A retired head teacher committed to enhancing Rwandan schoolchildren’s life was awarded a special prize by the departing prime minister.
Meg Fletcher said that in one of her final acts as prime minister, she was ‘ honored ‘ to receive a Point of Lights prize from Theresa May.
The former head of Vickerstown Primary School on Walney retired in 2005 and has since spent her time traveling to the East African nation providing 330 kids a year with school education, setting up the Kinamba Community Project.
The 73-year-old, from Baycliff said: “It’s great to be recognised for all the work I have done. I first thought I would only be out there for two years but I felt I had to keep coming back.”
As part of the project, more than 1,000 pupils have gone through school.
“I’m really pleased at what we have managed to achieve and I want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way,” she said. “The driving aim behind my work is to give people the chance to be able to take control of their lives through access to education and hopefully gainful employment through the acquisition of new skills.”
Points of Light is a prime minister’s voluntary prize.
Mrs May said in a letter: “Your dedication to improving education opportunities for children and adults in Rwanda is truly remarkable. By drawing on your experience as a teacher, your inspirational work providing free schooling and skills training is helping to transform the lives of hundreds of people, many of whom have been affected by the abhorrent events of the genocide 25 years ago.”
