By Hassan Y. Koroma
The Hephzibah Foundation, a local non-profit organization that caters for widows, has been launched at the Bawbaw Community in the Western Area Rural.
The aim of the Foundation is to improve the lives of widows and empowering them to become self-sufficient, resilient, and active members of their communities. It is also providing a comprehensive range of services and support to widows, recognizing their vital roles in society and working towards their holistic well-beings.
According to the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Grace Fatmata Wurie Kallon, Sierra Leone like many developing countries had significant populations of widows who often face challenges such as social isolation, economic vulnerability, and access to essential services.
She explained that the Hephzibah Foundation for Widows was established in response to these challenges, and that it was aimed at uplifting widows from their marginalized status and offering them a chance to lead dignified and fulfilled lives.
Madam Kallon stated that the mission of the Hephzibah Foundation for Widows was to empower widows in the country by providing them with vocational training, emotional support, and economic opportunities, enabling them to regain their self-esteem and become active contributors in their various communities.
The Foundation will also be implementing programmes and activities such as literacy and numeracy classes; workshops to enhance employability; offering psychological counseling and support groups to help widows cope with grief, trauma and emotional challenges; microfinance and entrepreneurship, and assisting them in setting up small businesses through microfinance initiatives.