First Year Africa is dedicated to giving newborns in Africa the best possible start in life. We focus on ensuring babies survive their critical first year by supporting rural communities with healthcare, nutrition, and education. By empowering teenage mothers and strengthening maternal healthcare, we address root causes of poverty and inequality, creating a foundation for long-term change. Together with local partners, we pioneer impactful projects that deliver life-saving care, equip young mothers with essential skills, and help entire communities thrive.
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Our Story: First Year Africa
At First Year Africa, our mission is simple yet profoundly impactful: to help babies in Africa survive and thrive in their critical first year of life. Born out of Positive Women, a charity with a 20-year legacy of empowering women and tackling poverty in Africa, First Year Africa focuses on addressing the challenges that matter most—maternal and neonatal health.
Every year, thousands of babies in sub-Saharan Africa fail to reach their first birthday due to preventable causes like malnutrition, infection, and a lack of medical care. The statistics are sobering: babies born in Africa are 10 times more likely to die in the first month of life than those in high-income countries. In Eswatini, a country with one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates, these figures represent more than just numbers—they reflect lives lost too soon and communities left to grieve.
What We Do:
Our pilot projects bring life-saving interventions to some of Eswatini’s most underserved communities. Partnering with the incredible team at SWAPOL (Swaziland Positive Living), we provide:
- Safe Birth Services: Hygienic birthing units staffed with skilled healthcare professionals.
- Ongoing Medical Care: Access to vaccines, treatments, and primary healthcare throughout the baby's first year.
- Nutritional Support: Essential nutrients to prevent stunted growth and ensure babies and mothers remain healthy.
We focus on teenage mothers, empowering them with the resources and skills they need to raise healthy children and create brighter futures for their families.
Our Achievements:
Over the past two decades, we’ve partnered with local organisations to bring about meaningful change. Together, we’ve:
- Supported women-led businesses to help families break the cycle of poverty.
- Provided education to AIDS-orphaned children, giving them hope for a better future.
- Helped pioneer legal cases to protect women and children from abuse and discrimination.
Our Vision for the Future:
As First Year Africa, we aim to redefine maternal and neonatal care in Eswatini. By focusing on the smallest lives, we create ripples of change that empower entire communities. We believe that every child, no matter where they are born, deserves a chance to live, grow, and thrive.
Project Objectives
- Improve Access to Healthcare: Establish mobile clinics and provide transportation support for pregnant women and infants.
- Enhance Maternal and Child Health: Supply essential medical items like delivery packs and postnatal care kits.
- Integrate HIV/AIDS Care: Provide necessary treatment and support to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
Expected Outcomes
- Reduced Maternal and Infant Mortality: Significant decrease in mortality rates in the target communities.
- Increased Healthcare Access: More women and infants accessing healthcare services.
- Improved HIV/AIDS Management: Fewer cases of mother-to-child transmission.
Funding and Support
- £100 Donation: Supports 2 delivery packs for pregnant mothers.
- £500 Donation: Covers 10 delivery packs.
- £1,000 Donation: Supports 2 girls and their babies through the entire project.
- £2,500 Donation: Fully supports 5 girls from pregnancy to the child's first birthday.
- £10,000 Donation: Supports 20 girls, making a substantial impact on community health.
Join us in this journey. Together, we can rewrite the story for mothers and babies in Eswatini, one safe first year at a time.