Helping Children Worldwide’s goal is to transform the lives of impoverished children and their communities through partnerships that implement solutions and provide programs of excellence. With the incredible level of support that has already saved so many young lives, HCW hopes to reach out and save more suffering children all over the world. Currently, HCW supports the Child Rescue Centre and Mercy Hospital in Sierra Leone, and Connections for Hope here in Herndon, Virginia.

 

African Programs
African Programs focuses on children and health issues in Sierra Leone, Africa.  After being ravaged by an 10 year civil war, Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world.  A broken infrastructure and endemic poverty impact every area of their lives.  There is a 35% literacy rate in Sierra Leone, and 1 in 21 women die giving birth.  In 2000 the Child Rescue Centre opened in Bo, Sierra Leone to support 140 children, today the CRC supports nearly 300 children, providing them shelter, food, clothing, education and a family.  In 2007 Mercy Hospital opened in Bo, Sierra Leone to provide medical care regardless of ability to pay.  Today Mercy Hospital serves around 900 patients a month and has developed thriving community outreach programs.

Local Program
Our local program focuses on the needs of the community in Northern Virginia.  Over 1,700 children are identified as homeless by the Fairfax County public schools and 20% of households in Fairfax county fall at or below 200% of the poverty level.  There is great need to provide medical care, job skills training, mental health services, financial counseling, immigration legal services , ESL, and mentoring services to the community.  In 2010 Connections for Hope opened in Herndon, Virginia.  There are now 7 nonprofits and county service providers working under one roof to give children and families the support they need to live a life filled with hope and the opportunity to succeed.