In 2003, the Christian nonprofit organization Helping Children Worldwide was formed to provide financial and strategic support to the Child Rescue Centre, an organization serving vulnerable children and youth in Sierra Leone. Helping Children Worldwide's mission is to transform communities and serve vulnerable children and families through support for education, health care, and spiritual mentoring.
Where they operate
Headquarters Location
Helping Children Worldwide 14101 Parke Long Ct, Ste N
Chantilly, VA 20151
United States
Organization Type
Main Areas of Work
Child Reintegration Centre and Mercy Hospital
Helping Children Worldwide (HCW) partners with local leadership to strengthen communities in Sierra Leone, one of the poorest countries in the world, by supporting programs that provide vulnerable children and their families with opportunities for education, health care, and spiritual mentoring. Two of the programs HCW underwrites, the Child Reintegration Centre (CRC) and Mercy Hospital are especially focused on education, family stability, maternal health, infant survival, and childhood nutrition.
How the Child Reintegration Centre cares for children and youth:
- Tier 3: Supports nearly 500 children and youth by providing school fees, uniforms, books, supplies and test preparation; medical care at Mercy Hospital; family mentoring; and inclusion in CRC events like the annual Christmas party.
- Tier 2: Supports approximately 100 children and youth who require a higher level of support, either because they have been placed in foster care or because their family situation is extremely vulnerable.
- Tier 1: Students who complete Secondary School (high school equivalent) may apply for a Promise Scholarship to attend university or vocational/technical programs. These scholarships are highly competitive and awarded only to top students.
Microfinance
Every family wants to become self-sustaining and provide for their children’s needs. In 2017, the CRC launched the Microfinance Program to teach some of the most vulnerable families how to budget, save, and create a simple business plan. Microfinance graduates receive a small loan to launch their business. The graduates visit the CRC weekly to report their progress and make payments on their loans, and CRC staff visit the new businesses each month to track their progress.
Family Strengthening Program
The Family Strengthening Program includes opportunities for family members to participate in workshops, sporting events, devotions, and activities that strengthen the attachment of children to their caregivers.
Organization Resources
In this interview, BCN’s Senior Technical Advisor, Rebecca Nhep, speaks with Laura Horvath, from Helping Children Worldwide, about the impact of child sponsorship programs on the transition of residential care services and post transition family strengthening programs.
