Elspeth Robinson, who has been awarded an MBE for her ‘services to disabled people in Kumi, Eastern Uganda’.
Ms Robinson, who founded the Kumi Community Foundation in 2002, said: “I first went to Kumi Hospital in Uganda following my redundancy after working as a physiotherapist for nearly 40 years.
“Twenty eight visits later, my input has progressed into the Kumi Community Foundation, a registered charity, which has changed my life.
“I started by treating a few children with disabilities in the hospital rehab department and gradually, we developed a programme based in the rural community for families living in extreme poverty and with disabilities and/or malnourishment.”
Ms Robinson visits Kumi every year and stays for about ten weeks as she supports individuals in remote areas of the Ugandan bush.
While in the UK, she fundraises for the programme.
The awards, announced in January, highlight the work of Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI) members who support women and girls.
Other awards were given to Dr Kay Linnell (OBE) of Basingstoke, Ruth Smith (MBE) of Jersey and Pamela Swain (MBE) of Lancashire.
Ruth Healey, president of SIGBI, said: “What a great honour for Kay, Ruth, Pamela and Elspeth, not to mention Soroptimists everywhere.
“Having known each woman for a number of years, this January’s awards are highly deserved and acknowledge each person’s tireless dedication to their causes.”
SIGBI, originally founded in 1934, is part of Soroptimist International, a global organisation formed in 1921, born out of the service movement.