Howard J Pym became a Knight of Malta in 2002. He was bestowed with the Honour for his charitable works. Sir Howard has been involved with charities for most of his life, recently when he established a Students Club and a school for children in Sierra Leone. Now, many hundreds of young children come each day to school in order to have a chance of a better life through education. Sir Howard makes sure that all the children are also fed each day before they return home, for some it might be their only meal.
Since first visiting Sierra he has spent much of his time speaking and showing pictures in schools and colleges across the northwest of England bringing awareness to the destruction and poverty some people in the world have to endure. Collecting clothes, shoes, and educational books, was his first priority, but since the school is now up and running, well equipped, and becoming more and more well known, he is considering opening more schools across the country.
When asked what drives him, his response was, some one has to help, why not me. I have experienced many ups and downs in my life, without help it is very difficult to manage. I do not know what some people have had to endure, but in places like Sierra Leone, after going through a civil war for more than 10 years I can only imagine. Memories and scars to the body and mind take a lot to repair. I am only trying to add a little comfort to what must have been horrific.
Asked if he had been involved in other projects like this, he laughed, and added, yes. In The Philippines in the 80’s my wife and I tried to help many people, from the young street children to the elderly that no one looked after. One day we passed the refuse tip that serviced the capital Manila. Many hundreds of children were scavenging for food in the rubbish, we both stood and cried. Children as young as 2 and 3 years old were looking for their dinner in the trash. Try to imagine what was thrown away in such a poor country, in such hot temperatures, and you too can picture the scene. The Philippines has come a long way since those days. Any how that is another story for another day.












