Women & Children First Has Now Closed

We thank all of our supporters, staff, Trustees, volunteers and communities that we have worked with in the last 25 years to support women, children, mothers and babies to identify their health challenges and work together to find the solutions to overcome them.

The community health groups, set up using the Participatory Learning and Action approach (PLA), have saved and changed lives around the world.

We have demonstrated, with your help, that they can halve maternal mortality and reduce newborn mortality by a third.

As Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet, described the work: “It’s not a drug. It’s not a vaccine. It’s women, working together, solving problems, saving lives.”

We want to give particular recognition and thanks to all of the inspiring women that have led the groups, who’ve encouraged, empowered and motivated others to get the healthcare and support they need.

So many of these groups, and the work of our partners, will carry on beyond today.

There are women, children and people alive today thanks to the practical solutions and knowledge gained from the groups.

That’s thanks to you.

You can also watch a recording of our celebratory final webinar, about how PLA works and is being implemented by others now and in the future.

If you need support in delivering community health groups using the PLA approach, please consult our Directory of experts.

Our website, material and resources are expected to be kept open until April 2026.

Thank you all for being part of our 25-year journey. We wish you all the very best in happiness and health for the future.

Or, as they say in Nepal, ‘dhanyabād’ – धन्यवाद – thank you!

Kindest regards,

The Women & Children First Team