A soldier with the Gurkhas for over 30 years, Mark Cook left the Army in 1993, following his experience in the Balkans war when he was Commander of the British UN Contingent. He and his wife Caroline started Hope and Homes for Children in 1994 to provide homes for orphans of war or disaster. Their original idea was to repair or build orphanages to give these children security, but soon they realised that what they needed more than anything else was the love of a real family.

The mission of Hope and Homes for Children is to give hope to the poorest children in the world — those who are orphaned, abandoned or vulnerable — by enabling them to grow up within the love of a family and the security of a home, so that they can fulfil their potential.

Hope and Homes for Children was established in 1994 and now works in 10 countries across Central and Eastern Europe and Africa. In Central and Eastern Europe, they are working with Governments to reform institutionalised childcare systems by closing orphanages and moving children into family based care whilst developing the services needed to help prevent child abandonment. In Africa, they provide a vital lifeline for families at risk of breakdown due to the pressures of poverty, disease or conflict by establishing community hubs.

Mark says, “More children are being orphaned or abandoned today than ever before in history and many of them will have to resort to begging, crime, prostitution or violence just to survive. The world has to realise that this is a crisis on an unprecedented scale as these children will grow up to be disenfranchised, angry people.” He believes passionately that action must be taken now to give these children a real chance in life, so turning potentially negative forces into positive ones.

Mark is evidence that the belief, audacity and practical idealism of an individual can effect monumental changes in the world. Mark is an accomplished speaker and broadcaster. His achievements are backed by a charismatic nature which, despite having seen the tragedies of war firsthand, contains a great ‘joie de vivre’. Caroline was also appointed an OBE in 2007.

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