We are so proud of our Chief Executive Sarah Annable-Gardner, who has received her MBE from Princess Anne at Windsor Castle. It was a truly amazing moment for everyone at ATE. And yet, a moment only tells part of the story …
“I was deeply honoured to receive this MBE from the Princess Royal, who offered some very warm words about the work we do at Action Through Enterprise. It was a truly proud moment to collect this honour on behalf of everyone who has been on this transformational journey with me. This is for our inspiring team who change lives every day, our kind and committed community of supporters who have stood with us in good times and bad, and the courageous families we support. Lasting change is possible when people work together, and I am deeply moved that this is now recognised at the highest level.” Sarah Annable-Gardner MBE
Who could have imagined, back in 2013, when Sarah stepped on to the stage at the Memorial Hall in Ramsbury to talk about a charity she was setting up in rural Ghana, that it was the beginning of journey that would change 38,000 lives – and take her to Windsor Castle?
Sarah had just finished a year volunteering in Lawra, one of the poorest and most remote districts in Ghana, and felt she could do more for the inspiring people she had met there. Back then, she had only the hope of feeding the children at the school near her house, helping some women start small businesses and supporting a handful of disabled children who faced isolation and abuse. Today, Action Through Enterprise has supported 4500 children through school, backed 400 people to generate an income and brought almost a thousand disabled children and their carers into the light.
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- Sarah visits Biro, 2018
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- the team, 2025
Passion and determination
Long-term supporter Sir John Sawers, formerly head of the British Security Service and Britain’s Ambassador to the UN, was at that very first meeting in Ramsbury, when Sarah rallied friends and neighbours to support a cause far away in northern Ghana:
“I remember hearing Sarah launching Action Through Enterprise in our local village hall, engaging people with little connection with Africa and only limited interest in international development and inspiring them to back her vision. Since then, her passion and determination have been a catalyst for a wonderful and unique relationship between the village of Ramsbury in Wiltshire and people in Upper West Ghana. I have never come across a more focused and dedicated leader as Sarah, nor a small NGO that has made such a substantial impact on an entire community, with so few resources. At a difficult time for international development, Sarah is a fine ambassador, inspiring and connecting and, most importantly, bringing transformational change.”
Able to Dream
For more than a decade, Sarah has carefully built relationships and nurtured talent, harnessing support and loyalty across two continents. Kanyir Kuube-isaan began volunteering for the charity when he was just a teenager and Sarah supported him and his brother through school. Today, he runs ATE’s operations in Nandom.
“When I first met Sarah over 14 years ago, I was working late nights as a sales boy. It was a time when all hope was lost and nearly impossible to dream. Through her support, belief in me and the opportunities she created, I was able to dream again and discover possibilities I never imagined. Sarah has been an incredible ally to me and my family and I’m deeply grateful to now be part of ATE. Seeing her passion and the smiles the work brings to so many people has inspired my own development work; choosing to help people in my own community realise their dreams, just as Sarah has dedicated herself to helping people many miles away from her.”
She inspired me
From feeding children at one school, ATE now feeds over a thousand a children a day at fifteen schools. ATE Hub Co-ordinator Olivia Saa, who leads our Investing in Girls Project, remembers the day Sarah arrived at her own school, back in 2017.
“The first time she came to Biro, that was the first time in life I was seeing a white person. And I was, like “wow, this is happening because of education”. She inspired me, because girls’ education wasn’t encouraged back then. And from there, I promised myself I’m going to be serious in my education. I thought, if a woman can do like this, I can also do it.
The very first day we met again, now I am working with ATE, we were both crying. I was hugging her and my mind was sending me back to those days when I was in school. Working with Sarah is helping me build my confidence, and be a role model to the girls in my village. I am very happy being part of ATE, transforming lives each and every day.”
Mother for a lot
Sarah has carefully built an amazing team of over fifty people in Ghana, bringing good values of kindness and mutual support – and making ATE so much bigger than just one person. Charity Kyekpo is ATE’s Deputy Lawra Manager:
“Sarah as a leader and a mother has impacted my life in many ways and my way of working with a team. I have learned to be firm with any decision that I think will give the best results but still be very humble. I do see her as my role model. Sarah is a mother for a lot and I’m just one of them.”
Sarah may have been the one to collect the MBE, but we celebrate it as an award for the whole ATE family. Congratulations to Sarah on her richly deserved honour – and thank you to everyone who has been alongside her on this transformational journey, making Action Through Enterprise a force for change.
