Parents of aid worker killed in Afghanistan dedicate honour to women there
The couple were both made OBEs for services to women and children abroad and in Scotland.
They set up the Linda Norgrove Foundation in memory of their daughter Linda, an aid worker who was kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan and died in an attempted rescue by US forces in October 2010.
The foundation gives grants to fund education, health and childcare for women and children in Afghanistan.
The couple said: 'We are honoured to have received this recognition of the work being carried out by the Linda Norgrove Foundation.
'We are a tiny charity, mostly volunteers, who all share the same goal – to make life better for women and children in Afghanistan.
'Having put a lot of effort into sponsoring women to study medicine in Afghanistan, we were heartbroken when the Taliban stopped them from attending university.
'We were privileged to have the chance to bring some of them here to Scotland last year to continue their studies at Scottish universities.
'We dedicate this honour to all those brave women who remain in Afghanistan, or who have made the decision to leave their homes and families behind to move abroad and continue their studies and careers. Their struggle continues and they are the real heroes of this story.'
Mrs Norgrove said news of the OBE came as a 'big surprise'.
The foundation worked with both the Scottish and UK governments to bring 19 female Afghan medical students to Scotland last year to continue their degrees as they were barred by the Taliban from completing their university studies in Afghanistan.
The couple said the charity was set up to help Afghan women and children in their own country and they now plan to focus on that rather than bringing more of them to the UK.
They hope the honour will raise awareness about the work the foundation is doing in Afghanistan, where girls and women are living under severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban.
Mrs Norgrove said: 'Women have been prevented from working, prevented from having education, they're prevented from going out.
'And the loss of jobs is having a severe effect on family life and how they're managing to cope on an everyday basis.'
The couple, who live on the isle of Lewis, said their daughter would have been pleased to know they are carrying on the work that she was doing.
Mrs Norgrove said: 'Linda was very, very much for women's rights, and for looking after women, for giving them jobs – anything to do with women and children, she was all for it.
'She would be absolutely delighted that we've been able to help in the way that we have.'
Mr Norgrove added: 'She was all for women's education. She particularly thought that you don't only educate a woman, but you also ensure a different life for the woman's children as well, you know? So she thought that was the future.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Scots are seriously divided over different names for back-to-school essential
Read on to find out the different names for the school staple SHOE KNEW Scots are seriously divided over different names for back-to-school essential Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTS have been left seriously divided over what they call these back-to-schools essentials. Many of us will remember wearing the black rubber-soled canvas shoes for PE classes at primary school. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 There are several different names people call these school gym shoes Credit: Handout And it turns out people across the regions of Scotland call them different names. A recent YouGov survey from nearly 38,000 people across the UK show that many have their own word for the school staple. 'Plimsolls' is the most popular name for the trainers throughout the UK - with 53 per cent saying it is how they would typically refer to the shoe. It is mostly used in Tayside, the Scottish Borders, Fife, Lothian and Grampian areas in Scotland. Around five per cent of people in the UK call them 'sandshoes' or 'sannies'. The shoes themselves were originally known as 'sandshoes' - and this has hung on in parts of Scotland. Some even call them by the nickname 'sannies'. A total of 52 per cent of people in Refrewshire and 47 per cent of Glasgwegians call them 'sandshoes' or 'sannies'. The simpler descriptor of 'gym shoes' is used across Scotland with around 20-24 per cent in most regions of the country using the term. This is also rising to 29 per cent on Tayside and 39 per cent in the north eastern Grampian area. Shoppers go wild for 'Scottish uniforms' in Quiz that English schools would ban Overall, only six per cent of people in Britain use the term. For nearly four in ten people in Lanarkshire (38 per cent), as well as 32 per cent of people in Central Scotland, 'gutties' is the go-to name. This is a word that derives from a type of rubber once used to make them. The Lothians are home to one of the most specific regional terms, with 18 per cent calling them 'rubbers'. However, 'plimsolls' is the most common name for them in the area. For 23 per cent of people in the UK, the black school canvas shoes are called 'pumps'. While the name has some currency in most of England, it is virtually unused in mid Scotland. 3 A YouGov map shows what names UK regions call the school shoes
Edinburgh Reporter
6 hours ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
East Lothian Council double doors refusal ‘unfair'
The owner of a rural steading has accused East Lothian planners of behaving unfairly after they denied them permission to open a narrow doorway into double doors to allow 'wheelchair access'. Sandesh Pal has appealed to Scottish Ministers to step in after the council's planners rejected their application to install French doors in the Category A listed building , in Innerwick, despite mirroring the design on their neighbours door entrances. And they said the narrow door 'hinders wheelchair access for family members and visitors with disabilities, making these alterations necessary'. In their appeal to Scottish Ministers they say planning decisions at the Hunters Steading site, which was converted to housing more than 20 years ago, have been inconsistent with double doors and a roof window they applied for refused despite similar plans being approved for neighbours in the past. They say: 'The council's refusal cited potential harm to the building's historic fabric and visual imbalance, rejecting the roof window and door extension as modern interventions inconsistent with the character of the listed building. 'However, the proposed roof window matches already accepted on neighbouring properties and is hidden from public view. The door extension would use timber-framed doors consistent with existing features, alongside detailed stonework exact to match neighbouring properties and current buildings character, challenging the council's characterization of the changes as modern and intrusive.' In their appeal they point to planning permissions which have been granted to neighbours in recent years for similar changes to their homes in the steading, including double doors and windows. They said: 'Currently, there are a number of properties in the Hunter Steading development that have double door openings or windows on wall openings, enlarged. These inconsistent decisions appear to be unfair.' East Lothian Council refused permission for the roof window and double doors saying they would 'harmfully disrupt and unbalance' the look of the building, adding that the 'modern' double doors would be 'alien' to the character of the listed building. However the application said: 'The design includes an exact mirror image of stone lintels and stone sizes, precisely matching the existing openings.' The appeal is currently available for viewing on the Scottish Ministers appeal website. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
7 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
East Lothian home owner says council acted 'unfairly' over French door plans
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The owner of a rural steading has accused East Lothian planners of behaving unfairly after they denied them permission to open a narrow doorway into double doors to allow 'wheelchair access'. Sandesh Pal has appealed to Scottish Ministers to step in after the council's planners rejected their application to install French doors in the Category A listed building, in Innerwick, despite mirroring the design on their neighbours door entrances. And they said the narrow door "hinders wheelchair access for family members and visitors with disabilities, making these alterations necessary". In their appeal to Scottish Ministers they say planning decisions at the Hunters Steading site, which was converted to housing more than 20 years ago, have been inconsistent with double doors and a roof window they applied for refused despite similar plans being approved for neighbours in the past. They say: "The council's refusal cited potential harm to the building's historic fabric and visual imbalance, rejecting the roof window and door extension as modern interventions inconsistent with the character of the listed building. "However, the proposed roof window matches already accepted on neighbouring properties and is hidden from public view. The door extension would use timber-framed doors consistent with existing features, alongside detailed stonework exact to match neighbouring properties and current buildings character, challenging the council's characterization of the changes as modern and intrusive." In their appeal they point to planning permissions which have been granted to neighbours in recent years for similar changes to their homes in the steading, including double doors and windows. They said: "Currently, there are a number of properties in the Hunter Steading development that have double door openings or windows on wall openings, enlarged. These inconsistent decisions appear to be unfair." East Lothian Council refused permission for the roof window and double doors saying they would "harmfully disrupt and unbalance" the look of the building, adding that the 'modern' double doors would be 'alien' to the character of the listed building. However the application said: "The design includes an exact mirror image of stone lintels and stone sizes, precisely matching the existing openings." The appeal is currently available for viewing on the Scottish Ministers appeal website.
