Sr Imelda Poole IBVM was made Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours – this is a very special recognition for social or charitable work, awarded by Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II.
Imelda receives her MBE for creating an international network fighting human trafficking and exploitation (RENATE). Her influence in Albania is shown by the NGO Mary Ward Loreto. Together with Imelda, a very enthusiastic group of Friends of Mary Ward work tirelessly for Mary Ward Loreto’s projects.
Mary Ward Loreto has founded six Mary Ward centres working in prevention, awareness, counselling and rescuing of women. The centres have worked with 3,000 women, and set up various businesses to empower women and young adults. They also have a men’s project aimed at changing patriarchal culture and promoting gender equality.
One Albanian Friend of Mary Ward summed up her impact like this: "Proud to have a friend, a teacher, a sister, a mother, a colleague and a boss like Imelda Poole." (June 2018; picture: Sr Imelda at the Mary Ward Centre Toronto; taken from: www.albaniahope.com)
Happy (belated) Birthday to Sr Christopher, who turned 101 years of age, and over 80 as a Mary Ward sister. She has seen it all in both religious and professional life. A teacher and a head mistress for decades. A great inspiration to all friends of Mary Ward here in Zimbabwe and the world over. - Thank you to Danny for sending in this text and photo (17 December 2017).
Sr. Ephigenia W. Gachiri, IBVM (... just to make sure: pictured on the right!), is a renowned educator and activist who has dedicated herself to improving the lives of young women in Kenya. She is widely regarded for her fight against the practice of female genital mutilation. She has written four books on the subject and has spoken at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Sr Ephigenia has a doctorate from Kenyatta University, Nairobi; an MBA in education from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom; a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Calcutta, India; and an honorary doctorate from DePaul University, Chicago. In 2017 Sr Ephigenia toured Germany to speak in different Mary Ward schools about her projects.