Summoning the Human Spirit to its Best Self

Our Mission is to aid and inspire individuals in their efforts to achieve positive and lasting change in the lives of their children, families and communities.

LemonAid Fund was founded as a 501 (c) 3 in 1999 with the belief that no individual, nor any individual effort, is too small to make an important difference. We support people who believe in their own abilities to create positive change, despite any hardship or injustice they may experience. We support people who take action on their own behalf, to turn the “lemons” in their lives, into “lemonade.”

WHERE WE WORK:

Although our primary focus is on the West African country of Sierra Leone, we have also done work throughout Africa, the Middle East, East Asia and domestically in the United States. We provide services to those those who can be encompassed in our mission, regardless of location.

WHAT WE DO:

We aid in projects and programs that contribute to the education and health as well as the social, economic and cultural development of children, families and communities.

We look for inspired ideas and innovative practices with evidence of effective results supported by grass roots involvement.

We join with individuals, communities and organizations to support ideas that are chosen, designed, implemented and evaluated with the participation of those who will primarily benefit from those actions.

Because of LemonAid Fund, individuals, organizations, and communities are creating more positive action than they ever imagined, and doing more than they ever thought possible.

Today, 10 years later, a network of 14 schools and 2 foster care homes in Sierra Leone are receiving support, 2 schools have been built, 10 libraries have received structural support, over 28,000 lbs of books and 10 computers have been delivered, over 3,000 children have access to quality education and 53 students have recieved scholarships. Thanks to LemonAid Fund, people in Asia and Africa are rebuilding their lives after devastations they have experienced, women are stopping the practice of Female Genital Mutilation, and more people in Uganda, Sierra Leone and Kenya are drinking clean water.

WHAT WE BELIEVE:

We believe in our responsibility to contribute hope where hardship, oppression, fear and hopelessness have become the norm.

We believe in the power of participation, collaboration and shared leadership.

We believe that the cultural traits of a society or group are essential elements of its present and future identity.

We believe in acknowledgement, respect, forgiveness and reconciliation in order to humanize disputes and build a base for trust and hope.

We believe that if individuals are inspired to develop physically, mentally, socially, spiritually and culturally in a healthy and fitting manner, they will play a role in changing their own lives, and in doing so, build a healthy safe and just foundation for future generations.

We believe in expecting the impossible, and achieving it.

We believe in the power of BELIEF.

LemonAid Fund, 490 Lincoln Ave West, Highland Park, IL 60035 USA