Meet the Founder: Mary Shuttleworth

Mary, a native of South Africa, learned at an early age how frustrating a study disability can be for a child. At the age of 15 when failure loomed ahead, her father took action and introduced her to the study methods of educator and humanitarian, L. Ron Hubbard. After learning how to learn she went back to school, where she completed at the top of her class. This personal experience planted the seed of her ever-growing desire to help others gain the ability to study and enjoy the fruits of literacy.

Mary settled down in Los Angeles 15 years ago. She has traveled extensively throughout Africa, Europe and the USA. Having observed first hand violations of human rights, most of them associated with the denial or lack of education, she decided she wanted to work in the field where she could do something about it.

Mary has devoted 30 years to working with children in the home, childcare and school environments.

She has been active on national and international fronts, from organizing local beach clean-ups to teaching inner-city students basic moral codes. She has been involved in helping on human rights and religious discrimination issues.

She has appeared on national and international radio and TV shows - many of them featuring live interactions with children, parents and educators - to help find solutions for their difficulties. Currently, she is also writing a book on successful parenting.

Three years ago she founded a school called Mary's Schoolhouse in Hollywood using the study technology of L. Ron Hubbard. Mary also serves as the Executive Director of an after school community literacy program as an addition to Mary's Schoolhouse. Young and old alike can attend the literacy program at no charge to improve their literacy skills.

Becoming the Director of "Youth for Human Rights International" is Mary's latest activity. The group's stated purpose is: "To teach youth around the globe about Human Rights, thus helping them to become valuable advocates for the promotion of Tolerance and Peace."

Formed in August 2001 as a project of the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, her first Youth for Human Rights International project was to launch an essay-writing contest in coordination with United Nations Non-Governmental Organization, Friends of the United Nations. The contest was conducted throughout Europe with national winners selected. The three overall winners for Europe won a trip to Geneva, the European home of the United Nations, to receive their awards.

In September 2003 Mary created Youth for Human Rights United kingdom as a project of the Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance United Kingdom.