Sierra Leone: Construction
Polio Women and Girls Development Association
Polio is a virus that causes awful disability by weakening arms and legs and robbing a person's ability to walk. Preventable by vaccination, it is all but wiped out from Western civilization. It had been eradicated from Sierra Leone. During the brutal civil war of the 1990's, the breakdown of the country's medical system allowed the crippling illness to spread among the vulnerable left in the wake. Many are turned out of their homes and jobs.
Four courageous ladies, themselves victims of the disease, formed an association of fifty Polio women and their children for mutual support. The association runs simple projects to earn money for basic necessities of life. They dye cloth, make clothes, cut hair and are now setting up a telephone call center. Despite their hard work, living accommodations are appalling, sleeping up to nine per 10X10 bedroom. Some have no place to sleep. They receive no government help and no support of any kind, but do their best to help themselves. Their motto is "disability is not inability!"
Sharing Ministries builds living quarters, which include bedrooms, plus a living and cooking area. We build modular blocks of three bedrooms at a time. In "Phase One" other teams built six bedrooms, with toilets and showers under way. "Phase Two" calls for nine more bedrooms. Every dollar given goes 100% to the project. The cost, with local labor and team volunteers is $6,000 per bedroom. We encourage all team members to raise money for the project through church fund-raisers. The more you raise, the more we will be able to do when we arrive. Please help these women and girls. GIVE NOW Thank you for helping us help them.
King George VI Coronation Home
Stories: Arms or Legs - Well of Life
King George VI Coronation home for the elderly opened in 1937, under the British administration of Sierra Leone to provide a home for the elderly. England’s late Queen Mother donated £500 annually in memory of her late husband King George VI, hence the name.
After independence the government provided little financial support for the home and the facilities became very run down. In 1988 the government handed over the home to the Sierra Leone Society for the Welfare of the Aged, a nongovernmental organization. They agreed to keep the existing paid staff, but when they leave there are no funds to replace them.
When the civil war ravaged the country, there was little external help, and nationals were fighting for their own lives and property. During the war some rebels stayed at the home. The social fabric of the country was torn apart and there was no employment or income. The home fell into further disrepair, with bullet holes in the walls and roof to add to it.
There are over 50 residents, 12 blind, 1 deaf and blind, 7 bedridden and 2 amputees. The buildings were dirty and undecorated for many years. The residents had nowhere else to go, but they were living, or waiting to die, in squalor. Recently short term teams began to help.
Mrs Koker, the home matron said "The residents and I are just so grateful that not only you came but you loved our people and gave them hope. May God bless you"
The health and welfare of the residents was significantly improved as was their dignity and moral as they watched and saw the volunteers giving freely of their time, energy and money to provide for them, talk to them, worship with them and become their friends.
There is much still to do. During heavy rains, the kitchen roof blew off and needs replacing. There is a continued challenge to fund the basics for the residents. Sharing Ministries is delighted to be a partner with King George VI Memorial Home as they continue to improve the lives of the destitute elderly people in their care.