What is People in Partnership?

We call our group "People in Partnership" because as we began to work with Alpha Kargbo and his team we wanted to be partners who share success but also stand together and in failure and learn from it. I first got to know Alpha as a pen friend when he was one of many people who wrote requesting friends as the result of the mailings we used to do as a church on behalf of "Soon". I met him on my first visit to Sierra Leone with Graham and Sandra Hinds in 1988. We walked around most of Freetown together. I got to know the place well and could walk from one side of town to the other, Wilberforce to Kissy by myself.

He requested money to start a business.  It was a small amount as what seems small to us can do amazing things in a less developed country. He was faithful in this adventure.

When the civil war was reaching its climax around 2000, he was instrumental in staring the school with a group of Christians, as they wanted to help the many orphaned and abandoned children who were roaming around Kissy, their area of Freetown. .From Derby we were able to buy land and build the school. We continue to support the teaching staff, and have also been involved in setting up a micro-enterprise scheme giving loans to help small businesses take off and grow.

We have twice done training in community health care as our last two teams have had three medical doctors on board.

I am hoping that Alpha will visit Derby in October to discuss future needs and developments. He is an amazing leader and friend.  Living through his era in Sierra Leone has been a traumatic time for him, as for many. In the Civil War his house in Freetown was burnt down. When visiting his home village they were attacked by rebels and his family fled into the bush. He did not find his wife and children for several days.

His Father was killed in a car crash when he was 14 and he had to leave school as the fees could not be paid.  His first wife died during a hospital operation when the electricity failed and the hospital had run out of drugs. I could tell you more. I am hoping that he will benefit from going to an International Leaders School of Ministry in Belfast during his time here.

His whole visit, airfares included, is projected to cost around £1200.

Jacob Hayward is hoping to raise at least part of this by a sponsored cycle ride, Derby to Skegness, at the end of August.

Any other offers of financial help would be appreciated.