Family, Friends and colleagues mourn loss of dedicated
campaigner
Cafcass, the organisation that looks
after children’s interests in the family courts, joins family and
friends of Marianne Carolan in mourning her untimely death last
week.
Dutch-born Marianne Carolan worked as a Family
Court Adviser for Cafcass for 15 years and lived in Marchwood,
Southampton. Marianne was passionate about children and improving
their life chances and she founded a UK charity called the Lalibela
Educational Trust (L.E.T.). It all started with a study tour that
Marianne made to Ethiopia. She was very moved by the poverty,
hunger and poor health of the children in Lalibela. A young boy,
called Amdemariam, told her that he had to chop wood to earn a
living for his mother and sister, but that he wanted to go to
school regularly, so that he could fulfil his dream of becoming a
doctor. Marianne decided to sponsor him and from that time in 2002
the scheme has grown. Currently 26 children are being sponsored by
people in the UK, the Netherlands and Austria.
Stephany Carolan, Marianne’s daughter said,
“My mother retired in January 2008 and her plan had been to
dedicate more time to obtaining funds from grant giving bodies, so
that the trust would be less dependent on fundraising and
individual contributions. Sadly, she was diagnosed with terminal
cancer a few weeks later. The trust will be a lasting testament to
her work and commitment.”
Amdemariam, the first young person to be
sponsored by Marianne said, “I really cannot express in writing
about her kind-heartedness, generosity and compassion of Marianne.
I with all my family have lost her. We all are now in a deep
sorrow. It has been almost 8 years since I first met Marianne while
she was visiting the monastic township of Roha-Lalibela Province of
Wollo Northern Ethiopia. I accompanied her on way to churches of
Lalibela in the meantime she asked me about my schooling and I
explained her living and educational circumstances. She was touched
to hear about my deprived living situations and asked me to show
her my family and promised me to help all she can on that day on
wards. That day was a fortunate moment in my entire life.“
Sally Butter, Cafcass Service Manager
commented, “Marianne was committed to helping children achieve
their potential and this attribute extended from her personal
beliefs into her charitable work and her distinguished professional
career – she will be sorely missed.”
Anthony Douglas, Cafcass Chief Executive
said,” Marianne was a completely committed and dedicated Cafcass
professional. We will miss her”.
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