The Church of Jesus Christ Strengthens Global Effort to Help Women and Children

As part of its ongoing responsibility to care for those in need, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is bolstering its global initiative to improve the well-being of women and children.

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During meetings on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, June 5, 2025, Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson told representatives from eight global humanitarian organizations that the Church is donating another US$63.4 million to this worldwide project first announced in 2023. Last year, the Church announced a $55.8 million donation as part of this effort.

“Collaboration remains at the heart of this initiative; we create the greatest impact through our united efforts. Together, we look forward to another year of creating healthier futures for women and children and strengthening communities,” President Johnson said.

During the gathering, representatives shared key results from 2024, highlighting significant progress:

• 21.2 million children and mothers received vitamins.
• 1.87 million children were screened for malnutrition and treated if needed.
• 1.6 million mothers were trained in nutrition best practices.
• 219,000 pregnant mothers received prenatal care.
• 141,000 families received seeds, training or now have home gardens with more nutrient-dense foods.
• 41,000 people were trained in improved hygiene behaviors.
• 17,000 government health workers were trained to maternal and newborn care, child nutrition, breastfeeding, and the istration of vitamins.
• 6,800 people benefited from improved water and sanitation facilities.
• 159 newborns were resuscitated at birth.
• 125 health facilities were trained to track clinical cases of malnutrition and provide treatment.

The Church has taken a leadership role in convening eight globally recognized nonprofits, and as part of four groups, each focused on projects benefiting women and children. These organizations are: CARE International, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Helen Keller Intl, iDE, MAP International, Save the Children, The Hunger Project, and Vitamin Angels.

The four groups and their areas of focus and objectives are as follows

• Group 1: Helen Keller Intl, Vitamin Angels, iDE
  
  Objective: Increase access to nutritious foods, vitamins, and medications in 12 countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Zambia).
   
• Group 2: CRS, The Hunger Project, MAP International
  
  Objective: Improve maternal newborn care, water, sanitation, and hygiene, and nutrition in Ghana.
   
• Group 3: Save the Children, MAP International
  
  Objective: Improve maternal newborn care and nutrition in Sierra Leone and Zambia.
   
• Group 4: CARE, iDE, MAP International
  
  Objective: Improve agriculture and nutrition and upgrade medical clinics in Nepal.

“With our global reach, we are uniquely positioned to foster collaboration among these eight organizations. By leveraging our individual strengths and resources, we amplify our collective impact,” said Blaine R. Maxfield, managing director of Welfare and Self-Reliance Services. “What a blessing it is to come together to serve God’s children around the world.”

The announcement of new funding was part of activities, including an expert discussion later in the day on Thursday, June 5, led by Bishop L. Todd Budge, Second Counselor in the Church’s Presiding Bishopric. The focused on health and nutrition for women and children.

The ists were President Johnson, Brother Maxfield, Sharon Eubank (director of Church Humanitarian Services), Sarah Bouchie (CEO of Helen Keller Intl), Ana Céspedes (CEO of Vitamin Angels), Lizz Welch (CEO of iDE), and Abena Amedormey (Ghana country representative for CRS).

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Bouchie said she saw the impact of this collaborative approach to helping women and children last year in Cambodia. She met a 4-year-old girl whose severe malnutrition was identified and treated thanks to the intervention of community health workers ed by Helen Keller Intl.

“[Her story] really gives you a sense that these are children’s lives that are changing,” said Bouchie, whose organization helps children and families grow and eat nutritious food in 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe and the U.S. “If that child’s malnutrition hadn’t been identified earlier, it could have been disastrous for that family.”

The same is true for the work done by Vitamin Angels, which focuses on improving nutrition and health outcomes for pregnant women, infants, and young children worldwide.

“We are maximizing the impact of each other,” Céspedes said. “We are building in each other’s capabilities, resources, networks, competencies, to do better, to do more, to do [it] wider, and to make it more sustainable.”

Welch, whose organization focuses on income and livelihood opportunities for poor, rural households in developing countries, said this collaboration effort with the Church and others is “phenomenal.”

“My takeaways [from today] are the power of generosity within the of the Church, and how much people care and want to help transform the lives of others — starting with children, starting with women, and then extending into families and into communities,” Welch said. “I have been brought to tears a number of times today, and I am so humbled and grateful for the [collaboration] that we have and for the fact that people here care so deeply about others in the world.”

Rowlands Kaotcha, CEO of The Hunger Project, emphasized the group’s focus on nourishing people and teaching them how to nourish themselves.

“[The end goal] is really self-reliance,” Kaotcha said. “The Church is building self-reliance. The Hunger Project’s end goal with the communities we work with is that they can be self-reliant and be masters of their own change and drive their own process to get to the destination that they want.”

In 2023, the First Presidency asked the Relief Society to lead this global effort. President Russell M. Nelson has told women that they have a divine endowment to change lives. He said, “I am inspired by your diligence, dynamic leadership, and your ability to see a need and meet it.”

of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in following the Savior’s two great commandments: to love God and to love our neighbor. As part of this mandate, the Church seeks to maximize its impact so its efforts bless not only those who receive help but also their families and communities. For more information on the Church’s effort to care for those in need, please visit the most recent “Caring for Those in Need” summary.