Who We Are
We are a group of volunteers with a passion for improving access to education and relieving poverty. We work hard to deliver our mission effectively and ensure that 100% of our donations are spent directly on the project.
Grace Bevan
Founder
Since moving to England in 2000, Grace has worked tirelessly to support her home community of Rwanyana. Initially sending her own earnings, she then succeeded in securing the first sponsors for some destitute children in Rwanyana. This work developed into the beginnings of Bevan Community School in 2012 and in the registration of our charity in 2018.
Arineitwe Spencer Julius
Project Director
Spencer, Grace’s brother, cheerfully leads the delivery of all the work being done in the village on the charity’s behalf. Spencer teaches at a local government school but spends most of his other time running the project. Spencer and Peninah started welcoming destitute children into their home in 2012, which was the start of our work in the area.
Agaba Peninah
School Administrator
Peninah primarily ensures the smooth running of the school. She is much more than this though, she acts as house mother to 16 children in the hostel and constantly ensures that all the children are fed, clothed and safe. She is a trained teacher and so takes an active role developing the teaching staff and teaching classes when needed.
Our Trustees
Stuart Marriott
Chair of the Trustees
Stuart was Head of English at a school in England before moving to Singapore and Hong Kong as a teacher of EFL. After his retirement, he volunteered on education projects in Cambodia, Nepal, Tanzania, Rwanda and now Uganda. He has visited Rwanyana village three times, conducting teacher training and first aid courses. He also oversaw the creation of Daniel’s clinic.
Barbara Marriott
Trustee
Barbara has had a long career in education and taught primary through to adults. She has taught in the UK as well as in Singapore and Hong Kong and set up nursery schools in Tanzania, Rwanda and Cambodia. She was involved with the project from the beginning and has visited Rwanyana on four occasions to conduct teacher training and oversee the development of Daniels Clinic.
Doris Stubbs
Trustee
Doris, a former UK education professional, supported Grace with her work from the very beginning. She was the first treasurer and she has organised many musical evenings and other successful fundraising events. She continues to passionately support the charity.
Mandy Kemp
Secretary
Mandy is a maths teacher and education professional who has volunteered as a School Performance Mentor in Tanzania. There she supported teachers with introducing more active learning methodologies and head teachers with management systems and data analysis. She has visited Rwanyana where she supported teachers with mathematics teaching.
Martyn Kemp
Treasurer
Martyn is a former commercial manager in construction and building maintenance. He has introduced financial practices both in the UK and Rwanyana to meet the needs of our rapidly growing charity. He spent a year living and volunteering in Tanzania in 2015-16 and visited Rwanyana during this period.
David Bevan
Trustee
David is a former biology teacher who has volunteered in Uganda and Tanzania as an Education Advisor. He was instrumental in setting up the first nursery class in Rwanyana in order to educate and safeguard vulnerable children. He now continues to use his expertise to support teacher training for the charity.
Alison Fletcher
Trustee
Alison is a former Occupational Therapist and has volunteered in Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. She has a special interest in supporting children and adults with
disabilities in Rwanyana. She will be supporting the nurses and families to
learn about disability and rehabilitation strategies.
Keith Fletcher
Trustee
Keith is a retired biomedical scientist. He has worked in a hospital in Tanzania with
Voluntary Service Overseas, and has volunteered on development projects in Uganda and Zambia. In 2022 he visited Rwanyana village for the first time. He enjoyed building the school playground, teaching new games to the children, and is looking forward to doing more.
Neil Hughes
Trustee
Neil has worked as a volunteer on development projects in Uganda and Zambia in recent years. He really enjoyed his first visit to Rwanyana in 2022,
especially getting involved in entertaining and providing close support to the kids. Neil is interested in further developing the
school playground and supporting the work with special needs children.
Our Supporters
Our supporters enjoying a live online quiz, that helped to raise almost £2000!
Glen raises money to support our work by growing and selling plants from her garden.
Our supporters are the most important people involved in the work we do. Whilst the charity cannot thank them all individually, every success we celebrate is only possible because of the amazing generosity of our supporters. These include family and friends of the trustees, local community groups and Rotary clubs and people who have found out about our work through social media and local publications.
Thank you all, you are doing amazing work!