You won’t have heard of Philippa Woodcraft. She is twenty years old and lives in a small village in the Bedfordshire countryside. She works part-time as a secretary in an auction house and attends her local Baptist church. She is the seventh child born into her family.
Philippa hasn’t starred on TV or Radio, or featured in national press or glossy magazines, however, on a trip to Latin America during August – the first time she has flown outside the UK, in fact – as part of a mission team from Christian disability charity, Through the Roof, she was given priority boarding to the aircraft, even before First Class and Business passengers. Staff provided short cuts for her through check-in and security; and she was offered lifts on those nippy electric buggies that whizz around airports (although she preferred to walk).
The reason for this VIP treatment is that Philippa was born blind and sometimes needs a little extra assistance, which this airline were happy to provide. However, not everyone is aware that a little effort can make a big difference to the lives of disabled people.
The World Health Organization states that “only 2% of disabled children in developing countries receive an education”. The whole purpose for this trip to Guatemala, Latin America’s second poorest country, was for a small team with many years’ experience of working with disabled children, to equip and resource teachers, church and community workers to ensure disabled children are included in their activities.
Philippa was an integral member of the team and inspired delegates through sharing her experience of disability, while demonstrating what can be achieved – travelling 5000 miles, working in a team, presenting to 170 teachers on one day, and singing beautifully. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive from the 480 people that benefited from the 8 workshops. Partner organisations in Guatemala have already asked the team to return. If you want the opportunity to enable disabled people to fulfil their God-given potential, either as role models like Philippa, or through training teachers and churches, please partner with Through the Roof in prayer, as a volunteer team-member, or donate to the work of potential trips to India, Guatemala and Uganda in 2010.
