The Founder of LET

Marianne Carolan

Dutch-born Marianne Carolan was working as a Guardian ad Litem and Family Court Adviser for many years. Through her commitment and passion for the project and the children in Lalibela the sponsorship project has grown quickly in just a few years. Marianne became a trustee of the Lalibela Educational Trust when it was set up in 2006. She made many visits to Lalibela, most recently in January 2007 when she met all the sponsored children and their families. Marianne retired in January 2008 and her plan had been to dedicate more time to obtaining funds from grant giving bodies, so that the trust would be less dependent on fundraising and individual contributions. Sadly, Marianne was diagnosed with terminal cancer a few weeks later. She continued her involvement with LET in an advisory role. Marianne died in July 2008.

The Trustees of LET

Sheila Pullan

Sheila is a Solicitor acting for children in care proceedings which is how she met Marianne Carolan and became involved with the trust. Sheila and her husband Mike have sponsored a family since Spring 2005. They went to Lalibela in January 2007 to see the project for themselves. Their eldest daughter went with them and she now sponsors another family.

Sheila has been a trustee since the inception of the trust in 2006 and, apart from providing general legal advice, her role is to assist in monitoring the project in Lalibela. Sheila went to Ethiopia again in July 2008, with another sponsor. She also helps to ensure communication between the sponsors, the children and the teachers who assist the project in Lalibela. On her visit Sheila met every pupil, visited their family, and reviewed the summer school arrangements. The trust also plans to set up a dedicated computer for use by the sponsored children.

In the rest of Sheila's life she has three daughters, 2 granddaughters and she tries to find time to enjoy yoga, walking, tai chi, gardening, reading, the theatre. She plans to retire so she can really do it all properly and continue as a school governor.

Carol Wood

Carol Wood and her husband Mike have sponsored Lastawork since November 2004. Lastawork is currently studying at nursing college in Addis Ababa. Carol does fundraising for LET and made a monitoring visit to Lalibela in 2010 with another trustee – an amazing experience for her. She was appointed as a trustee in April 2011.

Carol is a retired CAFCASS officer, having formerly been a child care and mental health social worker. She and Mike live in the New Forest with their dog and have two children and two grandchildren. Her hobbies are watercolour painting and keeping fit.

Sally Butter

As a social worker, Sally worked with Marianna for many years through her involvement with the Family Court Guardian Service in Dorset since 1993 and subsequently within Cafcass.

Having retired in April 2011 Sally has been able to dedicate more time to her two sons and continue to help Mike, her husband, finish building their home, a project they started together in 2005. Since her retirement Sally has been able to expand her involvement with LET and became a trustee in April 2011

Bronya Oldfield

Bronya’s interest in LET came after her friend, Marianne, returned from a trip to Lalibela in 2003 and encouraged her to become involved. She has sponsored Geziew, a young man with physical disabilities who with the support of the trust now runs his own shop.

Bronya is a technical project manager for a UK telecoms company. She lives in the Chilterns with her partner and gordon setter dog, and enjoys photography, walking, and spending time with family and friends. Bronya was appointed as a trustee in April 2011 with responsibility for fundraising, the website and IT support.

Bettina Ganser

Bettina has had a strong interest in different cultures since childhood and studied Anthropology of Development at Goldsmiths College, London. She completed her MA with specific focus on migration and women’s right in 2003 and has since worked and volunteered for different charities that work with refugees and migrants.

She enjoys looking after her two young sons, going to yoga classes and digging on her allotment. Bettina was appointed as a trustee in April 2011 and brings to LET a strong passion to empower young people to access education and create sustainable development.

Lis Bond

Lis grew up in rural Dorset but spent her middle years in Bristol where she and her husband, Alistair, brought up their three children. She worked as a Family Court Advisor and on her return to Dorset met Marianne and became interested in the Lalibela project. She and Alistair have sponsored Tadesse since February 2005.

Now retired, Lis has much more time for her four grandchildren, the farm business, her long neglected interest in the arts and for the trust. Lis was appointed as a trustee in April 2011.

The Treasurer of LET - John Ibbitson

John became the LET Treasurer at the end of 2008.  John had been treasurer of the local scouts for many years, and he  was introduced to the Trust when his wife decided to sponsor a young man.  John and Sue live in a Dorset village with two golden retrievers.  John manages computers for an American bank. He enjoys the theatre, travel, archeology, long walks and doing “hard sums” for fun: higher maths mainly with numbers.  He also loves rock, pop and folk music.