THE UMBRELLA FOUNDATION

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads)—Linda Harwood, first visited Nepal in 2012, volunteering for 4 months at The Umbrella Foundation. After she returned to Australia in 2013, Linda established The Umbrella Foundation Australia as a registered Australian charity with co-founders Alana Mitchell & Carolin Mackaway. Last weekend I was honoured to attend a fundraising fashion parade at Morpeth, to support this worthy organisation and their work. The Umbrella Foundation works with Nepalese organisations and friends who are passionate about making a positive impact to the health & education of women, children & their communities who are living in extreme poverty in Nepal. Linda has a degree in international aid and community development, and is passionate about education and the need to break down the cycle of poverty in Nepal. The organisation's current projects include, the rebuilding of the Shree Bhimsen Secondary School following the 2015 earthquake, the women in kilns health and hygiene program to supports those in bonded labour in brick kiln factories throughout Nepal. Also a Children of the Kilns education program establishing schools for children in bonded labor. Linda and her team donate 100 per cent of their time to the organisation and I thank them for their important work.