A FORMER charity boss has been given a new lease of life after winning the right to return to the organisation which made her redundant four years ago.

Daisy Byaruhanga, of Primrose Road, Leyton, beat stiff competition to secure paid work at the Innovative Vision Organisation (IVO), which supports people with HIV and Aids.

Mrs Byaruhanga was director of the Tottenham-based charity until she was made laid off along with 12 staff in 2006 due to a lack of funding.

She said the loss of her job seriously dented her confidence, especially after she failed to find a new job, and she continued to give her time up for free as a volunteer for the charity.

But she is now feeling positive about the future after being handed the opportunity to return to IVO as a paid employee for two months under the Vodafone Foundation’s World of Difference programme.

She said: “It may only be eight weeks but it means the world to me. My confidence just shot up when I heard I'd been chosen.

“I felt I would never get a job after years of trying and getting nowhere.””

She plans to use her two months to concentrate on fundraising, co-ordinating volunteer activities and implementing marketing strategies and policy changes.

Mrs Byaruhanga said she hopes her work over the next two months will encourage the charity to fund a base in Waltham Forest, as she says there are a lot of people in the borough who currently travel to Tottenham to access services.

Student Muhammed Asif, 31, of Belmont Park Road, Leyton, has also won a place on the programme.

Mr Asif, who is currently studying for an MA degree in special needs education, will be working for the children’s charity Barnados.

He said: “I think working for Barnados will give me valuable experience of working with children with special needs.

“I hope I will be able to help people to become more independent in later life.”

The pair will start their placements next week.

Visit vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference for details.

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