Created in 2016, this philanthropic fund aims to promote the empowerment of women and girls around the world by improving their access to education, health care and entrepreneurship. Biologist and successful entrepreneur, Erin Gainer is the founder. Alongside her family, she sits on the Steering Committee, while being very involved in the implementation and monitoring of beneficiary projects.
At the beginning of 2020, a new project was developed by the fund, in collaboration with Mother at Risk and Reach For Change. Called „Innovating for Mothers Challenge“, the competition is aimed at young entrepreneurs in the field of maternal and child health in Senegal. Despite the current health situation, the initiative was very successful, as evidenced by the hundred or so participants. The objective: to identify the most promising and innovative project on the issues of pregnancy and post partum support for women in Senegal.
This year, the „Keur Yaye“ project led by Mbathio Dieng of the AGORA association won the „Innovating for Mothers Challenge“. For 12 months, the latter will benefit from personalized support from a network of professionals, but also from financial support, which will allow him to start his social enterprise within the Reach For Change incubator in Senegal.
“When we launched the ‚Innovating for Mothers‘ challenge, we didn’t know what interest it would generate, especially in the current context of COVID-19. We were impressed and encouraged by the enthusiasm, creativity and commitment of all Senegalese entrepreneurs who took up our challenge ”. Erin Gainer, founder of the ella fund.
To find out more, visit the Reach For Change and the ella fund websites.