HOME & ABROAD
Lamin Keitas Hope is a non-profit organization recognized by the IRS as section 501 (c)(3) organization located in Charlotte North Carolina. Lamin Keitas Hope Foundation was founded and led by Dodou Keita & Fatou Jobe Keita in November 2019. The organization is named after their son Lamin Keita, who was diagnosed with SB at 18 weeks of pregnancy.
The organization has two separate missions based on our chapter locations, here in the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa.
LAMIN KEITA'S HOPE IN THE US
In the United States, our mission is to increase peer support among parents of children born with spina bifida. We have created programs to reduce the financial responsibility burdening families and also increase public awareness in our communities.
We will continue to support the National Spina Bifida Association by participating and raising funds annually for Carolinas Walk-N-Roll for Spina Bifida.
SPINA BIFIDA IN THE GAMBIA
In Sub-Saharan Africa, we have started our first chapter in the Gambia. Our mission in the Gambian and Sub-Saharan Africa is to save the lives of babies through raising public awareness and providing life-changing surgeries and medication.
Our support programs provide supplies for surgery, CT scans, medicines, wound-care supplies, shunts, and additional items. As we seek funding to support this chapter in managing Spina Bifida in The Gambia, it is out hope to serve as a springboard for the formation of similar nonprofit organizations in other Sub-Saharan countries in Africa.
OUR 5 PILLARS OF HOPE
EDUCATION
Educating different communities about what Spina Bifida is and promoting the importance of folic acid and eating a healthy diet to prevent Spina Bifida. Teaching
communities about different foods that have high folic acid content.
FINANCIAL
SUPPORT
Providing financial support to families. Helping families with medical expenses and financial support during their stay for treatment so that all parents have to worry about is the well-being of their baby.
ADVOCACY
The organization will advocate to raise awareness of Spina Bifida at the national level. For example in Gambia, we will advocate for the government to give more funding to Spina Bifida patients care, and also help to fortify our main food, which is rice with folic acid, to promote prevention of Spina Bifida.
PARENTAL SUPPORT GROUPS
Parent support groups are one of the greatest support systems to help Spina Bifida babies and teach their families on how to care for them. Families will get to know each other and discuss their similarities or different challenges they are facing each day with Spina Bifida. Parents will also be able to teach, learn and support each other at any time.
QUALITY HEALTH CARE
The organization will be raising funds for babies with Spina Bifida to fund access to good quality medical treatment as needed. We will be supporting nearby pediatric hospitals and clinics for patients to get access to good health care.