GNN.org is the exclusive media partner for the 2018 ‘Global Good Fund’ Fellows—12 extraordinary young social entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place. Chosen annually, the 12 Fellows are each matched with an executive mentor, leadership coach, and $10,000. Hand-selected from 2,400 applicants in 100 countries, these visionaries are being celebrated—one each day on GNN—leading up to the 6th Annual Global Good Fund Gala, on April 26.
It all started with a little girl. At age eleven, Abigail was selling herself on the streets of Liberia in exchange for clean drinking water. Then, she met Katie Meyler, who had left her hometown of New Jersey twelve years earlier to volunteer overseas for Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian international relief organization that supports children.
At the time, Meyler knew the challenges the country faced. A 14-year brutal civil war had left the country in shambles, including destroying over 80% of its schools. Young girls seemed to bear the brunt of the damage, with more than 40% of those aged 10-14 never attending school, and, many of them like Abigail, falling prey to violence.
Seeing Katie as a potential lifeline, Abigail begged her to help her get into school. Desperate to help, Katie turned to a friend she met in Monrovia, Erica Noelle Duncan, who was a business consultant and coach. Erica knew immediately that Katie’s passion and drive gave her the ability to do something concrete. Soon after, More Than Me was born.
LOOK: Afghan Girls, Not Allowed On Bikes, Shred On Skateboards Instead
More Than Me (MTM) works in partnership with the Liberian Ministry of Education to rebuild the education system, and ensure girls like Abigail have access to basic human rights. The objective is that every child will attend and graduate primary school prepared to take their next step in life, which in turn, will bring stability to the country and grow the…