Our Mission
To educate is to empower.
When people know the underlying causes of their health issues, they are able to prevent such issues from permeating into chronic health problems.
Education has been shown not only to reduce poverty, but also to increase the understanding of personal health. Humans are most apt to learn when they are young; countless institutions support that early education solidifies a foundation for future learning. Thus, SPF’s mission is to teach health issues to youth in engaging and interactive ways.
Understanding the Root Causes
Sierra Project Foundation began producing comics after speaking with doctors and local residents of Ecuador. One of the best ways to tackle the health issues is through youth education.
Kasha Akrami
“I went to Ecuador by myself for a service trip in 2013 for ten days, providing medical attention across various villages in the Sierra region.
When I stayed in a village called Rosa, the vast majority of children who arrived came with mothers in their late teens and early 20's with no knowledge of sexual health or proper care for their children.
Initially, I was determined to help by sending medicine and vitamins on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, the concept in practice was ineffective. Beyond what we could find at the store, we could not send prescription medicines or heavy medical equipment. Oftentimes, our packages were lost or emptied. And of the packages that did arrive, there was a recurring trend: the same people were getting sick, and their problems were not getting any better. Unless people knew why they were getting sick, the problems would just continue.
In 2015, we decided to create graphic novels on varying health issues. Sending comic books down to Ecuador did not face the same obstacles as shipping medicine.” - Founder and former President of SPF