Two women from Bettws made a powerful presentation demonstrating the influence of local action to a major conference in Belfast, organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Kirsty Jones and Tracey Carey explained how a community education project being run by the University of Wales, Newport is helping to improve their lives and the community in which they live.

"Kirsty and Tracey are two of the women involved in the Bettws Women's Education, Health and Learning Project (BeWEHL) which is run by the University's Centre for Community and Lifelong Learning," explained Janet Pinder, the project's research co-ordinator. "Although they were quite nervous about going to the conference they gave a very good presentation and played a key role in illustrating the work of the project to delegates.

"The BeWEHL project is about trying to raise individuals' personal aspirations and showing them that they have an active role to play in the community."

Kirsty, age 23, who is now studying for a degree in social and environmental sciences, said, "I met lots of people from all over the world, and realised that they are concerned about the same sort of issues as the people in Bettws."