LEARNING WHAT WORKS
Experience is a great teacher.
Across our projects, we support vulnerable children and young people through education, nutrition, joy, health, and peace. Working with community members and local stakeholders, we ensure our initiatives make a meaningful impact. Together, we can achieve lasting change.
Education
Woza Moya began as a community initiative and has grown into an independent nonprofit serving 8,000 residents in South Africa’s Ufafa Valley, a region deeply affected by HIV/AIDS. With support from Mothering Across Continents, $50,000 was raised to open the Woza Moya Orphan and Vulnerable Children’s Play Therapy Center in 2010. It continues to offer meals, play therapy, childcare, and Early Childhood Development training.
High Hopes Haiti launched in 2012 to help young women ages 15–30 build futures of economic opportunity and independence. Through partnerships and grants, we offered English, computer, and business training, XO laptops, and personal development workshops. Led by project catalyst Courtney Jackson, participants went on to launch two small businesses.
Nutrition
In 2009, Save the Children South Africa and Mothering Across Continents saw that high schools lacked meal programs. Through Caring Schools, three Qwa Qwa high schools received daily meals for 655 students, school gardens, nutritious menus, and leadership training for administrators. Students shared lessons learned and advocated for program growth.
The experience deepened our understanding of child hunger and nutrition, guiding similar projects and collaborations with food-focused NGOs, and inspiring sustainable solutions like community gardens and better food distribution.
Joy
Children need more than the basics to succeed; they need joy and opportunities for creative expression. Art can play a crucial role in providing this. It enhances creative abilities and encourages imaginative thinking. Art also improves communication skills by providing a medium for children to express their thoughts and emotions. Collaborative art projects help children build social skills and foster a sense of community.
Health
Menstruation affects girls' attendance and participation in education globally. A study by UNESCO found that one in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa missed school during their period. In South Sudan, we completed a UNICEF-sponsored project to distribute hygiene kits and provide training for young women at a primary school. In Rwanda, we organized the first-ever monthly distribution of menstrual hygiene pads to all girls at Mwiko Primary School.
Peace
With a legacy of conflict and civil war, South Sudan faces immense challenges in creating a stable, peaceful society. Education can be a powerful tool for change. By supporting schools, training teachers, and providing scholarships, we’ve seen tangible impacts: improved attendance, higher academic achievement, and primary school graduates qualifying for secondary school scholarships. Education is not just about learning—it’s about laying the foundation for a more peaceful, hopeful future.
