$250. Here in the US, $250 won’t get you very far. It will get you a few tanks of gas, sure. A dinner at a fancy restaurant. A single pair of nice shoes, perhaps. In the US, $250 isn’t life-changing money, but for an orphan in Sierra Leone, it is.
When a child is reunited with kin or placed with an adoptive family in Sierra Leone, Kidsave provides a “reunification kit.” The kit includes a mattress, 50 kgs of rice, bedding, assorted toiletries, school supplies, and shoes. Total cost? Only $250.
For many adults in Sierra Leone, reunification kits make the difference in whether or not they can open their home to an orphaned child—even if they are a relative. As our social workers conduct case mining, they identify extended family members, often aunts and uncles, of children whose parents have passed, usually from civil conflict, Ebola, or COVID-19. The children’s relatives want to raise them, but economic crisis in Sierra Leone has worsened since a recent attempted coup. Taking on another mouth to feed is enough to put a strain on any family.
Kidsave reunification kits provide basic needs. Depending on the number of people in the family, 50 kgs of rice can last for weeks. Writing supplies and study lamps ensure the child can immediately start school—something still often seen as a luxury in West Africa. And the bedding and toiletries ensure the family has everything they need to properly care for the child.
Ibrahim Kawa, Executive Director of Integrated Development Initiatives (IDI) Sierra Leone said, “Living conditions after the failed coup have been very hard, and the price of commodities soaring, making life difficult for low-income earners.”
Kawa is the driving force behind IDI, Kidsave’s partner in Sierra Leone since 2015. He has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of the Ebola virus on the nation’s children.
“This work means a lot to me as it gives me much pleasure whenever a child is moved into a family where he or she will live forever,” said Kawa. “The smiles I see, and the broad laughter show a sign of love and joy to the kids we move into families. It means giving the kids hope, love, and protection as they commune with their forever families.”
In 2023, Kidsave and IDI placed 146 kids in families. Our goal for 2024 is to place 200 more kids and to provide training on child welfare and protection to 800 community members and families. Kidsave has also reinstated our microloan program which provides women with financial support for small businesses, including farms.
Learn more about Kidsave’s reunification program in Sierra Leone and support this life-changing work by choosing to direct your support to Sierra Leone on the donation page.
Kidsave’s 25th Anniversary
Join us as we celebrate our 25th anniversary at the Kidsave Miracles Gala! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now. Are you a Kidsave family who wants to share your story? Learn how here.
