Rory, who has been a regular donor to the AdAmi Project since 2019, tells us more about why he makes a regular donation to the AdAmi Project.

How did you first hear about our organisation?

I have been aware of the charity ever since it was founded and made my first donations having attended the launch event for the project in January 2019. 

What made you decide to give your first gift?

I could see that the support being offered to the young mothers was informed, effective and focused on the needs of mum and child. I knew that my donation would go directly to the work of the project and that even my modest gift would go a long way to provide a real change. This has proved to be more true than I could have known and I have continued to give each month for the last four years.

Why do you enjoy giving to this organisation?

I get to see the positive changes that the young women have made. It is so encouraging and exciting to see the changes that are being made by the girls  themselves in their own lives.  I have been inspired and excited to see the role of mentorship and developing improved understanding and communication within families and in the community as such a big part of the work. Most of the changes and additions to the work is in collaboration with or starting from the young women themselves.

What is your favourite service with the AdAmi project?

One of the best things about the AdAmi Project is that it offers such a variety of options and support for the young women depending on what they need and want to do. I am always pleased to see family reunification and greater understanding of issues facing women more widely but the most important thing is the health and happiness of each young mother and their children. The project gives young women the confidence, tools and belief to make positive and healthy choices for themselves.

What do you hope to accomplish through your giving?

I had no great ambitions originally but the young mother’s have shown me that I should be as ambitious for them and the project as they are for themselves. With that in mind, I hope to keep supporting young mothers in Sierra Leone as much as I can. I continue to be delighted by the resilience and positivity of these young people who face such tough challenges but who look for, and find, solutions by working with each other and their community.

If you were talking to someone else about giving to our organisation, what would you tell them?

I would tell them that it is a charity you have a real connection with. It is a charity that keeps you informed and whose journey and development you can follow and feel some responsibility for. It is a charity that can do a lot with whatever you can afford to donate. The £15 a month I give might pay for the entire year's support for two or three girls depending on what support they are accessing. You can see your donation in action which is really quite exciting. 

What do you wish everyone knew about this cause?

Education and equality are key elements of the work that AdAmi works to improve. Women face even greater challenges in Sierra Leone than they do in most other countries in the world. Most young women do not attend school and the choices and protections offered to women are limited. Things are slowly improving in this regard. With even the most modest support that you can offer; the young mothers can be part of positive developments for women in Sierra Leone. They do this by improving their own situation, showing those around them the benefits of the choices and means and fighting for the rights of women in Sierra Leone.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Rory for his incredible support over the years! To find out more about how you can become a regular support of our work please click here.