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Click here for news of forthcoming events in aid of The Foundation |
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Welcome to the website of the Mary Slessor Foundation |
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Mary Slessor was a hard working Scottish mill girl and an unorthodox Sunday School teacher in Dundee in the mid 19th
century. Inspired by David Livingstone, she became a missionary in Calabar in Nigeria, an area where no European had set foot before. Despite illness and constant danger, she lived with the tribes, learned their language, and respected their traditions, putting an end to some barbaric practises, such as the killing of twins. She adopted many Nigerian children (particularly twins) who had been left to die. When Southern Nigeria became a British Protectorate, she became the first ever female Magistrate in the British Empire and a skilful diplomatic emissary.
Mary died in 1915, aged 67, with great mourning amongst the tribes to whom she had dedicated her whole life. To this day the people of Calabar remember Mary Slessor, and this Scottish lady is part of their
history. A stained glass window was dedicated to her in 1923 and can be seen in Dundee's McManus Galleries. Check a Clydesdale Bank £10 note, and you will see a likeness of her - she is the only non-royal woman to feature on a currency note! You can find out more about the life of Mary Slessor by clicking
here. |
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Effigy of Mary Slessor outside the Presbyterian Church in Akpap Okoyong |
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Dr Lawrie and Eme Mitchell with Eme's brother |
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In 2002, Dr Lawrie Mitchell and his wife, Eme, a Nigerian, were living and working in Calabar, when they decided that it was important to
continue the work of Mary Slessor in order to increase the local economy and raise self esteem among the villagers. Further, Dr Mitchell was born and educated in Dundee, and Eme (of important social
standing in the Akpap Okoyong area) is a direct descendant of "Ma Eme" who befriended and helped Mary with her contacts amongst the tribes. With a link like that, who better to revitalise the area?
Realising that they could not hope to deal with the problems of the whole of Nigeria, they set up the Mary Slessor Foundation in 2002 with the aim of helping the people of Calabar district to help
themselves. The Foundation has an office in Dundee, and six Trustees who meet regularly to manage various projects in Calabar. Uniquely, this Charity, registered in UK and Nigeria, has the advantage of Dr.
Mitchell and Eme being on site almost every day to oversee progress. |
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95% of the money raised by the Foundation goes directly towards the projects in Nigeria with only 5% being spent on administration. The accounts are audited by a
well known firm of Dundee auditors and are scrutinised by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. Money raised is used directly to purchase equipment and training in Carpentry, fabric design, agriculture, electrical and mechanical engineering, and to provide medical care and
clean water supplies. |
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© Mary Slessor Foundation. Scottish Charity Number: SC032781 |
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