Sussex trustee honoured in Black History Month
To mark Black History Month, Lewes Town Council is highlighting the work of Mebrak Ghebreweldi from Eritrea, a trustee of the Sussex Community Foundation. This supports local charities and community organisations across Sussex and represents the East Sussex voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector on the East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board.
Mebrak is also leading the Sussex Friendship Bench initiative, a community based mental health support model focused on reducing loneliness, social isolation and mental health inequalities.
She champions research at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, ensuring that grassroots communities are recognised as equal partners in health research and that community voices help shape the research agenda.
She was born and grew up in Eritrea, East Africa, coming to the UK as an international student at the University of London before moving to Lewes in 1997. She said: "I describe myself as a woman of two homes - Eritrea is the country of my birth and childhood while Britain is my second home."
She described growing up during Eritrea's 30-year struggle for independence, when communities had to organise, support and protect one another through war, drought, displacement and unimaginable hardship. And she says this experience taught her that communities are not just groups of people living in the same place - they are a source of strength, resilience, dignity and collective responsibility.
In her spare time she loves walking across the South Downs and exploring the countryside. She's a trained walking leader and feels the Downs give her time and space to think, reflect and appreciate the natural world.
Mebrak is the founder of two Lewes-based organisations, Vandu Language Services and Diversity Resources International (DRI) CIC. She believes in creating opportunities for young people to gain practical experience.
Mebrak said: "As an African woman who has made Britain her second home, Black History Month brings appreciation and reflection. Britain has centuries of historical connections with Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. This history is not always comfortable but it belongs to all of us. We cannot fully understand modern Britain without acknowledging both the achievements and injustices of the past. My hope is that Black History Month becomes more than an annual celebration.. I would like to see this history taught more fully and consistently throughout the year."