Kidsave Sierra Leone: Reuniting Orphan with Family

Kidsave's mission in Sierra Leone is to deinstitutionalize orphans and reunite them with their biological or extended families. When a child is reunited with kin, entire communities are transformed. From March to June, Kidsave and our community partners reunited 58 children with extended families. 

A heartwarming story of our reunification efforts comes from Fatmata and Patrick, siblings who had lived together in an orphanage in Kenema since losing their mother to Ebola in 2015. They were reunited with Patrick’s father, Sheku, in Penguya village. Both children were overjoyed to be with their father, a retired teacher, and promised to conduct themselves well in their new home, community, and school. Their reunification is a testament to the power of hope that comes with a fresh start. 

Similarly, Albert and Mary, double orphans who lost their parents to Ebola in Njabla village, Bonthe district, were reunited with their only living aunt, Kadiatu, who had returned to their village. The children, who had not seen a living family member since 2015, were overwhelmed with joy upon being reunited with their aunt. Their story illustrates the resilience of children and the bonds of family. 

In addition to Kidsave’s reunification efforts, capacity building and training are key initiatives. Over the past few months, Kidsave has trained 44 case workers in 22 communities within Bonthe, Pujehun, Kenema, and Kailahun districts. These community volunteers were equipped with skills and knowledge on gender-based violence (GBV) case management to provide healing and hope for survivors. Training topics included an overview of GBV case management, the Women and Girls Protection Empowerment (WGPE) approach, guiding principles of survivor-centered case management, intimate partner violence (IPV), child protection case management, and self-care.  

Kidsave and our community partners also organized 10 gender clubs in 10 schools and educated 100 students and 20 teachers within the Bonthe, Pujehun, Kenema, and Kailahun districtson GBV, which has been increasing in schools. Key training topics included sex and gender, violence, human rights, and referral protocols. Establishing these clubs is a step towards creating a safer and more inclusive school environment.  

Economic empowerment has been another essential aspect of Kidsave’s work. We recognized early on that reuniting families was only part of the solution. Ensuring that these families could financially sustain themselves was crucial for lasting impact. Over 75 family members participated in workshops on basic business skills and financial literacy. 58 women received micro-loans to promote financial sustainability and boost food production. 

Furthermore, we organized training for beneficiary women’s groups in Kidsave’s reunification program and provided hand tools, groundnut seeds, cassava cuttings, and food for work support. 54 family heads in six groups received training in farm management, pest control, and compost making. These seeds were given as loans to be recovered after harvest and redistributed to other women facing hardship, fostering community support.  

Our journey is far from over, but these recent successes have driven us to continue our work. We are deeply grateful for all the endless support and to the communities that have welcomed these children with open arms. As we look ahead, we remain committed to ensuring each child in Sierra Leone grows up in a loving, supportive, and economically stable family.  

Links:

• Kidsave Sierra Leone
• Kidsave's Reunification Efforts
• Donate