Our partners working in Sierra Leone have recently sent another team for their midwifery "Train the Trainers" classes.

Their focus is on women who lack access to quality maternity care and have the fewest choices. Some of the ways they fulfill their mission are:

• Prepare women to be problem-solvers for their communities, especially for the pregnant women.
• Train women in the skills and knowledge they need to make changes in the community, educate others, and support local pregnant women, especially with prenatal and postnatal care.
• Advocate for effective maternity care to all women.

COHI is honored to commit funding for this program through the rest of the year and hopefully beyond!

The conflict in Syria has created the largest global displacement crisis in recent history. Almost 5 million people have fled to other countries, 500,000 people have died, and many more have been injured. The situation near Ghouta is still dire.

Most recently we have used funds to distribute cooked meals and bread, mainly to the most vulnerable women and children in Ghouta. We are also sending money to help get women and children to a nearby hospital when necessary, since so many health care facilities have been damaged during airstrikes and shelling. COHI will continue to support the families of this region for as long as possible.

Thank YOU for your continued support of moms and babies in Syria.

COHI has been working hard to follow up with the Hurricane Harvey cash grant recipients that YOU supported in the aftermath of the hurricane's devastation. We are tracking our impact so that we can learn more about how the evacuees were helped and how they experienced the cash grant process with COHI. Some of what we've heard so far through our surveys:

"We really appreciated the one-on-one help. It should be replicated."

"You did a wonderful job for us; we are back in Beaumont now. Thank you for getting what we needed for our children ASAP."

"I really needed the financial assistance right away, and your process worked."

79% of families spent their cash grants on gas, tires, and transportation. 69% of them used their cash grants for food. 34% bought medicine. 14% of families used it for childcare costs. 27% of people used the money for rent. 14% bought clothes. And 7% of the families used the cash grants for school, supplies, or extra things for their children.

We are also hearing from many families that their financial needs continue and we are considering how we might support them in a more long term way.

We will be closing this project soon, but we wanted to reach out again and let you know that a big difference was made in the lives of over a thousand people in Texas. Thank you again for your support!

In gratitude,

Leah