Peace talks have impact for Maria

NOMINATED . . . Maria Dawn Ellis (front) with other volunteers

IT’S not easy working to achieve peace but that won’t stop Maria Dawn Ellis.

Shaw resident Maria is the chair and founder of Peace Talks Oldham (PTO), which was established last year.

She organised the Oldham Peace Day event at Gallery Oldham in September, 2014, which marked the UN International Day of Peace held on September 21 each year.

Maria is now working to organise a second Peace Day event on September 19 and is hosting a series of monthly events at the One World cafe during the summer.

The aim is to bring together the different communities of Oldham. Maria’s partner Richard Outram, who put forward the nomination, said: “Maria has a number of health issues, despite that she is trying to make a difference to the borough.

“I thought that needed to be recognised.”

Maria (48), who is also a carer for her mother, said: “This has been a lovely surprise. This is about all of us, not just me.”

Aged 10, she was diagnosed with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, a rare genetic disorder which affects the joints. Because of this, Maria has had her studies interrupted — she had to drop out in her second year while studying for a visual art and art history degree in Bolton when her health deteriorated.

But she refuses to let that stop her activism. She set up PTO after hearing the words of world-renowned peace talker Prem Rawat.

Maria said: “Peace is not just the absence of war, but something every single human being can experience in their life.

“I felt people of Oldham would interested in hearing Prem’s message.

“Oldham has a diverse group of people from different cultures. This is something that can bring people together.”


twitter: @IramRamzanOC