Monday 7th November 2016 will be the first anniversary of the End of Ebola Outbreak declaration in Sierra Leone. This is great news. But there are many hundreds of children in Sierra Leone for whom the impact of the outbreak will never end. 

In March 2015, SLWT took on the responsibility of providing financial, educational and nutritional support to 50 Ebola orphans, aged 5 years and under, living with caregivers (older siblings, aunts and uncles, grandmothers, even family friends). Each of them has a unique story but all of them are in desperate need of help. Little Osman Sesay and his brother Ishmael and sisters Haja and Mariama, are now looked after by Fatmata Kamara, their late father's sister. Fatmata also lost her husband to Ebola and has 4 children of her own. Mariama Macauley lost her parents and is now cared for by her older sister Doris who herself is only 19 years old. Mamadari Turay and her cousins Alima and Mariama lost their parents and are now in the care of their aunt Mabinty. Mamadari's mother was Mabinty's sister and Alima and Mariama's father was Mabinty's brother. Mabinity was married and had 3 children of her own but her husband took their children and left her when she decided to care for orphaned nieces.

We are hugely excited at SLWT to have been able to support these 50 amazing children and their caregivers over the past 19 months and thrilled that 38 of the children started school last week. We directly cover school costs: fees where applicable, books, school uniforms, school bags, shoes and socks. Most critically, our field staff pay regular visits to the children's homes and schools to monitor their progress and respond to any health or other issues the children face. In February this year SLWT conducted a needs assessment of the caregivers following which we provided skills training and   cash transfers to enable them to invest in a business or further their education, depending on their situation and preference. Our aim continues to be to support the caregivers so that they are able to provide a healthy, caring and safe home life for the orphans.

Please sponsor me and support SLWT as we walk alongside these children and ensure that they have Hope for Tomorrow.

Thanks and very best regards, Yvonne