AAIC Work Sofar

The WLAC is a voluntary community charity organisation. It was set up in December 1998. The main reason for its foundation was to help Angolan community access the mainstream services, not to suffer in silence through lack of knowledge of their rights and entitlements in their host country. Another reason was to combat poverty and help the community integrate into the British society. Today though, the WLAC services is offered not only to Angolan nationals but also to other ethnic minority (mainly  African  Portuguese  Speaking  nationals,  People  of  African  descent  and  any  member  of  public  who  need  its  services).  The  demand   of  our  services  is  increasing  day  by  the  day.  We  now  serve  up  to  10  clients  per  day.  Yet  in terms  of  funding,  the  WLAC  continue  to  struggle. We  hope  that  this  situation  will  change  in  the  forseable   future.

Over the past nine years, the WLAC has been making a lot of difference to the lives of its beneficiaries. In fact changing lives for the better. Hundreds and hundreds of people have been helped in claiming benefits that they were entitled to, to get accommodation or prevented from being evicted from their homes. Other were helped in getting leave to remain in the UK, access legal services, help with interpreting and translation services. Many clients also benefited from our career and employment advice and guidance. Those who followed our advice, have managed to reach Universities and others are currently working in big companies. Education is the most powerful weapon in life. Therefore the WLAC always encourages clients to take education seriously, it encourages children and young people to work extra hard at school in order to succeed.

The WLAC's staff are from refugee background themselves. They know the client's problems in and out. That is why clients are treated with compassion, humildity, empathy and respect. The majority of our client live in deprived areas and often unemployed or take up low income jobs. Day by day , they struggle to make ends meet and very often they still need help with interpreting and translation.

Like any other charitable work, our work requires a lot of patience and sacrifices. Once someone in need finds out about the WLAC, there is no stop in coming and they spread the words to others. The WLAC has become the first point of information and advice to Angolan community,  African Portuguese Speaking countries  nationals  and other  ethnic  minority  who  need  our  services. It acts like a CAB to the community. It has forged links with other voluntary community organisation and is a member of many umbrella organisations including Advice UK, Evelyn Oldfield Unit, ILPA and NCVO.

Clearly, it would not be possible without the help and support of our funders past and present including; London Councils, Lloyds TSB, Bridge House Trust, Trust for London, Comic relief, Home Office Community development Fund, Baring Trust Foundation and Big Lottery Fund. Your financial support has made and continue to make a lot of difference to the lives of community  we  serve and other minority ethnics. 

Joao-Pedro Lunguela
Chief  Executive