Love in Action
1263. Alan Went
1264. Beryl Went
Alan and Beryl Went, from Essex, have helped hundreds of children in the remote village of Masaka, Uganda, stay on in education by offering scholarships to children who might otherwise drop out of school because of financial pressures.
Alan and Beryl first travelled to Masaka in 2003 and soon after set up an internet cafe to provide a safe environment for young people to use. Following this, they realised the need to expand education opportunities in the area and set up their charity ‘Love in Action’ to fund the building of a primary and secondary school, and provide sponsorships for children to attend. They have also developed an innovative ‘Hosanna Youth Project’, running two homes for teenagers to allow young people to live in a safe environment whilst attending school.
In a personal letter to Alan and Beryl, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“I know you do this with no thought of praise or reward, but allow me to offer my own recognition of how you both have helped hundreds of children in remote communities in Uganda stay in education and equip themselves with the knowledge and skills to serve their communities and build stronger lives.”
Alan and Beryl said:
“We are surprised and delighted to receive this award from the Prime Minister for our work in setting up and running Love in Action in Uganda.
“It is our delight to see some of the first orphans we have helped with their education start their careers and helping others.
“Love in Action is a point of light in Masaka, Uganda where we run two schools, a clinic, farm and church in the forest near Lake Victoria. The schools are getting excellent results thanks to our dedicated team of teachers and support staff. We are thrilled to accept this award on behalf of all of our Ugandan team and our fantastic sponsors and trustees in the UK. Thank you.”