By Kidsave Staff | Development Team
Over the last three months, Kidsave and its CommunityPartners, Integrated Development Initiatives of Sierra Leone (IDI-SL), have reunited 58 children, orphaned by Ebola or other natural causes, with their biological or extended families across Sierra Leone and Liberia.
One of many reunification stores that captured the hearts of their community was of Massah and Abu, siblings who had lived in an orphanage for more than a decade after being orphaned at ages 5 and 6. With the help of villagers and community members, their aunt, Salatu, lived several miles away in a village in Liberia. The reunification took 18 days, culminating in a heartfelt ceremony in Teinni, where the children were officially reunited with their aunt.
Massah shared her emotions after finally reuniting: “We feel relieved and comfortable to join our aunt after spending several years in the orphanage without the warmth of a family. It was like being sentenced to life imprisonment. I can’t describe the relief of finding someone who remembers us.” Her words echoed the silent hopes of so many other children awaiting reunification, and the entire community shared their joy as they watched these children finally return to the arms of their aunt.
In addition to reuniting children, nearly 440 community members, including foster families, social workers, and local stakeholders, received vital training in child rights, gender sensitivity, and family care. 60 women were also trained in agriculture and small business development, equipping them with tools and skills that would not only improve their livelihoods but also ensure that they could provide for the children in their care. One particularly impactful initiative involved distributing groundnut seeds to women in the community. The women can harvest the groundnuts and return seeds to the project on a loan basis, setting a precedent for sustainable farming practices in their villages. Many of these women, after completing a six-month loan cycle, have already received additional financial support to expand their businesses.
The journey has not been without challenges. Natural disasters, such as flooding and storms, damaged the homes and crops of some families, particularly in Kenema and Pujehun. Traditional cultural norms, including restrictions on women’s land use, further complicated the situation. Despite these setbacks, Kidsave and our community partners rose to the occasion, securing the support of local authorities and employing visual learning techniques to overcome barriers like low literacy rates. These efforts ensured that no child was left vulnerable and that families could continue to rebuild despite the hardships they faced.
This incredible work is about more than just reuniting families, it’s about rebuilding lives. It’s about creating stronger, more resilient communities where children are surrounded by love, protection, and opportunities for a brighter future. Through the commitment of Kidsaveand its community partners, the reunification of these children with their families is only the beginning of a journey that will continue to uplift entire communities for years to come.
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