Child sponsorship update from Bo, Sierra Leone

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Bo, Sierra Leone from Summer 2008.

It is usual to send you reports during summer, therefore it is with great pleasure that I write to inform you about important activities undertaken; developments and achievements of the SOS Children’s Village, Bo, Sierra Leone, your sponsored facility.

The SOS Children’s Village Bo admission committee in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs completed investigation of a child who was finally admitted into the children’s village early this year, bringing the capacity of the village to 130 as at January, 2008.
During the period under review, the political and social situation in the country had no major impact on our work. However, as a result of the high prices of fuel and basic food commodities like rice caused a lot of financial challenges countrywide.

The staff and children of the SOS Children’s Village and the SOS International School in Bo joined the community in a project on the maintenance of the road plied by SOS vehicles in the form of self-help. This was done to let the community know and enjoy the services rendered by SOS and for the safety of our children, mothers and staff.

A general meeting was held in early January to disseminate what was learnt from the 1st Quarterly Workshop held in Freetown. The reason for this was to share information so that proper implementation of our SOS policies will be carried out. Other meetings and counseling were also organised.
2 representatives from SOS Children’s Village; the Village Director and the Resident Nurse on 2nd February 2008 attended a workshop on Sexual Abuse of children held by MFS, Belgium in Bo.

Growing up at Bo, Sierra Leone

Monthly activities were carried out in the Children’s Village on Malaria and HIV/AIDS inviting target groups like children 12 and above, youths, community groups, biological parents, mothers and aunties and prominent NGO’s. This was to create and strengthen working partnership and to educate the people on these killer diseases. Apart from the above; workshops and health counseling on prevention and contract of diseases were carried out as per need. Two resource persons from the community were called upon to teach the children and youths on the dangers of these killer diseases and how to take care of themselves in terms of hygiene.

An In-service course for Nursery School staff, on out door games was carried out at the Nursery School school. This is to help educators work on the children’s physical health. The sports meeting of the Nursery pre-school was held on the 14th March 2008 as the proverb says all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. This is an annual school activity meant to test the physical and psych of the children.

Easter celebration: As a tradition, Easter outing was also organised on the 24th March 2008. The children were divided into two groups, with their mothers. The First group headed by the Village Director went to an outing organised by the counsel of churches at the Saint Andrew’s Secondary School compound. The second group head by the mother speaker attended an outing organised by the New Apostolic Church at Gondama Sewa Beach. During this activity the children interacted with the community children and made new friends.

On 11th May, Mother’s Day was celebrated in SOS Children’s Village in Bo. The air at the SOS Children’s Village Bo was filled with blasting music. It was an exciting moment particularly for the SOS mothers.

Events at Bo, Sierra Leone

As usual, the mothers planned a special Mass at the St Patrick’s church in partnership with some women in the community close to the SOS Children’s Village. Later in the day, the mothers, children and women from the neighbour hood converged at the ‘Palaver Hut’ smartly dressed in their colourful dresses. After all the statements, it was the turn of the children to present their gifts to their mothers. A child representing each family house approached his or her mother with a gift with an appreciative statement. “Mother thank you for taking caring of me,” was what came from the children with a smile. The mothers hugged and kissed their children. It was all fun.

According to the Mother Speaker of SOS Children’s Village Bo, as she puts it, Mothers Day is important in her life because it is the time all responsible mothers must be recognised for the sacrifices they make for the development of their children. “We as mothers provide love and protection to our children until they leave our homes. We bear the pains and troubles” she affirms. “I feel proud when our children bring us gifts on Mothers Day. It shows that they appreciate our effort in caring for them,” A mother who has worked for SOS Children’s Village Bo for 25 years stated.

A girl, 12 years old sees Mothers Days as a time to honour all responsible women who work so hard to make sure that their children succeed in life. The event was climaxed with dancing among the mothers and their children.

A famous festival among the Mende speaking people an annual festival done by farmers who want to display their bumper harvest known as Cocoa Show was held in Bo and all the children were encouraged to attend . It usually takes place in November of every year and it last for two days. It is highlighted by masquerade dances. This helps the children to get better knowledge about their culture and origin and it also helps them to socialise within the community.

We are now in the rainy season and all the leaves and flowers are green again. The children will soon start their summer vacation; the older ones will go for holiday jobs whilst the much younger ones will enjoy programmes organized for them by the authorities during that period.

We want this opportunity to thank you once more for all your support, financially, morally and otherwise, without which all the above would not been possible in this facility and we hope to have you in our SOS family for a very long time.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs. Fatmata M. Taylor
Sponsorship Coordinator
SOS ChildrenSierra Leone