Latest news from Sierra Leone
16th November 2014
It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death on Sunday morning of our dear friend Eddie.
Dominic 'Eddie' Koroma has given our children ten years of dedicated and loving service as the house father at the St George Centre. He has been ill for many weeks but due to the ebola crisis he was unable to go to hospital in his own time of need as they are closed to new patients.
May God bless his soul and give him a much deserved place in heaven.
14th November 2014
In partnership with UNICEF, we donated food and non food items to children who have been orphaned by the deadly Ebola Virus in the Western Rural District Headquarter Town of Waterloo.
These items were distributed to 175 children who have lost their parents through Ebola and are in desperate need of support. For the full write up by African Young Voices please click here.
6th November 2014
Richard and Carolynne met with founder of Street Child, Tom Dannatt and Kelfa, their local director, to discuss the Ebola crisis and to share news on how best we can deal with the situation going forward.
In addition, we discussed our Business Scheme, a scheme setup to support families Sierra Leone in the long term.
November 2014
At the beginning of November, St George received our first intake those children affected by the Ebola crisis. These children have come to us via UNICEF, have suffered with the disease themselves and come with a medical certificate that they have had Ebola and recovered.
Sadly however, they have lost parents and their families and neighbours are too afraid to take them in themselves. These children are physically very weak and all have experienced the loss and trauma that Ebola causes.
September 2014
During the recent 3-day shut down in Sierra Leone, the St George joined with other Non-Governmental Organisations to provide food to children remaining on the street during this period.
The government have closed all schools in Sierra Leone until this crisis has passed. St George have hired teachers to continue with the basics for the children in our centre during this period.
Once in St George they are given the help and support they need to recover, whilst our social workers will work with other family members or neighbours to ensure that the children can be welcomed back into society. It is expected that this process will take about 4-6 weeks.
March 2014
Here is a brief report from Eddie, Grafton Centre Manager:
"Am happy to let you know that all the kids are happy and going to school. They have their school sport and all of them are taken in the sport. I just want to thank you all for being there for them, only God will reward you people. Love from all the kids, Eddie"
September 2013
Trustee, Richard Green-Wilkinson, son Ed, and son-in-law, Iain completed their Cycle Challenge, from Le Havre to Marseille in 9.5 days, finishing on Monday 16th September! Facing head winds, rain, sun, beautiful scenery, several punctures and a fall, they battled on and completed the challenge, arriving weary and sore, but delighted to have finished! Read more...
You can still sponsor them. Money raised will enable the Centre to rescue more children and start them on the St George programme, and also to support those already benefiting.
May 2013
Soon after setting up the charity, we made a commitment to ensuring that the children who were reunited with their families would continue, and complete, their education. There is no state funded education so we were aware the financial responsibility would fall to us. As we have taken more children off the streets, our outgoings have increased considerably to fulfil this pledge, so we made the decision this year not to take on so many new children.
We are very grateful for the ongoing support we receive and always delighted to receive new or increased support which will enable the team in Sierra Leone to educate and rescue more children.
October 2012
Sierra Leone Scout Association renege on the terms of our MOU with them.
This dispute has been rumbling on for a couple of years now; we have spent $60,000 refurbishing the Grafton Camp site, but the Scouts who own the land are now trying to claim these beautiful buildings back years earlier than they had agreed. The Scouts have served us notice to quit the site with no regard for the children.
St George Foundation is claiming the refurbishment costs back from the Scouts. (Have a look at the before and after photos of the work carried out).
September 2012
The US Embassy has opened a discussion with St George Foundation in Sierra Leone, to support the building of a new residential centre that will be required when our present agreement with the scouts ends. We already own land for a new building but have not yet raised the funds for the building itself.
August 2012
Philip Dean (co founder of St George Foundation) and his wife Joanna celebrated their first anniversary with the birth of a healthy daughter Florence Hannah on the 13th August.
July – August 2012
The rainy season in Sierra Leone has seen the heaviest rains we can remember. Sierra Leone has seen a number of cholera outbreaks and St George has spent some considerable effort deep cleaning the children’s home at Grafton, which has thankfully not suffered from cholera. However, other illnesses, including malaria and flu have sadly led to seven amongst the greater ‘St George’ family of staff and children losing family members (including two staff members losing children).
The heavy rains have also damaged the rice crop and we cannot expect a bumper crop this season.
March – June 2012
Two volunteers head off to Sierra Leone to further a project to support the building of a secure home for children that have come into conflict with the law and also to advance a project to support young victims of physical and sexual abuse in the Makeni region. The secure home proposal has now reached ministerial level and has been very well received. Although not part of the St George Foundation programme, we have provided some support.
February 2012
The rice harvest is successfully sold to the World food Programme. Again this project has provided healthy profits which have been used to support the payment of local school fees for the Centre children.
