Recognising Reading East’s links to international development

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Recognising Reading East’s links to international development

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Reading East MP, Rob Wilson, hosted Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, on Thursday.

Mr Mitchell visited a number of places across Reading East as Rob highlighted Reading’s important links with development issues.

The first stop on the visit was Coffey International Development – a global consulting organisation which works closely with the Government’s Department for International Development (DFID), which has managed more than 300 projects in 60 countries over 25 years on DFID’s behalf. Rob and Andrew met with staff and discussed the organisation’s role in helping third world countries on their path to development, with particular emphasis on Coffey’s role in the current reconstruction of Iraq.

Rob commented, “It was great to see just how Coffey helps the Government implement its development policy overseas by helping third world countries to get the most out of the monetary aid that they receive.  The difference that organisations like Coffey can make to re-building a country is incredible.”

Following the visit to Coffey in central Reading, Rob and Mr Mitchell then went to Waingel’s College in Woodley. There they had lunch at the School’s award winning canteen and meet with a group of school children who are planning a World Challenge expedition to Ecuador where they will undertake community work and hopefully help build a new school.

The aim of the World Challenge expeditions is to not only help educate students in development issues, but also to raise their global and environmental awareness whilst providing leadership training and life skill development. In previous years, the school has undertaken trips to Mongolia, Tanzania and Nepal.

After meeting with the students, Rob remarked, “At first glance, the big issues of our time – poverty, sectarian conflict, climate change, the ravages of infectious diseases – seem huge and unsolvable, but when people get out of their bubbles and into one-on-one relationships that make a difference, they develop a greater understanding of the issues facing the world today and they seek out the skills and knowledge to bring about change.

“These kinds of expeditions are not only invaluable to the personal development of young people, but also make a real difference to the lives of the people that they help. It is great to see the passion that these youngsters have for helping people in the developing world, especially when young people have been receiving such a bad press!” 

Following the trip to Waingel’s, Rob took the Shadow Secretary of State to visit the Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC) – Reading’s development education centre on London Street. RISC works with schools, community organisations and the public to raise the profile of international issues and promote action for sustainable development, equality and social justice.

Rob was pleased with the visit, believing that Mr Mitchell’s presence was a good thing by helping raise his constituency’s international development profile.

He commented, “I thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with Andrew celebrating Reading’s efforts to help rebuild ravaged areas, educate young people and raise awareness about development issues.

"Most people only tend to think about how the rest of the world lives when Bob Geldof hosts one of his Live Aid concerts, or disasters such as the 2004 Asian Tsunami and the Burmese Cyclone bring the plight of people in the third world crashing onto their TV screens. I hope that by highlighting examples of community activities that make connections between global and local issues, we can demonstrate to my constituents how everyone can become aware of and support international development.”