Help more mums survive pregnancy & childbirth.
Support our BBC Radio 4 Appeal. Please give today.
Your donations can help set up more lifesaving, life-changing health groups. Help us support more women through pregnancy and childbirth.
Your gift can go further. The first £10,000 of donations will be trebled by a group of generous supporters - so every £20 you give will be worth £60.
Listen to our appeal, presented by comedian and author Sara Pascoe, by clicking on the link below to hear Rabiya’s story on the BBC’s website.
Supporting mothers like Rabiya
Rabiya lives in Lemen Abu, Ethiopia. It’s a small, remote village where women often give birth without a midwife or doctor present. If there are complications, they can be dangerous.
Rabiya went to her local health group, set up by Women & Children First and our partners. She learnt about what can go wrong during childbirth.
This was vital when Rabiya’s labour took too long. She knew this could be fatal. She got help to go to the hospital, several miles away.
At hospital, Rabiya got the medical care she needed and gave birth to her daughter, Fedila. She is starting school this year, while Rabiya still attends the group to support other mums-to-be.
Your donations can help set up more lifesaving, life-changing groups.
“I am supporting Women and Children First.
“I believe that all women, everywhere in the world, should be able to give birth safely.
“I love how the groups empower women, and give mums-to-be the confidence, knowledge and know-how they need to have a safe pregnancy and birth."
Sara Pascoe, Comedian, Author and Broadcaster
The power of community groups
Women & Children First work in some of the world’s most rural, remote communities to make pregnancy and childbirth safer. We set up health groups, bringing women together to share knowledge and address their biggest health challenges.
Every 2 minutes a woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth from preventable problems. Group leaders, trained by the charity and our partners, speak about pregnancy and childbirth – raising awareness of what can go wrong.
They can halve maternal mortality and reduce newborn mortality by a third.
Group leaders are brilliant local women, trained to have the know-how to run meetings and have the knowledge to raise awareness of problems in pregnancy.
They are effective at bringing women and communities together to identify their biggest health challenges, and then work together to find the solutions to overcome them.
Whatever you can give today will help.
The first £10,000 raised through your donations will be trebled in value, thanks to funding from a generous group of supporters.
“I am very grateful to my community health group for their role in saving my life.”
Rabiya, mother of Fedila, group member from Ethiopia
Our Impact
For over 20 years we’ve empowered women across Africa, Latin America, and South Asia by delivering community health groups in partnership with local organisations.
5,000+
community health groups established - and growing
6,500+
mothers, babies and womens lives saved - and counting
12 million+
people reached through our community health group network
16
different countries where Women and Children First has worked to improve health
How You Can Help
Give a donation today
Your gifts towards the appeal are life-changing for many women like Rabiya - and the first £10,000 of donations will be trebled in value.
£15 could help run 2 groups for 1 month.
£30 could enable 6 women to attend a group for 1 year.
£50 could train 1 woman to become a group leader, giving her the knowledge and skills to run our lifesaving groups and make women aware of problems in pregnancy.
