Ann Beatty

In 2007 Ann took a sabbatical from work as a Housing Manager to teach in Sierra Leone. On her return to the UK she raised £3,000 in 6 months to build a well in the village where she had been working. She said at the time that on returning life was not the same for her, and although she has a beautiful family, lots of friends, a great job and a lovely home she was not satisfied and had a desire to live her life differently. Although she did not know what she wanted to do with her future she decided to take a year out to travel (her other passion), so left her job after 23 years working in social housing and put her worldly possessions in storage and embarked on travelling here and there and had a great time, as she says, 'gadding about'! While on a trip to Cornwall, Miriam, the Director of the project in Sierra Leone, contacted her and told her about this fantastic idea she had of setting up a safe house for girls in Maronka and asked her if she would like to go out and set it up. She knew that this is what she had been wanting to do, and that it will have a huge impact on these young girls' lives. She believes she can make a difference in terms of building the girls' self esteem, giving them love, education and a passion for learning and living the best life they can and as much as she has to offer in terms of skills and experience. So Ann has left today to live in Maronka for the next 6 months setting up the project. Never a more worthy candidate to carry the Olympic Flame.