The Women of Grace was established with the sole purpose of standing in the gap for the less privileged, both in the United States and Liberia, West Africa by providing spiritual guidance, shelters, and education.
In Liberia, The Women of Grace primarily provides services to children ages five to eleven who were gravely affected by the Ebola epidemic from 2014-2015. Although, the Liberian government attempted managing this outbreak by constructing new Ebola Treatment Units and conducting EVD training for both health workers and law enforcement personnel, the health sector, however, experienced the death of 192 out of 372 cases (51.6%) of its already insufficient staff. The Liberia National Police experienced 5 deaths and 64 cases. Montserrado County health facilities and workers experienced overwhelming influx of patients to the point that patients were being rejected at certain points and left to die in the street.
This public health crisis was unlike anything Liberia has experienced since the end of the Civil War in 2003. As with survivors, community members initially rejected orphans for fear that they would transmit Ebola. As a result, some of these children ended up becoming street children, without any moral, spiritual and academic guidance. Moreover, the establishment of an institutionalized support system for the care of Ebola orphans is yet to be implemented.
Presently, there are still children living on the street due to losing their parents to the virus or facing abuse and trafficking by extended family members providing them shelter. They are without protection or guidance, and their academic, spiritual, and moral upbringing is suffering. It is our goal is to develop the first institutionalized support system for these children, which will provide safe housing, education, proper healthcare, and nutrition, as well as access to all learning materials, clothing, and basic human needs.
