Maury Mendenhall Confronts the Collapse of Global Aid for Kids!

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe sits down with Maury Mendenhall to discuss what happened when USAID - the United States Agency for International Development - was suddenly dismantled, how that decision rippled into the daily lives of children around the world, and what it means for families who lost life-saving support overnight. Mendenhall is a longtime humanitarian and former USAID leader who spent nearly two decades helping communities access food, safety, and critical HIV care. Together, Abebe and Mendenhall explore the human cost of abrupt policy change, the resilience of local partners who continue the work against all odds, and why protecting global child welfare remains urgent and essential. To learn more about Maury Mendenhall and her work, you can keep up with her emergency campaign A Crisis in Care. Want to keep digging into the real-life impact policy decisions have on children? Here’s some of what First Focus on Children has published recently: Remembering, Reflecting, and Acting: Supporting Children Affected by HIV/AIDS What the “America First Global Strategy” Means for the World’s Children Social Security Advisory Board Recommends Improved Access and Increased Awareness of Survivor Benefits for Children To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.  Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected] Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here.  To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.