North Yorkshire-based charity, Building Futures Ethiopia (BFE) has announced the appointment of Sadie Walton to its Board of Trustees. Sadie, a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in the global coffee industry, brings a wealth of expertise in international value chains and sustainable development to the grassroots charity. BFE is dedicated to creating sustainable educational opportunities through its model rural school in Gendit – in the rural Amhara region of northern Ethiopia.
Sadie’s career as a Green Coffee Buying Manager for the Newcastle-based family business, Ringtons has seen her spend over a decade visiting rural communities across East Africa and Latin America. In her current role, Sadie works collaboratively with stakeholders to steer value chains toward a resilient future – skills she is now eager to apply to the educational landscape in Ethiopia.
“As a mum myself, one of the most challenging aspects of my trips is seeing how limited school offerings can be in rural communities,” said Sadie. “I have been looking for a trustee position where I can utilise my skills to support those in more challenging environments. I am keen to make a tangible difference to the lives of these communities, especially the children.”
Sadie’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for BFE. The charity’s school has shown remarkable resilience, remaining open to provide safety and stability for over 500 students even as local conflict forced neighbouring schools to close. As the project nears the completion of its comprehensive ‘model’ school vision, Sadie aims to apply her professional background in due diligence and corporate engagement to help BFE navigate a difficult fundraising landscape.
BFE is currently focused on the final phases of the school’s construction and resourcing for 2026, including a new library, science laboratory and essential classroom resources.
Sue Eland, BFE Founder and CEO commented: “We are delighted to welcome Sadie to our team. Her experience and expertise will be a real asset as we continue to move forwards. It’s been a long journey! As we near completion of the school, we urgently need science laboratory resources, school bags, and library books to give our students the very best start. We welcome donations, fundraising ideas, and new partnerships to help us reach this goal.”
For more information about Building Futures Ethiopia or to support their current appeals, please visit www.buildingfuturesethiopia.org.
