Save the Children UK appoints doctor with safeguarding experience to chair its board

Save the Children UK has announced that consultant pediatrician Dr Tsitsi Chawatama is to chair the charity's board.

Chawatama grew up in Zimbabwe, has worked in Ethiopia and is a trustee of a number of other charities.

This includes a board role at Sentebale, a charity set up to support vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana and is vice-chair of AFRUCA-Safeguarding Children (SCUK), which protects children in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities globally.

She is also a safeguarding trustee of the charity UK-Med.

“I am delighted and honoured to be joining the board of Save the Children UK at such a crucial time in history where children’s lives and their future wellbeing are threatened by unprecedented social, environmental and economic issues,” said Tsitsi.

“I am a passionate advocate for children and excited to be part of the team working towards the important goals of protecting children, supporting families and ensuring that each child has a chance to achieve their potential and become whoever they want to be.”

PRESS RELEASE: NHS Paediatrician to chair @savechildrenuk. Dr Tsitsi Chawatama, 42, who grew up in Zimbabwe, has worked in Ethiopia & is now based at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London, joins @savechildrenuk today.

Read more: https://t.co/8XkGlxweRN pic.twitter.com/43rVi2jjmB
— SavetheChildren News (@SaveUKNews) January 25, 2021

Save the Children UK chief executive Kevin Watkins added: “Tsitsi brings with her a wealth of experience in child health – and a deep commitment to child rights. Staff are looking forward to working with her to achieve our ambitious mission for children.”

Tsitsi replaces interim chair Charles Steel.

“I also want to extend my thanks on behalf of staff across SCUK to Charles Steel, our outgoing Interim Chair. Over the last two years Charles has helped steer our organisation through a period of great change, providing invaluable guidance, support and advice,” added Watkins.

Tsitsi’s appointment follows a damning research by the charity into diversity and inclusion in its organisation.

This found that almost a third of SCUK workers “feel excluded or oppressed”.