Mother and Child Livelihood Concern
Donazione protetta
Sierra Leone, a small country in West Africa, has the 7th highest teenage pregnancy rate in the world. 40% of Sierra Leonean women will have a child before they are 18.
As a result, these young, often single, mothers are forced to drop out of school to try and care for their children. But because Sierra Leone is one of the poorest nations in the world, there are few ways for these women to support themselves. Many are forced to abandon their children or to watch them grow up without adequate nutrition. Many of these women regularly go hungry themselves.
As a result, there is a desperate need of support for young mothers and neglected children in the country.
A group of 26 local women from the city of Bo (the second largest city in Sierra Leone) have taken the initiative to help these young mothers and their children. Mother and Child Livelihood Concern (MCLC) was formed at the start of 2008 with the hard work and personal resources of these local women.
MCLC's mission is to raise the living standards of single mothers, their children, and orphaned or abandoned children through providing the land, training, and resources necessary for them to grow their own food to both eat and to sell in local markets.
To accomplish this mission, local women have donated land that is already being used to grow food which can be consumed and sold by needy mothers and their children. The women are trained in basic agricultural skills and given the land and seeds necessary to raise their own crops. Eventually, when the women have gained new skills and profits from raising their crops, they will graduate from the program and be taught how to start their own small businesses. Grants will also be offered to graduating members to ensure they have the necessary resources to live healthy and dignified lives after MCLC.
MCLC also aims to raise money to provide school fees to send needy children to school. School is not a right in Sierra Leone, and those without money cannot attend.
For orphaned and abandoned children, MCLC is establishing a home where they will be provided with a safe, comfortable environment and nutritious food. Local women are volunteering their time and resources to care for these children.
But MCLC needs resources to help achieve their mission. Because the organization is created and ran solely by locals, it is hard to gain external resources.
The funds will be used to rent the home where abandoned children will be cared for. It will also go towards their food and the necessary resources for establishing the agricultural plots that will be used by single mothers.
The need for an organization like this is great. In just a few weeks, over 450 women signed up for support from MCLC. Unfortunately, the organization does not have the necessary resources to accept all applicants yet. The immediate goal is to raise enough money to support 100 women and children. $2,000 will go a long way towards achieving this goal. No contribution is too small. Please help these 26 strong and determined women as they aim to help the most vulnerable women and children in their community.
As a result, these young, often single, mothers are forced to drop out of school to try and care for their children. But because Sierra Leone is one of the poorest nations in the world, there are few ways for these women to support themselves. Many are forced to abandon their children or to watch them grow up without adequate nutrition. Many of these women regularly go hungry themselves.
As a result, there is a desperate need of support for young mothers and neglected children in the country.
A group of 26 local women from the city of Bo (the second largest city in Sierra Leone) have taken the initiative to help these young mothers and their children. Mother and Child Livelihood Concern (MCLC) was formed at the start of 2008 with the hard work and personal resources of these local women.
MCLC's mission is to raise the living standards of single mothers, their children, and orphaned or abandoned children through providing the land, training, and resources necessary for them to grow their own food to both eat and to sell in local markets.
To accomplish this mission, local women have donated land that is already being used to grow food which can be consumed and sold by needy mothers and their children. The women are trained in basic agricultural skills and given the land and seeds necessary to raise their own crops. Eventually, when the women have gained new skills and profits from raising their crops, they will graduate from the program and be taught how to start their own small businesses. Grants will also be offered to graduating members to ensure they have the necessary resources to live healthy and dignified lives after MCLC.
MCLC also aims to raise money to provide school fees to send needy children to school. School is not a right in Sierra Leone, and those without money cannot attend.
For orphaned and abandoned children, MCLC is establishing a home where they will be provided with a safe, comfortable environment and nutritious food. Local women are volunteering their time and resources to care for these children.
But MCLC needs resources to help achieve their mission. Because the organization is created and ran solely by locals, it is hard to gain external resources.
The funds will be used to rent the home where abandoned children will be cared for. It will also go towards their food and the necessary resources for establishing the agricultural plots that will be used by single mothers.The need for an organization like this is great. In just a few weeks, over 450 women signed up for support from MCLC. Unfortunately, the organization does not have the necessary resources to accept all applicants yet. The immediate goal is to raise enough money to support 100 women and children. $2,000 will go a long way towards achieving this goal. No contribution is too small. Please help these 26 strong and determined women as they aim to help the most vulnerable women and children in their community.
Organizzatore
Joshua Lew McDermott
Organizzatore
Pittsburgh, PA