SECURITY OF EBOLA CHILDREN AND FAMILY IS PARAMOUNT

Caritas Bo were among beneficiaries of UNICEF funded project worth over One hundred thousand Euros .The project focuses on protection ,care and support of Ebola affected children and their families in the district of Moyamba, Sothern part of Sierra Leone. The project will target Ebola victims in seven chiefdom of Moyamba, Kori, Kowa. Kanjai, Dasse, Lower Banta, Upper Banta and Baguma.

In an exclusive interview with the press shortly after the signing of official contract with UNICEF , Director of Caritas Bo ,David Yambasu described the projects as key in supporting children affected by Ebola and families, stressing that the security of Ebola affected children and family is crucial to the fight against Ebola epidemic that continue to plague Sierra Leone.. He said the project key activities include but not limited to family tracing and reunification, building resilience of boys and girls as part of their recovery process, psychosocial support, protection and care for Ebola Affected Children, Training of community actors to monitor the implementation of the project key objective of protecting Ebola children and families.

The project which has begun will last for a period of five months, starting March, 2015 and ends in July, 2015.

Reverend Fathers and sympathizers posed after the wake for Late Desmond Garvey (Mr. Bo)

Children at St. Mary’s Children’s Home in Bo ,  on Thursday ,15th January,2015 ,held a special memorial mass at their conference room in Bo, for late  Canadian national Desmond Garvey commonly known as Mr. Bo , who died a year ago. . He died after a fatal accident, hitting his head on a snow, and did not recover from the shock. The mass attracted senior catholic priests, church members, former Deputy Mayor of Bo City and stakeholders in Bo who were very touch about the death of Des Garvey. The memorial mass was twined up with the 15th anniversary of the Home.

The late Des Garvey was a philanthropist and was deeply in love with Bo City after the end of the eleven year civil conflict, he worked positively to give a better life to destitute war affected children at St.Mary’s Home and further established a link between Bo City Council and Nepean Council in Canada, his home town, an effort that contributed positively to infrastructural development in Bo. The Late Man was also interested in the social life of the people particularly the youths, as a sport lover he was also instrumental and a brain behind the formation of a football club in Bo, Nepean Stars, a club that made remarkably progress in the national premier league and place Bo on the soccer map.

During the special mass, whilst making the opening prayer, Caritas Freetown Executive Director,  Rev Father Konteh described the late Des Garvey as a close friend to the St, Mary’s Home, a man that was passionate about serving humanity irrespective of race or color.  He said the Late Des Gravey supported financial and physically to the construction of the St.Mary’s Home I order to provide a permanent shelter for orphans and needy children n post war Sierra Leone. He explained that Des was very concern about development in Bo, adding that the late man supported the construction of two markets in Bo, Bongo market being one of the two markets constructed.  He made mentioned of the role of Late Des Garvey in twinning up Bo City with the Nepean Council, a relationship that ushered a new down .He said, the late was about to replicate his good work with the late Mayor of Bo, Toma Alias to the current Mayor after couple of discussion but death shattered his dream for a new Bo. He further commented on the role of the late man in repatriating six indigenes of Bo to Canada for a better life, noting that the six Sierra Leoneans are now proud citizens of Canada.

The Reverend Father Konteh was proud of the vocation of Late Des Garvey in serving mankind and giving hope to disadvantage children in a post war country. He lamented on his death as a big lost for Sierra Leone, Bo in particular.

Special prayers were offered by the children, distinguish mourners and priests present for the Late Des Garvey who many considered as humanist and good will ambassador for Bo City.

Presentation of food items and hygiene materials to the Home by HilFedirekt Director St.Mary’s Children’s Home were recipients of some quantity of food and non food items as an emergency response to children’s need amind Ebola outbreak in the country. The support was provided by RTL Germany through a local nongovernmental organization, Hilfedirekt operating in Bo, Sierra Leone. Hilfedirekt-SL is working on joint project with Welthungerhilfe supplying quarantined homes as a response to Ebola crisis.

Making the donation, Country Director, HILFEDIREKT-SL, Dr. Musa Syed Bainda says the gesture was part of special consideration for needy children based at the St.Mary’s home in Bo whilst he pinpointed that the food items donation was part of their response to reducing hunger in quarantine communities.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the Home, the Executive Director Caritas Freetown  Reverend Father Konteh thanked the donor for kindest thought for destitute children, noting that the donation was a reflection of their good thought for humanity in the world.

Father Konteh, hailed HILFEDIREKT for putting the St. Mary’s Home in the list of donation adding that the food and non food items donated was timely and a felt need for the children.

In a separate development, the proprietor of Tony Blair International Academy in Bo, Tony Blair has awarded a scholarship to Mohamed Turay, an orphan residing at the St.Mary’s Home, Bo. The scholarship covers tuition fees for the entire secondary education and uniforms, Mohamed Turay, a JSS 2 pupil, was recommended by the manager for his as the most outstanding performance in school.

The economy of Sierra Leone depends largely on its rural farmers. The country has 5.4 million hectares of arable land, of which, less than 15% is cultivated per annum. Similarly, over 80% of irrigable areas and wetlands remain uncultivated. Nonetheless, agriculture is responsible for almost half of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), nearly two-thirds of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood.  However, the low agricultural productivity has restricted access to seeds, tools, land, and markets.  The absence of alternative rural income generating activities and credit facilities has trapped many communities in a perpetual cycle of poverty. Agricultural productivity and quality in rural areas is hampered by a reliance on intense Sweden farming, or slash and burn.

In response to these gaps, the Director of Caritas Bo says Caritas Bo engaged five communities in Kowa chiefdom to implement an agricultural project entitled:“Empowering five rural communities in mechanised food production for self reliance and sustainability.” The General Objective was to empower rural people in the Southern province of Sierra Leone to exercise their rights to sustained food security. Its specific objectives were; to encourage rice production in Moyamba district. 200 farming acres was identified at Njabahun Village which was cultivated in two years leading to a yield of 868 bushels of rice. Caritas Bo contracted a Construction firm for the construction of a store measuring 41’- 6’ x 21’-0’ and drying floor measuring 35’- 0’ x 20’- 0’ to help in the reduction of post harvest loss. This three year project was supported by Manos Unidas which was implemented in partnership with Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forestry Security.

Children were the hardest hit, the pic.. Include ebola orphans
The outbreak of the Ebola virus has left severe shock and distressed killing over two thousand people with over thousand orphans, widows and widowers. The care and security of Ebola survivors is equally crucial to the eradication of Ebola in Sierra Leone. It is in this vein that UNICEF has provided support to Caritas Bo with a grant of $125,000 to support children and their families in the recovery process in Moyamba District, South Sierra Leone.

As part of the reintegration and recovery process, children will be provided psychosocial support. Family Tracing and reunification will be conducted in 7 chiefdoms: Kori, Kowa, Kamajei, Dasse, Lower and Upper Banta, Bagruwa and chiefdoms. These actions will be carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs with Plan Sierra Leone as Counterparts.

“Children will be placed in foster care where reunifications with their biological relations do not work out. School materials will e provided for very vulnerable children. Community based protection structures including Child welfare committees and Child Action groups will be supported” says Caritas Director, David Yambasu.  A six months follow up plan will be drawn and implemented.

He added that Caritas Bo, also runs a Children’s Home which is located in the Saint Theresa’s Parish in Bo. The Saint Mary’s Children’s Home has been inexistence since 1989. The home caters for orphans and very vulnerable children providing a safe, loving and caring home with both mother and father figures in residence.  It has a capacity to house 30 children in accordance with the minimum standards set by the ministry of social welfare gender and children’s Affairs in the National alternative care policy. The Home provide a safe and caring environment for 38 child ebola survivors when  no other home in Bo District was willing to receive these survivors even though MSF declared them safe, well and non contagious.

The children’s home is funded from donations from friends and charities among which is the Saint Mary’s Children’s Home charity in Australian, The Healey Foundation, Individual family members, parishioners and The Catholic Bishop of Bo.

Meanwhile, all those who feel touch and wish to donate can do so now by contacting Caritas Bo : Why not donate and be part of this soul saving initiative of the catholic Diocese of Bo?

The natural disaster of Ebola has affected 2,054 children (966 Boys & 1088 girls) in Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba and Pujehun Districts. 751 have been orphaned (336 boys, 415 girls). Caritas Bo with Support from Catholic Relief Services, actively engaged in social mobilization, awareness raising aimed at behaviour change and increase of knowledge on the prevention of Ebola virus and setting up of hand washing stations in all 15 chiefdoms in Bo District

The Director of Caritas Bo, David Yambasu, says the fight against Ebola require intensive social mobilization, raising awareness on Ebola control and prevention. He was positive that with the drop down in new Ebola infection rate the country, Sierra Leone will soon surmount Ebola virus.

He maintained that Caritas Bo will support government efforts in the fight against Ebola, noting that the post Ebola face will be critical in the overall elimination of Ebola Virus.

He said commended the Catholic Relief Service for continued support and collaboration in driving this menace from the Country.