By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
Caritas Sierra Leone (Caritas-SL) in collaboration with Caritas Germany has on Tuesday 11th January 2022 implemented and concluded a nine months projects geared towards improving lives of the targeted beneficiaries and has awarded certificates to fifty Ebola Survivors within the Western Area of Freetown.
The ceremony was held at the Twin’s Hall in Hastings, Freetown.
In her opening statement, the Public Relations Officer of Caritas-SL KumbaGando said that the project is titled: “Enhancing Resilience of Ebola Orphans, Ebola Survivors and their Families through livelihood, quality healthcare and psychosocial services in the western area, adding that the project which came to an end in December 2021 provided free health care treatment through their Mobile Clinic to Ebola victims as well as providing Psychosocial support through counseling to families of victims and supported them to establish small scale businesses.
The Programs Manager of Caritas-SL, Ismail Alfred Charles said that as an organization they are not fighting to be seen but to change the lives of people and to upgrade their living standards in order for them to live in dignity in their communities. He disclosed that it is the reason why as an organization they supported the Ebola survivors to start small businesses. He continued by encouraging them to save some of the profits gained from their businesses for 6 months, stating that it is a way of teaching them how to embark on savings and business expansion. He went on to say that stigmatization of survivors was difficult to wipe out, but through the small scale businesses, he assured that transformation has taken place in the lives of Ebola Survivors. He added that their organization has been helping these survivors since 2014 to date.
“These survivors were neglected and were psychologically disturbed,” he ended.
One of the beneficiaries, GbesseySankoh, admonished her colleagues to handle their businesses with care. She furthered that they should minimize their expenses in order to save more money for their business expansion. He inspired other beneficiaries to dream big and actualized their dreams. The ceremony was climaxed by the issuance of certificates to 50 survivors for their successful participation and completion of the project.
