Press Release: Maureen Forrest wins Women Entrepreneur of the Year

Press Release: Maureen Forrest wins Women Entrepreneur of the Year

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Maureen Forrest, founder of street children’s charity The Hope Foundation (HOPE), was announced as the winner of the Women Entrepreneur category at the Bengal’s Pride Awards.  

The awards ceremony took place in London at the House of Commons, and was attended by luminaries from the Bengali community of India and Bangladesh.  

The accolade recognises Maureen’s 25 years of “compassion and unwavering determination, innovation and success” and her outstanding contribution to the Bengali community.  

Commenting on her win, Irish humanitarian Maureen said: “I am so honoured to have received this award. I set up The Hope Foundation in 1999 to invest in the sustainability of human life, affording children and adults with necessary skills, and an opportunity to become self-sufficient. 

“I have met and worked with the most extraordinary people on my journey with HOPE over the last 25 years and have seen that when we move forward and operate with unity and solidarity, we can achieve great things.” 

The award was collected on the behalf of Maureen by HOPE’s CEO of International Operations, Maura Lennon. She said: “I am hugely humbled, thankful, and privileged to be here on the behalf of Maureen Forrest and The Hope Foundation. 

“For the last 25 years, HOPE has been delivering humanitarian programmes to street-connected and slum-dwelling communities in Kolkata. Delivering healthcare, education, vocational training programmes, emergency response programmes and, most importantly, child protection programmes. Our vision is of a world where it should never hurt to be a child, and with your support we can all make a difference. With your support we will continue for the next 25 years and beyond to deliver our programmes.” 
 
Founded in 1999 to offer a single child protection programme to 13 vulnerable young women, HOPE now implements 57 education, healthcare, vocational training, protection, and emergency response programmes in Kolkata. Since its inception, HOPE has positively impacted the lives of 3 million children and adults in the city. 

Now in its sixth year, the Bengal’s Pride Awards are dedicated to celebrating the achievements of the Bengali community from India and Bangladesh.  

Ends 

Notes to the editor 

 

  1. A video of the awards ceremony is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtO7hv0zsAs 
  1. Follow HOPE: Facebook @TheHopeFoundationUK, Instagram @the_hope_foundation_uk, Twitter @HOPE_UK 
  1. Founded in 1999 by Irish humanitarian Maureen Forrest, HOPE has been steadfast in its commitment to providing a brighter future for those living in poverty and facing the harsh realities of life on the streets in Kolkata. The charity runs 57 projects in the city including four creches, 10 Residential Childcare Centres and a state-of-the-art hospital.  
  1. To date, HOPE has touched the lives of nearly 3 million people. This includes 2,900,000 individuals who have received healthcare services, just less than 97,000 children who have received educational support, 15,435 children and adults who have been protected from abuse and neglect, 10,633 young women and men who have received life-changing vocational training, and 33,935 families who have been supported through HOPE’s emergency programmes.  

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