And the promise of a better future
Choosing to support children and families of the future with a gift in a Will is a profound commitment to a world that is kinder, safer and fairer for children less fortunate than our own.
Sometimes, a gift in our Will is also a way of remembering those closest to us – preserving their commitment to children with a gift that changes lives.
Our long-term supporters Gwen and Terry generously shared what the gifts in their Wills meant to them – recalling their loved ones and the children they want to help.
Gwen’s sisterly pledge
Long-term Supporter Gwen
Photo: Supplied by supporter.
Now in her nineties, Gwen has supported Save the Children for more than 30 years.
It was through her sister Lorelle, a passionate supporter, that Gwen learnt about Save the Children. Lorelle, a working mother of 4, was always very active baking and making handicrafts to sell at their local Save the Children op shop.
The sisters doorknocked to collect money and raise awareness about the needs of children, and Gwen was sometimes dismayed by people’s indifference.
When Lorelle sadly passed away, Gwen promised to continue their support, and to this day Gwen loves visiting the op shops and still gives what she can.
Reflecting on their fortunate childhood and the gift in her Will, Gwen said: ‘we were loved and had food, and everyone deserves to be supported.’
Terry’s love letter
Terry and Trisha enjoying happy times
Photo: Supplied by supporter.
For Terry, the gift in his Will is a heartfelt extension of the love he and his wife Trisha, now sadly passed away, shared for the children they supported in place of the much-wished-for family they couldn’t create.
Terry recalled: ‘I continued our support knowing that is exactly what she wanted from me’.
Terry’s gift is a love letter to his darling Trisha who adored children, and a promise of hope and transformation for children who need it most.
Right now, gifts in Wills made by people like Gwen and Terry are keeping children safe from hunger, safe from harm, and ensuring they have the support they need to thrive and grow up and be educated.
Gifts in Wills are helping support mothers and babies
In rural Bangladesh , where communities are frequently cut off by flooding, the Mamota (‘Affection’) Project is supporting children at the very start of life, helping mums in the harshest of environments deliver their babies safely, with access to medical support – sometimes onboard a boat: the Mamotar Tori.
The Mamotar Tori is a maternal ambulance, providing women with emergency transport to health facilities and satellite midwife sessions direct to their villages. Equipped with a bed, oxygen, emergency supplies and solar powered electricity, the vessel is a vital link during increasingly frequent floods.
Midwife Shraboni aboard the Mamotar Tori
The Mamota Project, delivered by Save the Children with our local partner and the Bangladesh Government’s health facility, is a lifeline for mothers in hard-to-reach communities, providing free maternal and newborn health, reducing preventable deaths and improving access to family planning.
Trained midwives stationed alongside other health service providers at 11 facilities are ready to deliver babies 24/7. Since 2021, they have helped over 32,000 mothers with ante-natal care and over 13,000 with post-natal care.
Folk songs and plays are used to raise awareness about the risks of home deliveries. Midwife Shraboni reflects:
"Our goal is to overcome these obstacles and ensure safe deliveries for all mothers.”
Rupa, 8 months pregnant attends Shraboni’s satellite clinic
For mum Rupa* who’s expecting her second child, maternal health is not just about medical care; it's also about community support and assistance. Shraboni’s reassuring presence brings more than medical expertise:
"She comes here for us, and that gives us courage…I can discuss anything with her."
Projects like this are perpetuating the love and care that Lorelle and Trisha wanted for children of the world. And thanks to the foresight of Gwen and Terry and the gifts in their Wills, they will continue long into the future, empowering mothers and giving children the best start in life.