Mothers Without Borders

MOTHERS WITHOUT BORDERS IS DEDICATED TO FOSTERING RESILIENCE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THROUGH A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, PARTICULARLY FOCUSING ON THE MOST VULNERABLE WOMEN, YOUTH, AND CHILDREN. OUR WORK IS ROOTED IN OUR COMMITMENT TO NURTURE HUMAN POTENTIAL, ENSURING THAT EVERY INITIATIVE IS NOT JUST A TEMPORARY FIX BUT A STEP TOWARDS LASTING CHANGE.WE ENVISION A DAY WHERE EVERY COMMUNITY IS EQUIPPED AND EMPOWERED TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT PLACE THEIR CHILDREN IN CRISIS. THIS VISION IS BROUGHT TO LIFE THROUGH ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITIES TO SPEARHEAD INITIATIVES THAT ARE CONCEIVED, DEVELOPED, AND SUSTAINED BY THE VERY PEOPLE THEY AIM TO BENEFIT. BY AMPLIFYING LOCAL VOICES AND KNOWLEDGE, WE CONSTRUCT PROGRAMS THAT ARE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND CONTEXTUALLY RELEVANT AND ALWAYS FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO LEAD SELF-SUFFICIENT LIVES. OUR PROGRAMS ARE A TESTAMENT TO THE BELIEF THAT EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES TO LEAD

ORPHAN CARE: THE CHILDREN'S RESOURCE CENTER IS A RESIDENTIAL CENTER WHERE CHILDREN LIVE UNTIL WE CAN FIND THEM A SAFE HOME WITH RELATIVES OR UNTIL THEY TURN 18 YEARS OLD. STARTING AS A SMALL PROGRAM WITH 14 CHILDREN WHO WERE RESCUED OFF THE STREETS, THE CENTER HAS SINCE GROWN TO SUPPORT MORE THAN 340 CHILDREN OVER THE 20 YEARS OF ITS OPERATION WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN FROM SITUATIONS OF ABUSE, ABANDONMENT, TRAFFICKING, OR THE DEATH OF PARENTS. WHILE IN OUR CARE, WE FOCUS ON PROVIDING HEALTHY FAMILY-CENTERED RELATIONSHIPS AND ENCOURAGE EACH CHILD TO DISCOVER A LOVE FOR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AND TO DEVELOP THEIR HOBBIES AND TALENTS. DURING 2023, WE CARED FOR 67 CHILDREN IN RESIDENCE PROVIDING EDUCATION, FOOD, AND ALL HEALTH-RELATED NEEDS; INCLUDING HIV TREATMENT, GRIEF COUNSELING, ACCESS TO CARING ADULTS, SKILLS TRAINING, AND RECREATION THERAPY.

EDUCATION: ON OUR LUSAKA WEST PROPERTY, WE OPERATE A PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR OVER 800 CHILDREN FROM THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. OUR SCHOOL IS PROUD TO HAVE A 100% PASS RATE ON THE SEVENTH GRADE NATIONAL EXAM, WHERE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 65%. THIS SCHOOL PROVIDES FIRST THROUGH SEVENTH GRADE EDUCATION, AFTER WHICH MANY OF THE STUDENTS CONTINUE ONTO OUR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDE HIGHER EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING SPONSORSHIPS, AS WELL AS YOUTH MENTORING. IN 2023, THE NUMBER OF GIRLS IN THESE PROGRAMS INCREASED FROM 373 TO 445 AND THE NUMBER OF BOYS INCREASED FROM 66 TO 81. GRADUATES OF THESE PROGRAMS ALSO CAN PARTICIPATE IN OUR ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING AND MICROLOAN PROGRAM. THESE PROGRAMS AIM TO SUPPORT THE DREAMS OF EACH YOUTH AND LEAD TO SELF-SUFFICIENT LIVES AS THEY TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD.ADDITIONALLY, WE SUPPORTED 174 WOMEN FROM THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WITH ACCESS TO PEER SUPPORT GROUPS, ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING, AND ACCESS TO MICROLOANS TO START SMALL BUSINESSES. WE PROVIDED PART OR FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT TO 94 ZAMBIANS DURING 2023 (AN INCREASE FROM 81 ZAMBIAN EMPLOYEES IN 2022) WHO RUN ALL PROGRAMMING IN ZAMBIA, PROVIDING INCOME TO THE FAMILIES OF EACH EMPLOYEE AND ENSURING OUR PROGRAMS ARE 100% LOCALLY LED.

FOOD RELIEF: IN 2023, WE FURTHER DEVELOPED OUR FOOD RELIEF PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDED MORE THAN 577,153 MEALS TO OUR PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES IN ZAMBIA. CORE TO OUR FOOD RELIEF PROGRAM ARE OUR AGRICULTURE PROJECTS, WHICH INCLUDES FRUIT ORCHARDS, CROPS, AND ANIMAL CULTIVATION (INCLUDING GOAT, CHICKEN, AND DUCK PROJECTS). THE FOOD DEVELOPED FROM OUR AGRICULTURE PROJECTS HAS PROVIDED FOOD DAILY TO 5 COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SERVING AN AVERAGE OF 3,400 CHILDREN EACH DAY. THESE SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMS HAVE LED TO INCREASED ENROLLMENT AT EACH OF THE PARTNER SCHOOLS OVER THE PAST YEAR, AS WELL AS RELIEVING A MAJOR FINANCIAL BURDEN FROM THE FAMILIES OF THESE STUDENTS.