We are delighted that one of our founder trustees, Jean Edusei, has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s birthday honours list. The MBE was awarded for Services to Girlguiding and young people in Ghana.
Jean has been a Brownie leader in Newcastle since 1989 and has held several roles in Guiding since then, including organising 5 trips for older Guides to visit Ghana and carry out projects at King Jesus Charity Home in Kumasi, an experience that has had a profound effect on the lives of the Guides involved and been of great benefit to the children in Ghana.
Jean initiated and spearheaded the initial fundraising by Girlguiding Newcastle to build new premises at the orphanage in Ghana and subsequently came up with the idea of setting up the Ghanaian Children’s Trust in 2004. Thanks to the efforts of Jean and the other trustees this has become a successful charity that, to date, has raised over £155,000 to help the children in Ghana.
Jean says “I am very honoured and thrilled to receive an MBE. It’s a tribute not just to me but to all the wonderful volunteers who give so much to Girlguiding, and to the Trustees and supporters of the Ghanaian Children’s Trust. When I first visited King Jesus Charity Home in 2001 I realised I could harness the energy and commitment of my colleagues in Guiding to help the children in Ghana who were in need of food, education and a safe place to live; they have never let me down. I have enjoyed the challenges along the way, learnt a lot and made many new friends both in the UK and in Ghana. Seeing the improvement in the children’s lives is the greatest reward but it is wonderful for our work to be honoured with the MBE.”
