University Alumna Receives MBE for Work in Charity

St Mary’s University, Twickenham alumna Sr Dee Smith has been awarded an MBE in the 2015 New Year’s Honours List. Sr Smith, who attended St Mary’s from 1972 to 1975, has been recognised for her services to the victims of HIV in Guatemala. For the last 20 years she has taken on the role of Executive Director of Proyecto Vida (Project Life) which is a prevention and care organisation for people at risk of and living with HIV in the southwest of Guatemala. When the organisation was founded 20 years ago, the staff consisted of two people and a small laboratory but has now expanded to over 40 people who provide services to around 80,000 people every year. Dee said, “I was very surprised when the British Embassy in Guatemala contacted me about the award of an MBE. I honestly thought it was a wind up! Having got over that shock I began to reflect on the award and the recognition of the work I have been involved with here in Guatemala for the past 20 years. Coupled with 13 years mission work in Kenya and three years of studying and living in a religious community in the USA, I haven't resided in the UK for over 38 years so I imagined that my work hadn't been noticed.” Dr Kevin Cook, trustee of St Mary’s Strawberry Hill Overseas and Community Concern (SHOCC) charity, submitted Dee’s name for consideration early last year. He said, “If anyone deserved such an award for nearly 40 years of service to communities in Kenya and Guatemala, then Dee does.” This recent honour follows the success of Michael Dooling, who was awarded an MBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours list for services to athletics in Merseyside, and alumna Jill Campbell, who was received an MBE in June 2014. Dee added, “I cannot claim credit for the MBE as I have always worked as a team player and feel that any lasting and impacting work in resource limited health services has to be in conjunction with others. “I appreciate the award and the fact that these recognitions are not just for celebrities and public faces, but they also encourage Britain to look at all the quiet yet tremendous work British people are doing throughout the world.” If you would like to support Dee and Proyecto Vida, then you can make a donation via Kevin Cook’s Just Giving fundraising page. [caption id="attachment_10677" align="alignnone" width="640"] Dee Smith MBE[/caption]