PROJECT SIERRA UPDATE Project SIerra update


A letter of thanks from Hope and Homes for Children


Dear Hanne, Soroptimist Federation Presidents and members, This year January-June we have received £156,192 from Soroptimist International towards Project SIerra. This brings the total raised so far to just over £592,000. Please do thank, on our behalf, the many Soroptimists who have raised this wonderful amount through so many ventures and so much hard work.


Lois, one of the troubled young women brought into the Young Mothers programme in Makeni, now has the ambition to become a UN Policewoman.


PROJECT SIERRA CASE STUDY: Lois: Young Mothers Project Lois lives in Makeni with her


four year old daughter. As a small girl she was orphaned when both of her parents died in the war. She was taken in by her aunt. At first, things went smoothly and Lois was happy living with her aunt and her aunt’s children. Unfortunately, when another of her cousins returned home, family life deteriorated and the girls continually quarrelled. The situation with her cousin and her aunt reached breaking point and she was asked to leave – at the time she was just 15 years old. Lois moved to Makeni to live with friends but with no income she turned to prostitution in order to survive. Within a few months, she became pregnant. Despite not knowing who the father was and with the disapproval of her friends, Lois decided to have the baby. During this time she managed


to obtain food and other necessities by working for neighbours and other friends. After her daughter’s birth, life became very difficult, so much so that Lois considered abandoning her daughter. It was at this point that, having heard of her plight, HANCi-SL/ HHC staff contacted her and


offered support and she was accepted onto the Young Mothers Programme in Makeni. As a member of the project, Lois


was able to have access to education; and a Counsellor and Social Worker were assigned to her. Lois did well and received good exam results. After her graduation she applied for the Sierra Leone Police Force and was accepted. She was posted to the Makeni Police Force, where she now lives independently with her daughter in their rented home. Grateful for all the help she has


received from HANCi-SL, Lois acknowledges how important the guidance and support has been to her. In return she is able to help other young mothers with babies by returning to talk with them in the Makeni Centre. She also takes part in radio programmes set up to raise issues concerning children’s rights. Simultaneously, Lois is also continuing to study. Her biggest dream is to become a Sierra Leone Policewoman in the UN Peacekeeping Mission for Officers. Such is her determination and


the encouragement she has received, she is very likely to achieve her goal.


Dear Hanne, Soroptimist Federation Presidents and members, There have been two study tours this year and I have been fortunate to


join representatives from SI federations on both of these. It is always both fascinating and challenging to see the project through the eyes of experienced and committed people from different backgrounds. Thought-provoking questions and warm affirmations of what the project is achieving were the order of the day during the study trips – and when mixed with a ready dose of humour, as they


Dear Hanne, Soroptimist Federation Presidents and members, an exuberant welcome but even more special than that was the opportunity


This year January-June we have received £156,192 from Soroptimist International towards brings the total raised so far to just over £592,000. Please do thank, on our behalf, the man have raised this wonderful amount through so many ventures and so much hard work.


There have been two study tou s this yea and I have been fortunate to jo n representatives both of these. It is always both fascinating and challenging to see the project through the ey committed people from different backgrounds. Thought-provoking questions and warm affirm project is achieving were the order of the day during the study trips – and when mixed with a always were, made them memorable experiences for everyone involved.


As we travelled from site to site during the study trips we were received with an exuberant w special than that was the opportunity to listen to the individual stories of young women and c to listen to the individual stories of young women and children who have been


humour, as they always were, made them memorable experie ces for everyone involved. As we travelled from site to site during the study trips we were received with


helped by Project SIerra. Despite the fact that they have often experienced exploitation and neglect on a scale we could hardly imagine these young women and children do not see themselves as helpless victims. Through Project ScIerra they have the hope, the skills and the support to build a better future


Soroptimist International can justly be proud of.


One aspect of the project that many people on both study trips commented on was the strong relationship between HANCi-SL, our partner in Sierra Leone, and the communities in which they are working. This strong bond of trust and understanding has enabled HANCi-SL to not only change the lives of individual is a huge ac ev men


of responsibility which local communities demonstrate towards these most vulnerable members of their communities. It is humbling to realise that through Project SIerra we are not only improving the lives of individuals but also making a lasting impact on the communities who will take care of them and many more like them, in the future.


Yours sincerely


I would like to encourage you to keep up these fantastic efforts for so many young women and children who have no-one else to assist them in the present


commitment and compassion which you have shown to these many forgotten helping to bring about in this often-forgotten corner of the world.


women and children, and assure you of the transformation you are helping to bring about in this often-forgotten corner of the world.


Joe Glackin Africa Regional Manager


Yours sincerely


helped by Project SIerra. Despite the fact that they have often experienced exploitation and could hardly imagine these young women and children do not see themselves as helpless v


There have been two study tours this year and I have been fortunate to join representatives both of these. It is always both fascinating and challenging to see the project through the ey ommitted people from different backgrounds. Thought-provoking questions and warm affir fo themselves and their families. This is a huge achievement and one which


project is achieving were the order of the day during the study trips – and when mixed with humour, as they always were, made them memorable experiences for everyone involved.


SIerra they have the hope, the skills and the support to build a better future for themselves a is a huge achievement and one which Soroptimist International can justly be proud of.


This year January-June we have received £156,192 from Soroptimist International towards brings the total raised so far to just over £592,000. Please do thank, on our behalf, the man have raised this wonderful amount through so many ventures and so much hard work.


One aspect of the project that many people on both study trips commented on was the stron HANCi-SL, our partner in Sierra Leone, and the communities in which they are working. Thi and understanding has enabled HANCi-SL to not only change the lives of individual women change the attitude, behaviour and sense of responsibility which local communities demons most vulnerable members of their communities. It is humbling to realise that through Projec improving the lives of individuals but also making a lasting impact on the communities who w and many more like them, in the future.


As we travelled from site to site during the study trips we were received with an exuberant w special than that was the opportunity to listen to the individual stories of young women and


SIerra they have the hope, the skills and the support to build a better future for themselves women and children but also to change the attitude, behaviour and sense


nd one which Sorop imist International can justly be proud of.


I would like to encourage you to keep up these fantastic efforts for so many young women a no-one else to assist them in the present and give them hope for the future. In their name, a want me to say this, I want to thank Soroptimist International for all the work, commitment a you have shown to these many forgotten women and children, and assure you of the transfo helping to bring about in this often-forgotten corner of the world.


helped by Project SIerra. Despite the fact that they have often experienced exploitation and could hardly imagine these young women and children do not see themselves as helpless v


One aspect of the project that many people on both study trips commented on was the stro HANCi-SL, our partner in Sierra Leone, and the communities in which they are working. Th and understanding has enabled HANCi-SL to not only change the lives of individual women change the attitude, behaviour and sense of responsibility which local communities demons most vulnerable members of their communities. It is humbling to realise that through Projec improving the lives of individuals but also making a lasting impact on the communities who and many more like them, in the future.


I would like to encourage you to keep up these fantastic efforts for so many young women a anno-d give them hope for the future. In their name, and I know they would


want me to say this, I want to thank S roptmist International for all the work, commitment a you have shown to these many forgotten women and children, and assure you of the transf


one else to assist them in the present and give them hope for the future. In their name, a want me to say this, I want to thank Soroptimist International for all the work,


Joe Glackin Africa Regional Manager


Soroptimist News SEPTEMBER 2010 9


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