Lorraine Robinson – Meave Counglan Education Fund (LOMEF)

Lorraine Robinson – Meave Counglan Education Fund (LOMEF) was established in 1998 in memory of Lorraine Joyce Robinson, left, from the United States of America and Meave Counglan, right, from Ireland. Both of them were great mothers and renouned teachers, who devoted their lives for the betterment of children within and beyond their national borders. LOMEF seeks to participate and join hands with many other initiatives in shaping a world, which is humane, caring, just and peaceful.

Objective

• To mobilize and extend financial assistance for the education of children.
• To empower women and children towards achieving self-reliance and dignity.
• To promote international understanding, peace and development, and the sharing of resources.

Priority Areas
Areas funded under LOMEF/ARF are primarily concerned with

• Scholarship payments for access to basic education and/or vocational training.
• Salaries for organizational/program managers, teachers, and volunteer allowances.
• Rental payments for school facilities.
• Provision of school materials.
• Start up funds for income generating programs.

The main focus of LOMEF/ARF includes the facilitation of access to basic education and vocational training for children, and income generating activities for self-employment and skills training for women.

Life and Works
Lorraine Robinson
Lorraine Joyce Robinson, one of ten children, was born in 1921 and lived on a farm in a small town in Northern Wisconsin. She loved helping others and decided early in her life to become a teacher with education ultimately becoming a lifetime passion for her. As soon as she graduated from college with a degree in mathematics she began her career as a math teacher at a high school. After moving to California with her husband, Roger, she began teaching at primary school level, however, after several years her love of mathematics took over and she became a math teacher once again. She ended her career by being a Master Teacher and was responsible for reviewing and helping improve younger teachers.

Throughout these years, Lorraine also shared her home with foreign students. One student who spent a year with the family and remained in Lorraine’s heart was Lekha Paireepinath. Continually supported by Lorraine was Lekha’s commitment to social improvement in South East Asia. Lorraine died in 1998 from cancer and is survived by her husband and daughters, Kathleen Coughlan and Pamela Knowles and seven grandchildren. Pamela has followed in her mother’s footsteps and is also a teacher.

Maeve Coughlan
Maeve O’Leary was the daughter of teachers in Blarney, Ireland. After marrying Vincent Coughlan she had a great career as one of the most famous singing teachers in Ireland with many of her students becoming international opera singers. Vincent, who did not have a good education and Maeve, sacrificed many luxuries to ensure that their children had a very strong education. Lorraine and Maeve are sorely missed by family and friends and through this foundation we hope to continue their work in promoting education among children.