The Shwen Shwen Foundation is proud to announce our donation of £1,000.00 to the Cottage Hospital. The Cottage Hospital is a nickname for the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH), which was founded in 1892 by British Missionaries in Sierra Leone. This need was brought to our attention by Afro Arts Productions.
We would like to thank and recognise Afro Arts Productions who have been raising funds for Cottage Hospital since 2016. The need is great and they have been helping with refurbishment of wards and offices, to providing mosquito news and plumbing works. The Hospital suffers from power black-outs and lack of blood supplies and basics such as food for mothers and babies. The United Nations defines the “lifetime risk” of maternal mortality as the probability that a 15-year-old girl will die at some point from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. Sierra Leone’s figure — one in 20 — is the third highest in the world. The Cottage Hospital in Sierra Leone requires all the support we in the diaspora can muster.
Afro Arts Productions is a community based organisation in the UK, dedicated to highlighting for recognition, outstanding Sierra Leoneans in all walks of life in the UK. They also work tirelessly on a number of charitable aims and initiatives and we would like to thank them for their support of the Cottage Hospital back in Sierra Leone.
The Shwen Shwen Foundation
The Shwen Shwen Foundation is not a charity, at least not yet. There are plenty of charities, perhaps too many and we feel there is benefit in pooling resources to achieve the most bang for our buck in terms of impact. Shwen Shwen has become a Micro influencer on Instagram we are relatable to our followers and have an engaged audience because of our particular niche. Our niche being a black owned business, focused on traditional Sierra Leonean cuisine and Afro-fusion fine dining. With influence comes great responsibility and we take that responsibility seriously. We will balance purpose and profit and grasp opportunities to highlight three important issues:
Defeat Poverty – As a proud Sierra Leonean, I was born and raised in Freetown. I know what it’s like to be hungry first hand. I also know that over 700 million people in our world currently live in extreme poverty and that with collective action, we can change this.
Defend the Planet – The world’s poorest people contribute the least but suffer the most from the climate crisis. Climate change impacts people’s health, ability to access nutritious food, and livelihoods.
Demand Equity – Every person, everywhere, should have an equal chance to live up to their full potential.
The Shwen Shwen Foundation acts in a dynamic way, leverage our influence, raise awareness and respond when the need arises. So far we responded to the mud-slides tragedy, fuel tanker explosion and now Cottage Hospital needs. We will work with local partners, established Charities and NGO’s with visions, missions and values that resonate with ours, with causes that are dear to our hearts. In summary Shwen Shwen seeks to be a new kind of business that aims to connect people through food, balance purpose and profit and grab every opportunity we can to work toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high quality jobs with dignity and purpose.
We have a sincere desire to support the development, accomplishments, and well-being of others, and are very clear, that we must be the change we seek!