✧ EDINA BIRTHING CENTER - LIBERIA ✧
“When we achieve something truly rare, that success becomes more than a personal milestone; it becomes an instrument for the greater good. As human beings, our highest calling is to lift one another and rise together. After our recent six-month sailing expedition from Canaries to Angola, I feel a profound responsibility to ensure our efforts bring tangible relief to those who need it most. My experiences in Liberia touched me deeply, and I am fully committed to transforming the results of our journey into a lasting, positive impact for the people there. A portion of all proceeds from my books, upcoming features, and future media engagements will be donated to the expansion of maternal care facilities in Edina, Liberia." - Elena Levon
In February 2026, we became the first documented private sailing vessel to arrive in Liberia in recent maritime history. This journey also involved a 1,000+ nautical-mile "against the grain" crossing of the Central Gulf of Guinea—navigating through an active piracy zone and through the heart of Intertropical Convergence Zone.
While this voyage established a significant maritime milestone for female sailors in West Africa, the true heart of the mission was discovered on land. In Edina village, Liberia, I was introduced to a local maternity ward by a civil war survivor Amos Margai who overcame his lifelong fear of the ocean to assist us. Seeing the conditions there, I realized that my "first" should serve a higher purpose: ensuring that every woman, regardless of geography, can give life in safety and dignity.
THE MISSION IN EDINA VILLAGE
In February 2026 I was introduced to a small local Edina Clinic by Amos Margai co-owner of locally-owned Coconut Cove Retreat and was told by Amos and local maternity ward in Edina that there is an urgent need for two additional maternity rooms. Moved by the dedication of the local midwives, I committed to supporting the construction of these rooms. My initial personal contribution was donated in April 2026 directly to support this specific initiative, as discussed at that time.
PROJECT UPDATE JULY 2026: EXPANSION TO A FULL CLINIC FACILITY
Following recent local assessments by medical staff, I was subsequently informed that the proposed project had expanded from its initial two-room scope into a comprehensive, brand-new clinic facility. The expanded blueprint is designed to include a delivery room, a pre-delivery monitoring room, and a postpartum recovery ward. Furthermore, it will feature an expectant mothers' waiting area, a nurse-midwife office, a kitchen, and independent infrastructure, including plumbing, water wells, and solar power.
A portion of all proceeds from elena-levon.com store supports maternal healthcare for women in Edina, Liberia, through the proposed Edina Birthing Center. The project is currently in the planning and coordination phase. To ensure your contributions make the highest possible impact, funds are securely set aside and will be transferred as soon as the project's scope, budget, local government approvals, and financial transparency are fully finalized.
Sailing yacht 'Rebels' Central Gulf of Guinea Route February 2026. Sailing through the Central Gulf of Guinea double-handed -- From anchorage in Liberia, rounding Cape Palmas close to shore, continuing sailing close to land in Ivory Coast, then starting a direct central crossing near Axim in Ghana, towards Sao Tome and Principe. A direct crossing with a sailboat though the central basin of the Gulf of Guinea.