The Problem
Sierra Leone has a complex history of colonization, civil war, and foreign influence that has had a significant impact on the country's children.
Many children have been institutionalized in orphanages due to poverty, family breakdown, and trafficking practices.
The Facts
Children raised in institutional settings are more vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation after leaving the system or running away.
This increased vulnerability is linked to their lack of social skills and networks needed for independent living.
The risk is further heightened in areas with limited services and support for reintegration.
Care leavers are particularly susceptible to sexual exploitation, and international studies indicate that they face higher rates of homelessness, unemployment, isolation, poverty, and mental health issues compared to peers raised in families.
Our Story
The program is named in honor of Barb Boltz, lovingly known as Mamaw. Barb, Jen Conrad’s mother, played a vital role in supporting her daughter's failed adoption journey through prayers, fundraising, and emotional care. She dreamed of seeing the children come home and begin their new lives with a family. Tragically, Barb passed away in January 2022 due to complications from Covid and the kid's were unable to receive US Visas to join their new family.
A dedicated nurse, Barb was known for her compassion and became a source of comfort for others worldwide, especially during the pandemic.
For Jen, Mamaw’s House was a place of healing—a sanctuary during times when her husband was at war or between tours in Iraq.
Barb embraced her role as "Mamaw" with pride, filling her home with love, laughter, and the presence of her grandchildren, who cherished their time at Mamaw’s House. Her legacy of love, care, and support lives on through this program.
In 2015, AJ and Jen Conrad began sponsoring a young boy in Sierra Leone through an American-run orphanage. A year later, Jen traveled to Sierra Leone for the first time, where she met her sponsor son, John, and his sister, Isatu, face to face. The siblings had been in the orphanage since 2009, after their mother left, and their father was no longer able to care for them. Tragically, no reunification attempt was ever made for the children.
Over time, Jen and AJ fell in love with John, Isatu, and the country of Sierra Leone. From 2016 to 2018, they traveled there five times, deepening their connection. In 2019, they formally expressed interest in adopting John and Isatu, and in 2020, the Sierra Leone High Court granted them an adoption order.
However, after two attempts, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied the children's visa requests due to a technicality regarding the relinquishment of parental rights. Since the rights were terminated specifically for adoption purposes, not at the time of surrender, the visas were denied. As a result, John and Isatu, now young adults, were unable to join their adoptive family in the United States and had to remain in Sierra Leone.
Jen and AJ’s journey with John and Isatu played a significant role in shaping the vision of Mamaw’s House. This program, launched in 2024, provides care leavers, like John and Isatu, with the support and resources they need as they transition into independent living.
Program Inception and Founding Vision:
Get to Know Us
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January 2024: The program was initiated by Jen Conrad, an adoptive mother facing challenges in transitioning her adopted children who were unable to obtain US visas after their adoption in January 2020. Jen's children remained in an orphanage without guidance for transitioning out of institutional care into independent living.
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Collaboration with CFPS: Recognizing the broader need, Jen partnered with Child and Family Permanency Services (CFPS) to expand the vision of Mamaw’s House. Together, they aimed to assist not only Jen’s children but also other children lacking advocacy and support, creating a sustainable framework for permanency services.
What We Have Accomplished
01
Support For Care Leavers
Since its launch in 2024, Mamaw’s House has successfully supported 21 young adults transitioning out of institutional care, providing individualized assistance based on their specific needs.
03
Educational Support
Mamaw’s House has secured funding to cover the tuition for secondary school and university students, and provided access to essential services like eye exams and eyeglasses, helping care leavers succeed academically and professionally.
02
Housing Solutions
We’ve housed 12 care leavers in an interim care center and secured two apartments for those pursuing higher education at local universities, ensuring they have a stable and supportive environment during their transition to independence.
04
Psychosocial & Life Development
The program has implemented both group therapy and individual counseling for care leavers, along with training in practical life skills such as financial management, cooking, and navigating the housing market, promoting self-sufficiency and personal growth.