A Message from Sierra Leone – 20 Years of partnership

I am very delighted to send you this message which has led to a bonding of the Two Waterloos And One Hope. We have succeeded in developing a real partnership based on mutual consent, understanding and development.

20 years ago a group of visitors from the Merseyside in Liverpool met at the administration  center of Waterloo Rural at a place called King yard in the local council office, surrounded by the Magistrate court, Waterloo  football field and the old Police cells next to the village bell whose gonging used to tell the time of the day to community. The meeting was graced with the presence of local authorities, tribal heads and people from all walks of life with drumming and dancing.

This grid- iron structured Waterloo settlement was founded in 1819 for recaptured slaves and ex-soldiers disbanded from the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. It was destroyed, physically, economically, educationally and socially during the civil war in Sierra Leone. Waterloo became the poorest community in one of the poorest countries in West Africa ..When the drumming died down a meeting was held in the local council office where committees were formed to supervise the activities of the partnership now called Waterloo Partnership (SL).

After their departure to the UK, they started sending containers filled with school furniture, sewing machines, linens and fabrics which were distributed to various  schools and Home Economic center in and around Waterloo .The chairs and tables provided sitting accommodation for pupils, improving learning and teaching conditions.

Due to the high cost of shipment, funds raised were used to undertake community projects of felt needs. These included among others Education scheme for 40  vulnerable children, now reduced to 7 as most have graduated from school. During the Ebola epidemic WPSL , through donations from the UK including St Faith’s Church, supplied the Waterloo health centre with furniture, chlorine, gloves,beds etc Later teaching dolls were supplied and the culvert to the entrance of the centre reconstructed. Food items were also supplied to Ebola quarantined home helping to curb the spread of this deadly disease.

As hundreds of people died in Waterloo, ebola orphans became another community problem. WP then registered and currently supporting 34 Ebola orphans with food and education at various levels.

Single parents and widows were all over the community. WPSL then registered over 159 vulnerable women providing seeds and tools for farming especially at swamps where they eke a living. This Women’s Farming projects is now the most successful in the community.

Many hand wells have constructed and annually maintained, providing chlorinated, safe and clean drinking water in the community which has resulted in the drastic drop in waterborne diseases. More are needed as the urban-rural migration has swelled the population overpowering this facility.

Schools have been built to allow more pupils to get formal education and destroyed bridges build to connect communities.

Projects are identified based on felt needs, priotized, approved by WPSL, forwarded to WPUK In approved project forms. The Trustees meet every two months, approve projects and funds sent over for implementation followed by project reports to WPUK, sending their feedback later.

There were other emergency projects such as fire disaster and flooding supported with food, clothing, household utensils and educational items.

One of our biggest success is Cynthia, who is one one the several nurses we trained in recognized and qualified medical institutions. Cynthia is now a trained and qualified nurse working in the Waterloo health centre and ploughing back into the community. She is currently one coordinators in provide vaccine jabs in the fight against the rapidly spreading Empox in our community. She is currently pursuing her BSc.in community health.

Our community through your support has changed the lives of hundreds of people, educationally, medically etc. The current case is Aminata, one of our Ebola orphans  who was hit on a commercial bike while going to school.She was admitted with a left broken femur and left hand, operated on, can now walk with one crutch and currently undergoing physio at Jui hospital three times a week by specialists being supervised by a British trained physiotherapist.

WP has been very successful because the relationship between WPUK and WPSL has been cordial and mutual. No imposition of their ideas on us but mutual agreement after discussions and general consensus.

Trustees don’t receive salaries just meagre honorarium are give to WPSL committee members.

Thanks to all attendees, donors and potential donors for your humanitarian support over these two decades.

Mary you can kindly paraphrase this message.

1)Without Waterloo partnership support, my daughter Aminata would have been dead ,said Kadiatu

2) Waterloo partnership has helped myself and family over the years through the support with seeds and tools.,noted Mrs Sawaneh head of one of the Women’s farmers

3) I wouldn’t have reached where I am today.. Thanks to Waterloo partnership, said Cynthia.

4) The New Site well is a blessing to my community, said the late pa Ibrahim Sama Kamara,the late chief imam of the late Central Mosgue.

Best wishes,

Badara

Here are some photos of the first meeting and visit in 2005.

Elvis Night -19th August

Please join us for our annual Elvis fundraiser on Tuesday 19th August at 7.30pm at the Plaza Cinema. It will be a fun night.