Aid workers from around the world enjoy visit
Season ticket holder Nick Guttmann has certainly spread the word about his beloved AFC Wimbledon with Christian Aid workers from Asia and Africa cheering on the Dons to victory against Notts County.
Nick, who heads up the Humanitarian Division at the international charity, encouraged emergency staff over here for a meeting in London to sample the atmosphere on an AFC Wimbledon match day.
For people who work all year round in crisis-torn countries, it offered a welcome distraction and Nick said they “enjoyed the experience and passion” in the Chemflow End as the Dons won in dramatic style against Notts County.
“All these people are involved in different parts of our emergency work all over the world,” said Nick. “For example, Ram is Regional Emergency Manager and he led our response to the earthquake in Nepal, which supported 100,000 people in the first month. We work with community-based associations to give power to local people to run things. AFC Wimbledon is a big community club so it fits in with our philosophy.
“I have been trying to make sure that they get a chance to come and see AFC Wimbledon when they are here. The ones who are not quite so sensible have gone for a tour around London!”
As all of the people in the photograph do such great work in very difficult environments around the world, we thought it was worth Nick (middle row, centre) describing each of their roles and below he also mentions how many times they have watched the Dons!
She has now been to four AFC Wimbledon games, including three at home – and the Dons have won them all! Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salome leads the response from Christian Aid to people affected by the conflict in Eastern Congo. Salome Ntububa
He has played a major role in setting up the Christian Aid response to the earthquake in Nepal. Born in India, it was his first AFC Wimbledon game against Notts County. Yeeshu Shukla:
From India and Regional Emergency Manger at Christian Aid. Ram leads work across South Asia, including the Nepal response, which provided support to 100,000 people in the first month after the earthquake. He previously attended the away game at Gillingham in 2013, which was critical for AFC Wimbledon surviving relegation. Ram Kishan:
Now managing Christian Aid’s emergency response in Nepal, Dipankar is from India and Saturday was his first AFC Wimbledon game.Dipankar Patanaik:
It was Alpha’s first AFC Wimbledon game. In particular, the programme has supported quarantined families and provides support to survivors. From Sierra Leone, Alpha manages Christian Aid’s emergency response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone. Alpha Sankoh:
Dulon works on helping communities to be able to cope with the increasing number of climate related disasters in Bangladesh, where he is from. Dulon Gomes:
Both from the UK and they are involved in important Christian Aid projects in this country.Inge Groenewegen: and Rebecca Mallows
Photo credit: Stuart Butcher, Pro Sports Images.