We are delighted to share that the Souter Charitable Trust has generously awarded MMW a grant of £2,000 in support of our work with women and girls in Sierra Leone. The Souter Charitable trust was set up by Sir Brian and his wife Lady Elizabeth in 1992. Since 2006 The Souter Charitable Trust have awarded more than 20,000 grants totalling over £130million.The funding that MMW have received will make a vital contribution to our new borehole well and toilet/urinal project at Cambridge Junior Secondary School in Bombali, which aims to improve access to clean water and safe sanitation for children and young people at the school. We were so thankful to have previously received a $10,000 donation towards this project and the remaining £2,000 from the Souter Charitable Trust will ensure we can cover the cost of the whole project in full.
Reliable access to clean water and dignified sanitation is life-changing. This project will help reduce water-borne illness, improve health and hygiene, and it will support safety, privacy, and dignity, particularly for girls attending school.
The Period Power Project that we have run since 2021 supports girls’ health, education, and dignity by providing menstrual hygiene education and materials in schools across Bombali, Karene, Kenema, and Western Area Rural Districts in Sierra Leone. Many of these schools currently lack proper wash facilities, making it difficult for students to manage their menstrual hygiene safely and privately. Constructing adequate wash facilities is therefore essential to the success and sustainability of this project.
We are incredibly grateful to the Souter Charitable Trust for their support and belief in MMW’s mission to empower women and girls in Sierra Leone. This grant brings us an important step closer to creating lasting, positive change within the districts that we work in.