Press release: Hope and Homes for Children.

14th July 2011

This week, members of
Soroptimist International have reviewed the impact of their generous
support of our work in Sierra Leone over the past four years.
Soroptimists have travelled from all over the world to attend their 19th
International Conference in Montreal, Canada.

We and our local partner HANCi-SL have
worked in partnership with Soroptimist International for the past four
years under the banner of ‘Project SIerra’ to help disadvantaged women
and children in Sierra Leone face their futures with confidence.
Together we have helped transform the lives of thousands of women and
young children in one of the poorest countries in the world, targeting
the most vulnerable. These include families living in extreme poverty at
risk of breaking down, children living on the streets without any
parental care, and single, teenage mothers estranged by their families
and local communities.

In Bo, Freetown and Makeni, we reunited
young mothers with their families and empowered them to become
independent members of their communities. While their babies were cared
for in day nurseries, the young mothers were able to receive an
education or vocational training, creating a firm foundation for their
future. Children growing up on the streets of Freetown were given food
and clothing, as well as healthcare, education and vocational training.
Mediation with families and communities enabled them to return home to a
safe, loving family environment in supportive communities, giving them
hope for a brighter future.

In Bo, Kamakwie,
Makeni, Mattru and Tambakha we identified the most vulnerable children
and families so they could receive individually tailored support, which
addressed their specific needs.

As a result of our four years partnership,
working closely with families in Sierra Leone, we have now developed a
programme which can be carried forward by the communities themselves, in
partnership with local government. The community hubs we have developed
provide a safe and welcoming space where the most vulnerable can go for
protection and support. As a result of this, thousands more women and
children can benefit from the services we have developed.

We are extremely proud of what we have
been able to achieve with the support of Soroptimist International and
would like to thank them for their incredible commitment to Project
SIerra.