Waterloo Partnership

JOIN US FOR OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Lumpa Community Well

The Lumpa Community Well has opened. Well done to everyone for their hard work. This is the charity’s second well project this year. Access to Clean water will improve the health of the whole community.

SIDCN AGM guest speakers

The Waterloo Partnership were very proud to be selected as guest speakers at the Small International Development Charities Network AGM on 31st January. Alieu Mansaray and David Moorhead spoke about the creation of the charity 20 years ago, its many successes and the challenges that lay ahead.

” It was such an honour.  The SIDCN is a great organisation and we were delighted that they dedicated a whole segment to Sierra Leone. We were also able to network with other charities.”  David Moorhead

More Water for Waterloo

Take a look at the newly improved well at Palmer Street. Water is Life. Wishing all the community that will use this well a happy and healthy future. So glad we could help.

Water for Waterloo 2025

Reflections from WPSL Chair Alieu Mansaray

The Waterloo Partnership UK (WPUK) and Waterloo Partnership SL (WPSL) have been in mutual existence for two decades next year.
This partnership has benefited hundreds of people in our impoverished community since the post civil war era up to present times.Interventions have primarily targeted education,health,water provisions, income generating activities emergency reliefs assistance etc.
Many children have received education in various
forms from nursery, primary, secondary and up to tertiary level over the period of almost two decades.Vulnerable and Ebola orphans are still beneficiaries of the education scheme.They are supplied with uniforms , books,bags.shoes and other educational items. Many have graduated from various colleges and other tertiary institutions in nursing, procurement, business management etc.Some are now gainfully employed and some ploughing back into the Waterloo community like Cynthia who now works at the Waterloo health center and currently pursuing a BSC degree in nursing.Some are teaching in our community schools.
Without this educational scheme most of these children would have become drop outs.
A three-classroom structure was also built for the Kulafi Rashidin primary school which has been holding classes in a rented delalapidated structure.A three -compartment Improved Ventilated Pit toilets were also provided for this school.Basic school furniture have also been supplied to many schools to provide sitting accomodations which have been non existing in most.
In the area on health some beds,basic furniture and teaching dolls were supplied to the Waterloo health center which also received chlorine,hand gloves and other items during the Ebola epidemic.
Over seven hand dug wells have been provided in different parts of Waterloo, providing clean and safe drinking water.Some other wells were upgraded with hand pumps.These wells are maintained annually and chlorinated.As rural-urban migration became the new trend, people from the city move towards rural Waterloo and satellite communities leading to the overpowering of public utilities especially water wells hence the need for more hand dug wells.
Income generation has been another important area of intervention by WP.The most successful has been women participating in farming.Most of these women are single parents who form themselves into 15 groups, totaling about 150,who are supplied with tools, seeds and chemical fertilizers which help them to produce timely bumper harvests leading to the generation of higher prices for their products.It’s mainly subsistence but excesses are sold to generate funds for the education and meeting the health needs of their children.Other dependants benefit from the farming
There is also an emergency relief component that helps with food and other items during the Ebola and Corona virus era. Local flooding(most recently women farmers)and fire victims have also benefited from food and other items.
All these interventions have benefitted hundreds of our impoverished community members over these two decades and have raised hundreds of them from hardship and improved the educational standards of many.
The activities of WP have been successful because there is an administrative committee structure headed by a chair and projects are generated based on the priotised felt needs of the community.Moreover committee members don’t receive salaries but annual honoraria.
Lastly the WPSL and WPUK exercise mutual partnership, consulting and agreeing with each other in terms of project funding and implementations.
The WPUK members don’t receive salaries neither honoraria.
On behalf of WPSL, I wish to thank all our different categories of donors and the selfless WPUK members and Trustees.I wish to assure donors that funds donated have been and will be used for their intended purposes.

Chair WPSL.

Give the Gift of Hope this Christmas !

As Christmas approaches, we invite you to give the gift of hope. Your donation will transform lives in 2025. Please read the newsletter detailing all the achievements of the charity this year.  The order form for the  annual gifts is in the newsletter too. Thank you so much for your support.  If it is easier you could make a general donation via the website. Why not set up a monthly donation.

AGM 2024

The Annual General Meeting of the Waterloo Partnership will take place on Wednesday 6th November at 7.30pm via zoom.
Everyone is welcome.
Please send a message via the website if you require the zoom details.

Good Luck with The New School Year

The Waterloo Partnership wishes all the children a great start to the school year. Education can be the most wonderful gift in anyone’s life. With learning comes choices. Here are some of our students looking so proud and excited with their new uniforms, bags and other equipment.

The Flood

“Recent flooding has caused loss of lives and severe damage. The Waterloo market suffered terribly when the flood destroyed properties and swept away some people.  Climate change has seen an increase in flooding and a greater negative impact on the environment. The main problem after the flood was blocked culverts by debris from the market and surrounding areas. “ Alieu Mansaray WPSL Chair

The Waterloo Partnership UK expressed its sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. We are currently supporting the clearage of the culverts and developing the plans to prevent further flooding.  We are grateful to the Sefton District National Education Union for their donation and hope our Elvis night at the Plaza will raise further funds.

Elvis Fundraiser 15th August

Please join us for a great evening at the Plaza on Thursday 15th August at 8pm.  We will be screening the film Jailhouse Rock  to honour Elvis Presley. Tickets £5.

Tickets available from the Plaza Cinema -https://plazacinema.org.uk/

Professor David Lloyd

Members of Waterloo Partnership were extremely sorry to hear of the passing of former trustee, Professor David Lloyd recently. David was a long-standing, loyal and enthusiastic advocate of the partnership for many years and served as former Chair and trustee, bringing commitment and many skills to the roles.

As part of his commitment to Sierra Leone and to the many other African charities he supported, David  brought medical, caring and altruistic qualities to everything and everyone he met. He was supported by his wife, Carol, who also brought her own talents and friendship to the Waterloo,  Sierra Leone community. Over the years their many skills combined to make them a unique and greatly valued team. Their warmth and genuine love and knowledge of Africa ensured they were greatly valued and loved by members of the partnership, both in the UK and Sierra Leone.

Our deepest condolences to Carol and family and thanks for all that she and David have done to improve and touch the lives of others.

We love Football

Football is loved by so many here in both Waterloos. Football promotes friendship, community and links the generations.
The Waterloo Partnership wishes Marine FC and Corey Stars all the best for the rest of the season.
If you could spare a monthly donation to the charity, then we can achieve great things together. Even £1 a month can make all the difference. Thank you. Go to the donation tab.

Water is Life

“Since the construction of Ronnie’s well in 2018, thousands of people have benefited including children, a nearby clinic and the community in general from access to adequate, clean and safe drinking water. This would not have been possible without annual maintenance and active supervision. We are grateful to the Waterloo Partnership for providing and maintaining this well. We also thank the donor after whom this well is named. We hope other communities will also benefit from this important development.”
TK Mamoud -head of the mechanic garage in Waterloo, Sierra Leone.

Christmas Gift Scheme and Newsletter

AGM 2023

The Annual General Meeting of the Waterloo Partnership will take place on Monday 20th November at 7.30pm via zoom.
Everyone is welcome.
Please send a message via the website if you require the zoom details.

The Opening of Bernaur Street Well

This is the opening of the Bernaur Street Well. Some of the ladies of the mosque and community prayed for the Waterloo Partnership for their kind assistance in providing them with safe and clean drinking water. Haja who pumped out the first bucket was previously unable to so as she was unable to use the bucket and rope. They all greatly appreciated the hand pump.

Marine FC is the new patron of the Waterloo Partnership

Marine FC Press Release
Marine become the new Patron of Waterloo Partnership charity
Club News September 7, 2023
Marine FC are proud to have been named as Patron of the Waterloo Partnership, a charity which has a two-fold purpose – to support the people of Waterloo, a village in Sierra Leone, West Africa and to establish links between the two Waterloo communities.

The Waterloo Partnership was founded in 2005 and its work has focused on educating street children, supporting Ebola orphans on, helping women farmers in the swamps, building vital bridges and wells for clean water.

Marine FC is proud to have been named as Patron of the charity and will support on fundraising initiatives and to raise awareness for the great work that continues to go on behalf of the charity.

James Leary CEO of Marine: “The Waterloo Partnership is a well-known local charity and has done unbelievable work in helping support the people of Waterloo, Sierra Leone. I hope that through this partnership we can continue to support the work to further enhance the charity.”

David Moorhead, trustee of The Waterloo Partnership: ” The people of Waterloo, Sierra Leone are incredibly resilient and hopeful. They have endured a civil war, poverty, Ebola and Covid. They are my heroes. Football is a huge passion in Waterloo, Sierra Leone. Many follow the English Premier League and where there is a rough patch of ground you will see children in bare feet playing football. Therefore, the charity is delighted to have Marine FC as its patron as we all work to build a fairer world.”

Marine FC lies in the heart of Waterloo, Merseyside. For more information visit www.marinefc.com

Elvis Fundraiser – 16th August at 7.30pm at the Plaza Cinema, Waterloo

Come and join us. An evening of fun for all the family.
https://plazacinema.org.uk/whats-on/blue-hawaiiElvis Blue Hawaii Ticket

Youths Help Clear the Drains

Youths gathered to show the power of team work and cleared the drains following recent storm damage. If all the rubbish were left in the drains then it would heighten the risk of malaria and other diseases. The Waterloo Partnership were proud to support this project.

The Joy of Water.

Here are two film clips showing the new improved well at Wilson Street. Clean water is beautiful. Clean water is necessary for good health. Clean water is a joy.

The Wilson Street Well

The Waterloo Partnership are proud to fund the improvements for the Wilson Street Well. Access to regular, clean water is essential for good health. Previously the only way to fetch water from this well was to use a rope and bucket. The rope was left on the ground and would be encased in dirt. Also, there was no lid. These combined factors led to an increase in diarrhoea, especially among the younger children.
Today there is a new pump and a lid for the residents and school children who live and study in the Wilson Street area.
Here are the before and after photographs.

Repairing Ronnie’s Well

The Waterloo Partnership were glad to help repair Ronnie’s well. The annual review and maintenance is essential in order to keep clean water available for so many in the community. School children, motor drivers and many others rely on this well. ” Thanks to all our donors who helped fund this project. Without clean water the health of the community is at risk.”

The 2022 Newsletter and Christmas Gift Scheme

Here is the 2022 newsletter highlighting the challenges and successes of the last 12 months. Thank you to all our marvellous supporters whose help has changed lives for the better. As we look to 2023 we have big dreams. If you would like to help, you can support us via the Christmas Gift Scheme.
v3 WP newsletter 2022 (1)
v1 WP Gifts for Life 2022 (1)

NOVEMBER NEWS

The Waterloo Partnership AGM

Wednesday 23^rd November   7.30pm

ZOOM

Everyone is welcome.

Please contact us via the website for the code.

Congratulations to our students

The Waterloo Partnership would like to congratulate all our students who recently passed their B.E.C.E  exams and good luck to all our other students who are awaiting the results this week of their first term test one exams.

Smiling in the Rain

Message From Sierra Leone

“On behalf of Waterloo Partnership Sierra Leone, I wish to thank the Chair and all Trustees of the Waterloo Partnership UK , committee members, donors and all sympathizers for their support over the past decade plus.
Irrespective of the Corona pandemic which has devastated the world economy in general and the UK in particular ,WPUK continued to support WPSL orphans education and feeding, vunerable women farmers to generate income, the provision of safe and clean drinking water through the construction and maintenance of wells, emergency health support in the form of medical and food support to natural disasters such as fires and floods.
The recent food and uniforms support to the market women who lost all their wares and personal belongings is the latest.
I wish to assure all donors that the funds you generously contribute towards WPUK have been used and always be used for their intended purposes. We are therefore soliciting your support towards WPUK as their support to WPSL has changed hundreds and hundreds of lives in the impoverished Waterloo community and perepheral settlements.”

Alieu Badada Mansaray
Chair Waterloo Partnership Sierra Leone

Annual General Meeting 2022

The Annual General Meeting of the Waterloo Partnership will take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 16th February online. If you wish to join us on zoom, please send us your details via the contact us email on the website. Thank you to all our supporters for helping to make such a big difference to the lives of the poor in Sierra Leone.

Female Farmers Flourish

The Waterloo Partnership want to thank all its donors for their great generosity and support. One of the charity’s projects in Waterloo, Sierra Leone, West Africa is helping a group of female farmers. Many of the women lost their husbands in the war and were forced to become the main breadwinners. They had to learn to farm in the swamp areas around the town. The charity provides resources such as seeds, tools, wellington boots and farming advice. This project has made a significant positive impact on their and their families lives.
” The seeds and tools project has helped me and my family to live a better life as we generate income to provide food and basic medical help for the family”
Aminata – female farmer
” This project is helpful as I am able to pay the school fees for my child and pay my house rent for the family”
Fatmata – female farmer

A People of Hope – Autumn Newsletter