About us
Haven of Light is a charitable organisation based in North Wales, UK. We work locally as well as internationally with a focus on educating, enabling, empowering and encouraging individuals and communities to make a difference at the grassroots level, and together strive to create safer and fairer societies where every person can live in freedom with dignity and respect.
Our History
Haven of Light was set up by Ali Ussery in 2013. The foundation for the work came from her work in aid and development work which began in NE Romania at the beginning of 1990, after the fall of communism. Ali spent 3 years working in institutions and setting up education and therapy projects for children and adults with learning needs. She coordinated the distribution of aid that was brought to the country, reaching out to poor rural communities, donating medical supplies to hospitals, clothes and food to the Roma communities and others living in poverty. Ali recruited local workers in mobile active physical play, and supported work in children’s homes and hospitals, and also worked with local churches in supporting children living on the streets. These experiences opened Ali’s eyes to see the marginalised, the abandoned and homeless which later gave her much insight into the vulnerability and trauma of victims of human trafficking. Following academic study in the UK and USA, Ali and husband Nate moved to the Balkan region of Europe. Working alongside a local team they designed and developed an initiative for young people living throughout the region to come together with others from diverse cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds after the war of former Yugoslavia. This reconciliation project called Renewing Our Minds, (ROM) has continued since 1999.
Haven of Light was established having identified the need for active community engagement in education and awareness around the risks and realities of modern slavery, human trafficking and exploitation in North Wales. Since the start, our work has expanded and partnerships developed in other countries through anti-trafficking networks and connections with NGOs, professionals working in this field, faith groups and churches throughout Europe.
Prevention remains the priority of the work, within our commitment to the 4P’s model of Prevention, Protection, Partnership and Prosecution (OSCE).
We believe in community engagement and collaboration with others to make a difference; in education and learning, in finding opportunities to thrive, to work, to serve, to bring peace and reconciliation in situations of conflict, and reach out to the marginalised in local or international settings. Every person has the ability do something positive for others, through kindness, compassion and a willingness to be a positive influence.
