FOREFRONT Charity

FOREFRONT's mission is to enable every person, equip leaders, and establish self-sustaining communities. This is advanced by a holistic, cumulative four-phase approach which includes: securing clean water and sanitation, educating under-represented citizens, providing quality medical services, and pursuing women's empowerment in partnership with local communities. Each pillar builds off another so that changemakers are empowered to realize long-term sustainable change. We met girls like 14-year old Priyanka who dreams of being a political leader. However, due to the challenging realities of her community such as access to clean water and sanitation, she faces barriers to reaching ... read more FOREFRONT's mission is to enable every person, equip leaders, and establish self-sustaining communities. This is advanced by a holistic, cumulative four-phase approach which includes: securing clean water and sanitation, educating under-represented citizens, providing quality medical services, and pursuing women's empowerment in partnership with local communities. Each pillar builds off another so that changemakers are empowered to realize long-term sustainable change. We met girls like 14-year old Priyanka who dreams of being a political leader. However, due to the challenging realities of her community such as access to clean water and sanitation, she faces barriers to reaching her goal. Children and women would walk up to six one-hour trips to get water and the water they do obtain is the cause of diarrheal related deaths of almost 1 million children in India each year. The idea of FOREFRONT started with building a simple water well that would eventually transform a community. When talking with the children about what they are able to do with the extra time, we learned that children do not attend school because education is considered a luxury and is unaffordable. Additionally, teachers are not present and schools lack the sanitary facilities for girls. Basic necessities such as these should not stand in the way of empowering individuals like Priyanka with such passion and drive. This is when we realized it is more than one solution. We believe that we can equip girls like Priyanka in all ways through our 4-phase approach, to be an effective leader in her community. Through a holistic, cumulative four-phase approach, we engage in long-term partnership with developing communities to advance our mission to enable every person, equip leaders, and establish self-sustaining communities. The power is in the locals and FOREFRONT's goal is to unlock their potential because change happens through powerful local individuals. This was the beginning of our 4-phase holistic approach where we provide basic necessities according to the UN Sustainable Development Goals to ensure that all villagers regardless of gender or demographics have access to basic life necessities to build them up as owners of their community. With clean water and proper sanitation, they are less prone to waterborne illnesses which enables them to go to school. School or education provides skills and skills provide jobs and jobs provide hope. Then we met a woman who was having pregnancy complications and through her we found out that the villagers had no real affordable medical clinic that was within walking distance since they do not own vehicles. Furthermore, due to the caste system in India, despite her important urgent medical need, she may not be admitted. Lastly, we heard many stories of many girls who dream of being police officers or even women who wanted to start a sanitary pad businesses, but due to their gender, they are not given the opportunity to realize their dreams and potentials. This is how our unique model came to be created through stories on the field. By providing the basic necessities and tools to encourage locals to take ownership of their community and help others, that is truly a sustainable model.