Our story
For happy healthy children
Who we are
We are a non-profit charity in Sierra Leone. At HAPPY, we provide resource centres for young children and adolescents who live with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS.
If someone with HIV doesn’t manage their illness, they can develop AIDS. We help children get medication, understand their illness and form a supportive community. You can help too: please donate today to support our work.
How we started
In 2006, Mrs Mariama Conteh started HAPPY as a community-based project. We were registered as a local NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) in 2010. She wanted to make a positive contribution to remove the stigma and negative effects of the HIV and AIDs epidemic on children and adolescents in Sierra Leone.
Support us
Helping children and adolescents
We are non-governmental, non-political, and non-religious.
We support children and adolescents; and many are orphans who have, or are affected by, AIDS. They often get the virus through mother-to-child transmission, blood transfusion, sexual abuse or harmful traditional practices including FGM.
In 2019, Sierra Leone had over 8,200 children and adolescents with HIV. Very few children – only 18 percent – get the lifesaving medication and help they need. Read our overview of child and adolescent HIV in Sierra Leone.
There is currently no cure for HIV. However, a combination of medication and lifestyle changes can help people keep the virus under control and their immune system healthy.
Our ambition
We want to empower vulnerable children and adolescents to:
improve their quality of life
access information and support in their local communities
reach their potential.
Main aims
Intensify case finding for children and adolescents living with HIV
Increase access to appropriate HIV care, treatment, prevention and support services for children and adolescents living with HIV
Improve knowledge and skills on SRHR (Sexual reproductive health and rights) including HIV, sexuality education among adolescents, menstrual hygiene management among adolescents girls and young women.
Our dedicated team
HAPPY Kids charity has a pool of competent and qualified staff. The team leads and supports our activities.
Mrs Mariama Conteh is the Director and Founder of HAPPY Kids and Adolescents. She started HAPPY as a community-based organization in 2006.
For ten years, until January 2021, she was the National Coordinator for HIV Testing Services in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone.
Mariama’s work in HIV units at various hospitals, clinics and community-based support groups defined her life and career path.
She was moved by the sight of children abandoned and stigmatised because of HIV; this inspired her to set up HAPPY to help these children survive and thrive.
Where are we
Our headquarters are in Freetown but we have resource centres in seven districts in Sierra Leone:
Kenema
Bo
Western Area Urban District
Western Area Rural District
Pujehun
Kailahun and
Bombali.
Registered status
We are legally registered to operate as a National Non-Governmental Organization in Sierra Leone. Our registration certificate number is NNGO/626.
Sponsors, partners and supporters
HAPPY is pleased to be affiliated with NETHIPS (Network of HIV Positives in Sierra Leone).
As a small non-profit charity, we rely on external funding and donations:
We currently receive funding from UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)
Past donors include the Swedish National Committee for UNICEF, and Manchester United Football Club.
Our main funders and supporters include:
the Sierra Leone community, Cambridge, UK
NACP MOHS (National AIDS Control Programme, Ministry of Health & Sanitation, Sierra Leone).
We are grateful to all our sponsors, partners and supporters.
Our work depends on donations so please donate so we can help more children and adolescents in Sierra Leone.
