MOTHERS’ UNION MAKES HISTORY IN ELECTING FIRST WORLDWIDE PRESIDENT FROM OUTSIDE OF BRITAIN
Mothers’ Union has made history this week in electing its first ever Worldwide President from outside the British Isles.
A record number of Mothers’ Union leaders from across the globe voted for Mrs Sheran Harper, who hails from Guyana, to represent and lead the 142 year old movement’s four million members in 84 countries. “I am delighted to accept the role of Worldwide President for the new triennium. I feel very excited and privileged and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our members who voted to make this dream a reality,. Mothers’ Union is as relevant today as it was 142 years ago as the call to support families globally is now even greater. We are working alongside governments and other organisations in tackling issues which affect families wherever they are. In remote areas, where there is no access to social services, it is often Mothers’ Union that is leading the way ” says Mrs Harper, who will take up her new position in January 2019.
Formerly Sheran was Diocesan President of Guyana with which Norwich Diocese Mothers’ Union were linked in the Wave of Prayer until 2016. As such Sheran was in regular correspondence with our Trustees and still looks out for us at conferences to exchange information on both dioceses. Her key role on the Central Trustee board has been as Parenting Trainer rolling out our programme across the world.
“We are extremely excited with the results. Not only will Sheran bring her global expertise, but we have a Board that is rich in diversity with eight different nationalities and also for the first time the Trustee Board includes a man,” says Mothers’ Union’s Chief Executive, Bev Jullien.
grew up in Guyana where she studied at the University of the West Indies School of Physical Therapy. She undertook her Clinical Practice at Guy’s Hospital in London and then worked with the Ministry of Health in Guyana where she opened and managed new physiotherapy departments in hospitals throughout the country and lectured on the Rehabilitation Therapists Programme. She stopped working in this area 17 years ago to focus on her calling of serving Mothers’ Union. She has served as a volunteer at all levels from Parish, Diocese and Province and is currently a Worldwide Trustee. Until recently, she was the Worldwide Parenting Trainer where she rolled out Mothers’ Union Parenting programmes in 23 countries across the globe. Her expertise is often called upon and she has been a spokesperson in her region for Mothers’ Union on various inter-faith, and international panels and forums.
Sheran has been married to Roger Harper (a former West-Indian cricketer) for 31 years. They have two grown up sons, Richard and Reginald and a daughter-in-law, Akilah.
