpur” for the work she has done in helping women who are in severe suffering.
Leah and her colleague have worked tirelessly over the years to create a safe and accommodating environment for women and children living on the streets of Nagpur, helping them into more purposeful roles through training and education and empowering the women to be more self-sufficient.
The students from St John’s were told of her life in India, the work she has done and some of the ‘before and after’ stories that really make the work there very rewarding.
Leah also explained that she herself had suffered from leprosy whilst working in India but, with early identification and swift medical help, the disease, which is so debilitating, is curable. Students have been offered the opportunity to go out to Nagpur and visit Leah and there is an option for 6th formers to go and do some humanitarian work there during holidays or on a gap year.
For more details on Leah and the WIN charity go to
www.women-in-need.co.uk
