LYMM woman Helen Owen has had her work recognised with an invitation from the High Sherrif of Cheshire to a night of celebration and recognition where she was given an award for international voluntary services to Uganda.
Helen’s story is nothing short of amazing. After Helen took early retirement in 2007 from 30 years in research and toxicology, she joined a mission to a Ugandan village.
She found an impoverished community, with no education for the children, many of whom were orphans from AIDs. There was also no electricity or running water in the village. Helen determined to change things, spent her own money to buy land, build and set up a school and provide electricity and water. The school now has some 200 children with another 100 in pre-school.
Helen said: “It has been a lot of work but it is very worthwhile to see the joy and optimism it has brought to the children and the community. The lovely people of Lymm have been very supportive.”
Helen regularly holds local events which are well supported including coffee mornings in the Methodist Church Hall on Eagle Brow. The name of her registered charity’s website is helenmargaretowenfoundation.org
