Debbie Ariyo, Founder and Executive Director of AFRUCA – Africans Unite Against Child Abuse has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours List announced on 11 June 2011 for her services to children and families.

She said: “It is truly an honour to have my work recognised at this level. This award is for all the children, young people and families who have made our work at AFRUCA worthwhile and for all my colleagues who have made the AFRUCA dream a reality”

Debbie established AFRUCA in 2001 as a platform for promoting the rights and welfare of African children in the UK. Since then the organisation’s work has expanded across the country with offices in London and Manchester and projects in over 5 cities in England reaching thousands of African children and families. A new organisation - AFRUCA Foundation for the Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable Children - has also been established in Nigeria and was launched in December 2011 to help meet the needs of children in the country.

Here’s wishing Debbie a big congratulations on her award!

The AFRUCA Team