Congratulations to Robinson alumnus Christopher Shelbourne (Economics, 1981), who has been honoured as a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for his services to disadvantaged communities in Uganda and Ethiopia through his work with Christian Partners in Africa (CPA).

Chris founded CPA almost 30 years ago. He says: “I first visited Africa in 1994 with my wife Rosey and it had a profound effect on me. We felt challenged to do something practical to help communities there and, as a result, we founded Christian Partners in Africa. It’s been quite a journey ever since and we have been privileged to work alongside African communities fighting for a better life. It is an honour to have our work acknowledged in this way and we hope that this recognition will continue to highlight the poverty and poor living conditions of communities across Africa and the need for change.”

Since its creation, CPA has worked in partnership across several African countries, educating vulnerable children and young people living in poverty, and working alongside poverty-stricken communities to empower families and inspire positive change. CPA is currently working on projects in Uganda and Ethiopia. It works to support all members of society, regardless of background and religious beliefs.

Chris says: “Strong relationships have always been our top priority and are integral to the way we work. This allows us to work closely, share ideas, encourage and enable communities to help themselves, which is always essential for positive change. Where possible, we work towards our projects becoming self-sustaining and communities becoming self-supporting.

“Through it all, we’ve experienced our fair share of successes and obstacles, but what continues to inspire us is the resilience and humanity of the people we meet. Their spirit in the face of adversity is humbling, and the positive changes we have witnessed over the years give us real hope for the future.”