NILS makes “best news”
NILS staff celebrate Sharon’s award. From left to right: Tony Devlin (back row), Warwick Mears, Sharon Abiah, Melody Pascoe, Fiona West and Andrew Whittett (front). (Photo supplied by The Salvation Army Moneycare Financial Counselling Service)
Sharon Abiah, a Salvation Army volunteer for our no-interest loans scheme (Salvos NILS), won the “Best News Story” award at the recent national NILS conference in Melbourne.
Sharon, originally from Ghana, first approached Salvos NILS in May 2011 and, with the help of Melody Pascoe, a NILS caseworker at Streetlevel, applied for a loan for a washing machine and landline telephone handset.
The loan was approved and has since been repaid in full.
“This is a great good news story, not only about the very positive impact of a NILS loan itself but of all the good things that can flow from it such as community connections, opportunity and capacity building,” says Tony Devlin, manager of the program for the Australia Eastern Territory.
“It’s especially exciting as this is the first time The Salvation Army, which has been part of NILS network for three years, has put forward a nomination for an award.”
Tony explains the loan enabled Sharon and her family to get over a “really tough patch” and connected her to other areas of support offered by the Salvos, which has helped her and her family.
Sharon has since volunteered at Streetlevel with her mother, and she’s been part of the community detention team who assist former asylum seekers moving into the community.
And she’s also realised her passion for community services with a Certificate IV in Community Services. Sharon is now continuing her studies to upgrade her qualification to diploma level.
At the end of 2012, Sharon was invited to join the Salvos NILS management committee as a volunteer client/community representative. She now regularly and positively contributes to the Salvos NILS methods of operation and policies.
For more information on Salvos NILS go to: salvos.org.au/need-help/financial-troubles/#NILS or email tony.devlin@aue.salvationarmy.org
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