Our next visit to Sierra Leone

We are planning to visit Freetown in March, flying out on Sunday 13th March and returning overnight on Sunday 20th March. The main aim of the visit is to encourage and support the community groups that were set up last year with the aim of teaching simple community health care and bringing about change in their communities. We do not expect that much change will have happened as initially many unexpected hurdles are likely to have been met. The past experience of Linden Boothby from Links International, who led the teaching last time, is that the second visit will be much more focused and beneficial.

A basic plan from our last visit. As you can see, this is very simple and therefore to take part you do not need any previous health experience. You can learn as we go along - we have a manual and medical professionals on the team. Also we shall try to visit the Mercy Ship, Africa Mercy, which will be moored a short distance away during the time we are in Kissy, Freetown.

On this visit we are also intending to introduce micro-enterprise to the community. Linden has shared on this topic in conjunction with community health. With better health, families are able to engage in simple income generating activities. We believe, with Links, that sustainable freedom from poverty is about giving people a hand up not a hand out. Micro-enterprise is one way we give a hand up.  Those in the field have found that money can be a touchy subject as aid agencies have instilled an attitude of dependency and presumed entitlement. The incentive to make things work has been lost.

Making benches for the New Era Schools in Looking Town, Freetown

My own interest in development began with the "Leg-up Fund" which I started with Christians in Action after my visit to Sierra Leone in 1990. The aim was similar. To give young people who had some training, for example in carpentry or tailoring, a "Leg-up" into their own business by providing the basic equipment to get started. Now we work by giving a small loan.

If you have an interest in health care or micro-enterprise and would like to join us, or simply a heart for the people of Sierra Leone and wish to explore your interest, please contact me, Ted, on tswindaleuk@yahoo.co.uk  I would love to get in touch with you.