Meet our Founder & Honorary Patron, Peace Nyangoma Ruharuza
Peace is the founder and inspiration behind the work of Fountain of Peace Children's Foundation. Married to Patrick Ruharuza and now a mother of three children, she studied at Makarere University Business School, Kampala in Uganda, and Plymouth University in the UK. She has worked with Compassion in both Uganda and the UK, and was a formerly sponsored child through the same organisation. She now lives with her family in Uganda.
When she was just eight years old, Peace would look longingly at the children in her village as they walked to school every day. She wanted more than anything to join them but, having been born into a struggling family of 14 children, education was one of many unaffordable luxuries.
She spent much of her childhood being passed between family members during which time she experienced neglect and abuse. She slept next to the family goat in a small outhouse, ate leftover food and dodged daily beatings from those who were supposed to protect her.
There appeared to be no way out for her and she became hardened to fending for herself, until thrown an unexpected lifeline. Her plight had not gone unnoticed by God and Peace was registered into a Compassion child sponsorship programme attached to the local Baptist church. Here she not only received an education, but also the opportunity to rise above her circumstances and believe in herself, and a God who loved her dearly.
From that moment, Peace promised God that, if she were able to escape from poverty, she would dedicate her life to caring for the poorest of the poor. Having completed a bachelor’s degree, she gave up the comfort of her life in the UK and travelled back to Uganda to fulfil her promise.
Today, the Fountain of Peace Children’s Foundation is a beacon of hope for children across the region of Kyenjojo in Western Uganda – a region that remains ravaged by the poverty that Peace experienced as a little girl.
Susan Dodd
Chair of Board of Trustees FOP-UK
In November 2019 Susan took the decision to take early retirement. She previously worked for a large multinational accountancy firm and her particular experience included the management and delivery of large scale HR projects, especially in the areas of pay modernisation, performance management and organisational reviews.
Anne Basabe
Anne is a Regional Partnerships Manager for Compassion UK. Working alongside volunteers and church leaders in the UK, they together reach out to the poorest children living in abject poverty. With many years’ experience in child development and advocacy, the strength and passion of Anne’s convictions are ever present in everything she does.
Neil Cooper
Neil is a Chartered Surveyor by profession, prior to retirement, Neil worked for 45 years in the construction sector in technical and leadership roles, alongside serving on a number of Governmental advisory and international committees.
Sarah McIntyre
Sarah worked in IT before becoming the mother of three children. While the children were growing up, she sat as a magistrate in the criminal courts in Buckinghamshire. Sarah requalified as a criminal barrister, is a member of Lincoln’s Inn and has successfully practised in criminal defence and prosecution.
Kate Sharma
Kate is a freelance writer and journalist. She has more than 15 years’ experience in marketing and communication within the charity sector. Her experience includes leading the Communications Department at the child development charity Compassion UK for more than five years, and establishing and managing Compassion’s Media and PR department.
Andrew Shepherd
Andrew is married to Mari; they have three adult children, all married, and seven grandchildren. He is a retired General Medical Practitioner with special interest and further qualifications in Obstetrics, has served on various Government Medical Boards, as well as acting as a Medico-legal Expert in his own consultancy business in Manchester.
Marilyn (Mari) Shepherd
Mari is married to Andrew; they live in Buckinghamshire. She qualified as a Nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary before bringing up her three children. She has past Trustee experience in a Nursery for Able-bodied and Special Needs children in Stockport, as well as formerly holding a Company Directorship in the family Medico-legal business.
Sarah Williams
Sarah graduated in English Law and French Law from Oxford University and practiced as a Private Client Solicitor before becoming a full-time mum of three. She enjoys countryside walks with her husband and friends, together with their enthusiastic labrador.
