Kidsave Reunites Families in Sierra Leone
By Terra Hernandez
Since 2010, Kidsave has worked tirelessly to move children out of orphanages in Sierra Leone and into loving families. Millions of children have been separated from their families in Sierra Leone due to civil conflict, the 2015 Ebola outbreak, and other ongoing internal struggles that the country faces. It is estimated that over 300,000 children are currently orphaned in the country.
Kidsave’s work in Sierra Leone focuses on reuniting children that live in orphanages with kin or vetted families who are open to adopting a child. In partnership with the Foundation for Integrated Development (FID), Kidsave has moved over 1,200 kids out of orphanages and back into their ancestral villages. Just this month, Kidsave reunited 15 kids living in orphanages with relatives in Sierra Leone.
Bernard, age 13, was separated from his family and brought to the Emmanuel Orphanage seven years ago during the Ebola outbreak. With help from Kidsave and FID, local social workers were able to track down his aunt after many years apart. His aunt was overjoyed to be reunited with Bernard and said no words can express how grateful she is to be reunited with her nephew.
Prince, another child at the Emmanuel Orphanage, lost his mother to the Ebola virus in 2015. He lived in the orphanage for almost nine years before Kidsave reunited him with his stepmother, Makanneh, this month. Makanneh was very grateful, and said her prayers were answered to bring Prince home. Prince was also very thankful for Kidsave and its team for reconnecting him with family.
Kidsave’s reunification process begins by asking children in orphanages about details they remember from their childhood: where they lived, what relatives they had, and what they remember from life before living in an orphanage. Armed with this knowledge, Kidsave and FID work with local social workers to travel to these villages and communities, often through dangerous conditions, to find any remaining family or community members that are willing to open their hearts and homes to these children.
Once the team finds and vets a placement for the children, they are reunited with their families and community in a public ceremony. Kidsave then provides free training for these adoptive families in the areas of childcare, children’s rights, and home management. These training sessions on the rights of children are open to the entire community, and it is common for the entire village to attend to learn how to properly care for these children.
You can learn more about Kidsave’s reunification program in Sierra Leone here and support this life-changing work here by choosing to direct your support to Sierra Leone on the donation page.
