Fida’s annual fundraising campaign invites you to support mothers in East Africa.
Every mother wants to protect her children. Yet in East Africa, poverty, low education levels, and drought threaten not just children, but entire families. When a mother receives education and the opportunity to build a livelihood, it opens the door to a brighter future for her children.
This year, Fida’s annual Food for Life campaign invites everyone to join in giving mothers a gift that truly lasts.
The campaign highlights how important it is to invest in education, not only when it comes to children but also their mothers. In Kenya, for example, 30% of children under five suffer from malnutrition. Long walking distance to schools, combined with hunger, keep many children from getting an education – more than a million Kenyan children remain outside the school system.
– It hurts when I cannot give my children food, says one Kenyan mother.
Vocational training, business courses, and savings and loan groups provide mothers with a foundation upon which they can build a future for their families. In 2024, over 6,400 women in East Africa improved their livelihoods, and more than 7,100 families increased their savings through savings and loan groups in Fida’s country programmes.
A mother’s improved financial situation also makes it easier to support her children’s education, as families are better able to afford food and school fees.
Together, we can give many mothers an unforgettable gift this Mother’s Day: education and the opportunity for a sustainable livelihood.
Volunteers in Action
This spring’s campaign has already inspired many volunteers in Finland to raise support for mothers in East Africa.
Through the Fidathlon challenge, a group of Finns are running triathlons, marathons, and engaging in other sports activities throughout the summer and autumn. The most distant participant is joining in all the way from Bhutan! Participants commit to exercising while encouraging others to donate.
– It all started with a desire to have some fun activities and a shared goal for the summer — and it turned into something much bigger, says Jani-Matti Korpela, the founder of the idea, currently serving with his family in Bangkok.
Fidathlon participants can take part individually or in teams. Distances range from a triathlon sprint to a full triathlon — and everything in between. Some participants even pledge to move one kilometre for every euro donated. The Fidathlon team’s kilometres and donations will be tracked together — will we make it all the way to Nairobi by swimming, cycling, or running? The fundraising goal grows as new participants join.
At the same time in May, Pentecostal church volunteers across Finland will hit the streets in 20 cities with their orange fundraising boxes. Events such as cake buffets, concerts, and other creative initiatives will invite local communities to join in doing good.
Mother’s Day Cards Available at Fida Shops in Helsinki and Espoo
At Fida’s secondhand shops on Iso Roobertinkatu in Helsinki and in the Iso Omena shopping centre in Espoo, you have a special opportunity to delight your mother — or any loved one. Beautiful, flower-themed Mother’s Day cards are available for a limited time. Each card opens up and offers a lovely way to send a heartfelt message.
The cards, illustrated by Tampere-based artist Saara Vallineva, will brighten the day of both the giver and the receiver — and at the same time, support mothers in East Africa.
Proceeds from the cards go towards Fida’s development cooperation, specifically to vocational training initiatives that help mothers build a more sustainable future for their families.
Give Mothers the Gift of Education!
The greatest gift you can give to a mother in East Africa is education. With it, they can change the course of their children’s lives. These mothers are ready to work hard to secure a better future for the next generation.
– Education is the only truly effective way to build a better future for our children in Africa, says Paula Konttinen, Fida’s East Africa Regional Manager.
Fida’s development cooperation in Kenya and elsewhere in East Africa offers vocational training, improves food security, and supports children’s access to education. In doing so, it gives mothers the ability to offer their children a safer and more hopeful tomorrow.
