Finding Freedom through Friendship
Rainbow® Sandals Foundation has recently donated to Finding Freedom through Friendship, Inc. (FFF). A nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering and transforming women and children in impoverished areas. FFF addresses poverty, gender inequality, and social disparities by offering shelter, healthcare, nutrition, education, and economic skills for long-term sustainability.
Since its inception in 2010 in Guatemala with one program, FFF has expanded to Egypt in 2017 and has established six impactful programs. These programs, including the Tutoring Program, Community Education, Microfinance Program, Scholarship Program, and Community Health, have positively impacted over 24,000 individuals. The 2024 Widow Program in Egypt currently have 60 participants (widows & children), within the program 24 of them are FFF Students.
The Scholarship Program in Guatemala is extremely important to families and children. Many stories reflect the broader challenges faced by families in rural Guatemala, where children are often essential contributors to the informal work sector. Due to a lack of funding for education, many parents are compelled to put their children to work in roles such as childcare, poultry processing, manual labor, or coffee harvesting. This harsh reality perpetuates a cycle of poverty, limiting opportunities for education and personal development. In the areas FFF serves, only 10% of teenage girls pursue education beyond a middle school level.
Finding Freedom Through Friendship's scholarship program becomes a crucial intervention. By providing financial aid to top student achievers, FFF aims to break the cycle of child labor, early marriages, and young motherhood. The mission is not only to remove financial barriers but also to promote educational excellence, empowering these young individuals to resist cultural expectations, pursue education, and contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty in their communities. The accompanying photos, captured by FFF volunteers, visually illustrate the impact and urgency of this initiative in the lives of these children and their families.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.finding-freedom-through-friendship.org