At the MSDUK 2016 Conference in London on 21-22 Sept, MSDUK will be celebrating it's 10 year anniversary. 10 years of driving inclusive procurement, of finding inspiring and entrepreneurial Ethnic Minority Businesses (EMBs), of helping them grow, and of creating real social change through diversity and inclusion in supply chains.

As we celebrate this important milestone, we would like to reach out and support those hundreds of people across the world that had their lives and livelihood taken away by natural disasters. We want to be with them as they rebuild their lives. Our chosen Charity, Indian Ocean Disaster Relief (IODR) was founded by Tony Matharu, MD, Grange Hotels at the time of the devastation caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. IODR was initially aimed to provide emergency relief in the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami. They built shelters, donated food, medical supplies, blankets and so much more, but as time went on, IODR realised that this was no where near enough to rehabilitate a region and its people.

As time went on, they began to look at the region's long term needs and the younger generation who will have to live with the devastation in years to come. So, today, IODR's work has expanded to building long term managed projects for the most needy and vulnerable children, including schools and community, welfare and education centres in countries around the Indian Ocean.

Why should you support IODR?

It is very easy to erase our memories after initial period of shock and disbelief every time a natural disaster happens. However, thousands of people in the affected areas lose their homes, jobs, livelihood and their families! For them the memory and after effect is what they live with for their life time and to rebuild their lives and bring hope, there is a greater need for a long term rehabilitation programme. IODR is doing exactly the same by staying back in those disaster areas and working with local communities and affected people to rebuild schools, provide day to day support to young girls and vulnerable families. They are building infrastructure, providing shelter, medicine and education to those in desperate need. And that is why the MSDUK Community should support IODR in their long term work.