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.

Jo Lock

Jo's interest in the project started in 2003 when Marianne talked to her about her trip to Lalibela and her sponsorship of Amdemariam. She had recently retired from 32 years working in the Probation Service and the Family Court Service. Jo started sponsoring Woynshet later that year and in 2004 she travelled with Marianne to Ethiopia and was able to spend a week with Woynshet. Jo is a keen photographer and she took several of the pictures on the LET website.

Although Jo's sponsorship of Woynshet came to an end as she embarked on her first nursing post, Jo's involvement with the project continues. She was appointed as a trustee in April 2008 and has assisted the trust by bringing together consolidating policy documents, and the design of a new brochure. Jo also sets the agenda for and calls the twice-yearly trustee meetings. She plans to travel to Ethiopia again in the future and stay in touch with Woynshet as she pursues her career.

Fokkina McDonnell

Fokkina is a Chartered Psychologist and has been a Psychotherapist in private practice in Manchester since 1992. Like Marianne she was born in the Netherlands and came over to the UK in her twenties. She started sponsoring a boy in early 2005. With several other sponsors Fokkina travelled to Ethiopia in January 2007 to visit Lalibela and meet him and his widowed mother.

On her return she volunteered to put together a twice-yearly sponsor newsletter. Fokkina was appointed as a trustee in April 2008. She has assisted in getting the LET website designed and set up. She also has responsibility for making applications to grant-giving bodies. Fokkina is a published poet and in 2009 will edit a poetry anthology to raise funds for LET.