Kidsave Sierra Leone: Reuniting Orphan with Family

While the most serious period of the Ebola Virus outbreak appears to have been contained, the devastating long-term social and economic effects are just beginning to surface. 

To support the Ebola-recovery phase, Kidsave- Sierra Leone is excited to announce an expansion of our program through a new partnership with The Federation for Integrated Development/Sierra Leone (FID).  FID, a local organization founded by Sierra Leoneans with a ten year track record, aims to improve the lives and, “enhance opportunities for Men, Women, Youths and the Elderly living in socio-cultural and economic disadvantage live a better future.”

After identifying an interim care center with a large population of Ebola orphans with no opportunity for reunification with their biological families, FID program coordinator Ibrahim Kawa reached out to Kidsave for assistance. Having heard of Kidsave’s work on behalf of Ebola orphans, he felt that together we could have a profoundly positive impact on the identified children’s lives. We believe combining Kidsave’s innovative Family Visit Model with FID’s expert business training and local know-how will prove a powerful force to help the identified Ebola orphans find permanent families within their communities.

The economic strengthening component of our forthcoming project will offer a leg up to struggling families that open their hearts and homes to these orphans. This component is crucial to help rebuild not only the lives of these orphans, but also their entire community.  As Ibrahim says, “We have found that when we take a ‘two generation approach’, simultaneously addressing the challenges care-giver/parents themselves face and encouraging more interaction between them and the orphan children, we are more successful in improving situations for orphans under learning conditions other than in orphanages where they have very little time for culture and tradition.”

While still in the early design phase, Kidsave has high hopes for the success of our newest project and partnership. As Sierra Leone moves forward from Ebola containment toward recovery, we know that a great deal of work still needs to be done to find permanent loving families for the orphans devastated by this terrible virus. Thank you from all of us at Kidsave, your donations have helped, and continue to help us in our crucial mission to find permanent, loving families for Sierra Leone’s orphans.

We are also excited to let you know that our Sierra Leone project will be a part of GlobalGIving's March 16th bonus day! All donations made to Kidsave projects through GlobalGiving on March 16th will receive pro-rated bonus funds from a $75,000 pool. This means that for every dollar you donate to our life changing programs in Sierra Leone from 9 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. (eastern standard time) an additional donation will be made in your honor by GlobalGiving. As we forge ahead with our programs to help some of the most vulnerable children in the world secure families, mentors, and bright futures we thank you for all you do to make our vital work possible.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or ideas that you might have - kristoffk@kidsave.org

Thank you again,

Kristoff Kohlhagen (Kidsave Africa Programs Manager)    

Links:

• Kidsave Sierra Leone website