International Women's Day in the spotlight: Meet award winning Margaret Valle, a pioneer in empowering women

Margaret Valle is a resident at MHA Handsworth, in Altrincham but her life wasn't always as mellow and calm as it is now.

For International Women's Day, we wanted to share with you her story and how she supported fellow women in a foreign country by learning their language and teaching them life lessons. 

International Women's Day (IWD) is a holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights movement. 

IWD gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women

Margaret is an ordained minister and spent several years working in Peru supporting and educating women.

She identified women in tribal areas as illiterate and struggled with basic knowledge on nutrition, reading and family planning.

In 2015 Margaret was presented with an award for her services by the Peruvian government for her work with the women in the country.

She met her husband Aldo Valle whilst living out there and had to move back to the UK with her children in the 1980’s following the Peruvian conflict.

Once coming back to the UK, she was a minister for two churches, one in Bradford and another in East London

She did however go back once the dust had settled to be with her husband and on her return was appointed as a teacher to support and prepare new ministers.

She returned back to the UK and moved into MHA Handsworth 12 months ago following the death of her husband.

Margaret is also a trained teacher and spent seven years studying art.

She is an inspiration to us all and we wish her all the best