Helping Children Worldwide Inc

TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES BY SERVING THE WORLD'S MOST VULNERABLE THROUGH EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

CHILD WELFARE AND CHILD REINTEGRATION CENTRE (CRC) - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SUPPORT IN SIERRA LEONE FOR AID TO YOUNG WOMEN, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SUFFERING FROM EXTREME POVERTY. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED THE "HANDS OFF OUR GIRLS" INITIATIVE IN SIERRA LEONE TO END SEX AND LABOR TRAFFICKING, EARLY MARRIAGE AND OTHER ABUSES OF CHILDREN, AND CONTINUED TO PROVIDE PRIMARY FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHILD REINTEGRATION CENTRE ("CRC") IN SIERRA LEONE. THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION AND CRC OFFERS DIRECT SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPOVERISHED REGIONS OF THE WORLD, AND PROVIDES TRAINING, COACHING AND MENTORING SERVICES TO CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES IN SIERRA LEONE AND WEST AFRICA TO CHANGE THEIR SERVICE MODEL TO FAMILY SUPPORT WORK. IN SIERRA LEONE, ILLITERACY HOVERS BETWEEN 60% AND 70%, 60% LIVE BELOW THE GLOBAL POVERTY LINE OF $1.90 PER DAY AND POVERTY IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON CHILDREN ARE LIVING ON THE STREET AND DO NOT GO TO SCHOOL. BECAUSE OF CRC PROGRAMS, 601 CHILDREN AND 450 FAMILIES WERE SUPPORTED DURING 2021. CRC PROGRAMMING IS FAMILY-CENTERED AND COMMUNITY BASED, WITH A PROFESSIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT STAFF, AND OFFERS CLIENTS EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS, ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE, AND FAMILY STRENGTHENING SERVICES THROUGH COUNSELING, PARENTING EDUCATION, ECONOMIC SUPPORTS, COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING. DURING 2021, THE CRC HOSTED AN EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING SEMINAR FOR 50 PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS FROM THREE WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES ON HOW TO REINTEGRATE CHILDREN LIVING WITHOUT PARENTAL CARE OR ON THE STREET INTO FAMILIES AND HOMES, AND TRAVELED TO LIBERIA IN SUPPORT OF THE COLLABORATION. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS IN PROGRAMS, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS TRAINING TEAMS TO ASSIST CRC CASE MANAGERS' EFFORTS TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE THAT MEETS GLOBAL STANDARDS, DESPITE BEING LOCATED IN AN EXTREME LOW RESOURCE ENVIRONMENT.

GLOBAL HEALTH AND MERCY HOSPITAL (MERCY) - THE MISSION OF MERCY HOSPITAL ("MERCY") IS TO IMPROVE INFANT AND MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES IN SIERRA LEONE BY PROVIDING HOLISTIC, COMMUNITY-FOCUSED CARE, REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY. MERCY IS A 50-BED FACILITY WITH A TRAINED AND DEDICATED MEDICAL STAFF INCLUDING A FULL-TIME DOCTOR, A MEDICAL LABORATORY, A RESEARCH LABORATORY, A FULLY STOCKED PHARMACY ON-SITE, A LIMB-FITTING AND REHABILITATION CENTER, AN HIV/AIDS CLINIC, AND A SURGICAL WING WITH TWO OPERATING THEATERS. IT IS THE FIRST HOSPITAL TO INCORPORATE AN ELECTRONIC HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT AND PATIENT RECORDS SYSTEM IN SIERRA LEONE. IN 2021, MERCY HOSPITAL AND MERCY OUTREACH WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE MEDICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 12,000 PATIENTS IN BO AND 46 VILLAGES. MERCY'S OUTREACH INTO THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES INCLUDES NUTRITION CLINICS AND TREATMENT PROVIDED FOR MALNOURISHED INFANTS, PRENATAL CARE AND EDUCATION, MALARIA TESTING AND TREATMENT, DIARRHETIC DISEASE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, AND HIV/AIDS TESTING AND COUNSELING, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR BASIC HEALTH NEEDS AS CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION.

MISSION TEAM DEPLOYMENT AND MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTRE - UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION ("UMVIM") TEAMS ARE COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS WHO TRAVEL TO SIERRA LEONE TO VOLUNTEER AT CRC AND MERCY HOSPITAL. OVER THE YEARS, TEAMS HAVE ENGAGED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICE PROJECTS TO SUPPORT THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING MEDICAL AND DENTAL CLINICS, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, TEACHER TRAINING COLLABORATIONS, AND CAPACITY BUILDING WORK WITH LOCAL LEADERSHIP. DURING THE MAJORITY OF 2021, COVID RESTRICTIONS ON TEAM TRAVEL CONTINUED, AND THE ORGANIZATION SENT PRIMARILY STAFF AND PAID CONSULTANTS TO SIERRA LEONE. IN OCTOBER 2021, TEAM TRAVEL RESUMED AND TWO TEAMS, WITH 4 STAFF MEMBERS AND 7 VOLUNTEERS WERE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO BO. THE ORGANIZATION MANAGED THE VILLAGE PARTNERSHIPS REMOTELY DURING 2021, FUNDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF WELLS, LATRINES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE STRUCTURES IN TWO VILLAGES THROUGH PROGRAM PARTNERS MERCY HOSPITAL AND CRC, AND CONTRACTORS IN SIERRA LEONE.