GRACE Cares, in partnership with our local heroes, will provide educational opportunities to Project Hearts in Baitoa, Dominican Republic, and the Munali Youth Empowerment Program (MYEP) in Lusaka Province, Zambia. In the Dominican Republic, Project Hearts will train women in basic health and medical knowledge in their Community Health Leadership (CHL) program; and in Zambia, MYEP will provide books and learning materials to children as part of their Mobile Book program.
Baitoa and Lusaka Province both need educational opportunities in key areas. In Baitoa, poor education, a lack of running water, and hospitals that are difficult and expensive to get to result in many residents suffering from easily preventable illnesses. Similarly, Lusaka Province lacks a reading culture and would benefit from greater access to books for children. Since many families live in remote rural areas, the Mobile Book program brings educational opportunities to them.
This project will offer technical assistance and material support to Project Hearts and the Munali Youth Empowerment Program (MYEP) to carry out their educational opportunities. Project Hearts' Community Health Leadership (CHL) program educates 10-15 women in a six-month course covering basic community health topics and leadership skills. MYEP's Mobile Book program brings books to children to borrow, allowing children who have dropped out of school to continue their education.
Having access to these important educational opportunities improves the lives of individuals and communities. For every woman who is trained in the CHL program at least 40 Baitoans benefit directly from their increased medical knowledge, preventing unnecessary illness and healing the sick. Similarly, the Mobile Book program will bring much-needed educational resources to 350 children in Lusaka Province, improving their educational outcomes and even their future earning potential.
