News / University of Bristol
Charity founder receives honorary degree with graduating daughter
A woman whose charity transformed thousands of lives of Afghans has been awarded a honorary degree at her daughter’s graduation ceremony.
Dr Sarah Fane founded Afghan Connection, a charity supporting health, education and credited with inspiring a cricket renaissance in the country, two decades ago. Since 2002, the organisation has built 47 schools, refurbished 130 more and created 110 cricket pitches.
The University of Bristol medicine graduate also delivered babies in mountain villages and disguised herself as a man to access patients during the war against the Soviet Union.
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Now, in recognition of her work, Dr Fane has received an honorary degree at the same ceremony in which her daughter Antonia graduated with a degree in Liberal Arts and French.
Dr Fane now runs the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation – photo: University of Bristol
Dr Fane spent a year of her medicine degree in Pakistan, close to the border with Afghanistan, in 1987 and visited again two years later.
“It was a very tribal area and you could hear the war across the border,” she said.
“The area had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world and I saw some truly shocking things. At night I was escorted by a man with a gun to the labour ward to deliver babies.”
Fane set up Afghan Connection to help modernise hospital wards and supply doctors to the region, before training teachers and building schools. The organisation began training cricket coaches and supplying cricket equipment in 2008.
As a young doctor, Dr Fane ran clinics for women and children in remote, war-weary communities on the Afghan border – photo: University of Bristol
Her daughter Antonia said: “I am so proud of everything my mum has achieved, she is always putting everyone else before herself.
“She has raised four children and been a mother to lots of others who needed her too. I always really enjoyed walking past the Bristol children’s hospital, as that is where it all started.”
Professor Sarah Purdy, the University of Bristol’s pro vice-chancellor for student experience, said: “Dr Fane’s story is one of determination, defiance of odds and a deep, deep desire to help.
“We’re immeasurably proud that she’s an alumna of the University of Bristol and honoured to welcome her back to celebrate her achievements.”
Main photo: University of Bristol
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