Widow who helped feed and educate African children named an 'inspiration'

Thursday 08 March 2018

A teacher who moved to Kenya to help feed, educate and empower poor children just five years after tragically losing her husband has been named 'Inspirational Woman of the Year’.

The award is given on International Woman's Day by the Jersey Woman's Refuge for those who are deemed as a true inspiration and a credit to the island.

This year, the Barclays-sponsored charity award received 24 nominations for 19 women, but it was Ruth Smith, who returned from Africa just weeks ago, who was crowned the 2018 winner for her work in helping poor and starving children this morning.

Five months after losing her husband to brain tumours, Ruth – a dyslexia specialist – rented out her house and moved to Kenya to complete a six-month teaching place at the school of St. Clement in Malindi. Within a few days of her new job, Ruth noticed many of her pupils becoming lethargic by mid-morning, only to find out many had not eaten for days. 

And the winner of todays Inspirational women of the year @jsywomensrefuge #pressforprogress #IWD18 is Ruth Smith for her amazing work in Kenya pic.twitter.com/0adnenNKAT

— Claire Boscq Scott Empowering people to thrive (@cbsbusyqueenbee) March 8, 2018

After hearing that, Ruth set up a porridge programme, which provides 450 children at the school with a warm mug of the breakfast treat made specially in a “shack”-style kitchen. Having ensured that the children don’t go hungry in the morning, Ruth has now turned her attention to children who “go home to no lunch and nothing in the evening” and is setting up a lunch programme.

But her work extends beyond providing food for the keen schoolchildren of Malindi – she’s also helped them secure sponsorship for the poorest to continue their education. “Education is power. I am a teacher so I’m passionate about giving children a good education.”

One memory particularly stands out – that of two siblings whose father had left them, leaving them without enough money for the “modest” school fees.

The 10-year-old boy had since spent his days minding cows and goats, while his little sister (8) had acted as a babysitter for the toddlers of neighbours working in the fields. “They were wearing old uniform, and I said to them, ‘Why aren’t you in school? …Would you like to get back into school if I can get you sponsored?’” she recalled to Express. 

The Jersey Inspirational Woman of the Year winner is Ruth Smith for her work with children in Kenya #IWD2018 #Jersey pic.twitter.com/XG9AIlAwu8

— Gwyn GarfieldBennett (@GwynGB) March 8, 2018

“He said, ‘Oh yes please!’ And I looked at [his sister] Habiba – she didn’t speak, just a great big tear rolled down her face. Within a day, I’d done that and they were in their uniforms. They’re still there and doing very well, sponsored by two people from Jersey. It’s a very modest amount but it’s given those children a good start in life.

“Their parents are illiterate in the villages, where it’s mudhuts, no running water, no electricity. The children do their homework by the light of a paraffin lamp. I’m constantly amazed by their fortitude and their resilience – they run to school every morning wearing their uniform!”

She’s also secured funding for many other revenue streams for the school, including agricultural production, and worked on some special projects for local mothers. One of those included converting a kitchen into a “lovely room where mothers can go with their babies… and learn about stimulating their babies, playing and talking to them rather than just carrying them around.” Money raised from a coffee morning and ‘vintage tea’ she held, meanwhile, went towards transforming a classroom into a playgroup with an outdoor area featuring ride-on toys. 

Her next project is to start a vocational workshop including training to “make sandals, jewellery, or maybe even hair and beauty skills” for school leavers, who finish education at 14 but might not be able to afford further education fees. “Without vocational training, they’d be stuck back in the village… That will give them the training to get onto a job.”

Our final finalist and WINNER of the Inspirational Woman of the Year award - Ruth Smith. Congratulations from us all @JSYWomensRefuge #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/UqfCqaZmYn

— Jersey Womens Refuge (@JSYWomensRefuge) March 8, 2018

Despite her good work, Ruth said she was still in “total shock” about receiving the award. “I was totally gobsmacked and overwhelmed – the other two finalists were so amazing, so I was sitting there thinking, ‘I’ve got absolutely no chance.’ When they said it was me, I just could not believe it.” 

Ruth was one of three finalists, whittled down by a judging panel consisting of the Barclays Director Jenny New, Chair of Jersey Woman's Refuge Jamie Broadbent, and last year's winner, Sue Kelly.

Both Ana Goncalves, who has run numerous marathons raising over £100,000 for local charities and been a finalist in the 2016 Pride of Britain Awards, and Jennifer Keene, who has provided a wealth of support and fun with her volunteer work at the Oxygen Therapy Centre despite living with multiple sclerosis herself, were chosen as two finalists for this year's 'Inspirational Woman of the Year' award. 

Ms New, who sat on the judging panel said: "Once again we had an incredibly difficult task in identifying a winner, as there were so many wonderful nominations for amazing women. Ruth's story of the ways in which she helped the children in Malindi is truly inspirational."