Robert and Martina's Oxfam legacy

For Robert, his connection with Oxfam began in 1967, when he chose a very different path from the more conventional career that lay ahead of him.

Robert's story

"After leaving university, I obtained a position in a leading accountancy firm in the City, with a lucrative future ahead of me. However, having spent much of my childhood in Africa, I knew that a life connected to the developing world was in my DNA.

"While the accountancy training later proved to be useful, I changed course decisively and, as Oxfam’s first volunteer overseas, served for six months in 1967 in the drought affected areas of Bihar during India’s last great famine.

"The experience has influenced the rest of my life, both in choosing a career that has taken me to many countries, including some of the poorest, and appreciating what really matters. I have made wonderful, diverse friendships along the way."

Robert’s decision to volunteer overseas became the beginning of a life shaped by international experience and a lasting connection to communities around the world. A life he has shared with Martina, building their home and family across many different regions.

Martina's story

"I am Swiss and had a happy and comfortable upbringing.

"When I met Robert over 60 years ago, I knew that he had East African connections and an adventurous nature, but I imagined that his education would point to a conventional lifestyle, most probably in Europe.

"I did not expect our first home to be on the slopes of an African volcano, with no electricity or telephone, and water that had to be filtered and boiled, not only to drink but also to bathe our new baby. We were hard up but very happy, felt privileged amongst people who had less than we did and knew how to get pleasure from simple things. I, like Robert, discovered what matters most. We have gone on to make 13 homes together around the world.

"When Robert retired and took on voluntary work, I too looked for something to do to fill my time in a meaningful way. A friend suggested the local Oxfam bookshop and, after an interview, I was appointed to a role that brought me into direct contact with people and taught me new skills, in the knowledge that what I was doing brought pleasure to the customers and gave donors the opportunity to assist those in other countries. I stayed for about 15 years and was sad when the busy bookshop had to close, despite a concerted effort to save it."

Today, Robert and Martina’s shared understanding of what matters most in life and first-hand experience of supporting meaningful change continues to shape their relationship with Oxfam.

“We believe in Oxfam’s aims to tackle poverty and inequality around the world, to confront climate change that most effects those who have done the least to cause the crisis and to put women’s rights at the heart of everything it does. Our years abroad have given us an insight into the lives of poor and disadvantaged people in other countries.

"Robert’s direct experience of helping people caught up in a disaster, providing 'food for today', when Oxfam was increasingly working to assist the provision of 'food for tomorrow', is supportive of the charity’s effort to raise funds to help in emergency situations, whatever the cause, and to provide staff on the ground.”