Connect SL concludes orientation for 45 foster parents
Port Loko, June 23 (SLENA) – Forty-five people from a total of nine chiefdoms in the Port Loko District have completed an orientation on the care, maintenance and upbringing of Foster Children. The one day Training which attracted participants from Koya, Masimera, Maforki, Kaffu Bullom, Buya Romendy and several other chiefdoms, was organised by Connect Sierra Leone, a Non Governmental Organisation that is operating in many districts in the country. Photos of the orientation ceremony
Ishiaka Kargbo is the Port Loko District Coordinator for Connect Sierra Leone. He said the idea to extend their service to Port Loko was based on the fact that it is one of the districts very seriously hit by the Ebola virus, noting that women and children were those who suffered the greatest, citing the case of those who lost their parents to the virus and are now serving as orphans, the unaccompanied as well as those separated from their families.
He said the social problems and traditional practices have continued to play key role in the spread of the disease in communities, saying it has even placed children at an increased level of abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect.
According to the Project Manager, Sahr Issa Mansaray, Connect Sierra Leone views Child Protection as a key factor in the Ebola Emergency Response which is one of the paramount reasons why they have opted to intervene. He said the one day orientation was as a result of his management’s desire to promote the best interest of children especially the most vulnerable ones.
In her contribution, the Programme Assistant, uliana Koroma said Connect Sierra Leone which was founded on 16th April 2014 also provides Psychosocial Support Services to children and severely affected communities in both Port Loko and Kailahun Districts.
Connect Sierra Leone has also conducted Protection and Child Participation Training for 40 Child Protection Partners and Staff. The Management has even held Child Protection Training with Child Welfare Committees and Community Action Groups together with the training of children and also facilitate Play and Drama activities at community levels.
Bamie Joseph Sesay is the Social Welfare Officer in Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children Affairs in charge of both Kambia and Port Loko Districts. He started by explaining the mandate of the ministry whose cardinal responsibility is to enhance the welfare of children. He was therefore gratified by the efforts of the staff and workers of Connect Sierra Leone in protecting the rights of children.
He used the opportunity to caution parents to refrain from sending their children into early marriages. He however encouraged them to display fair treatment on foster children that have been entrusted in their care and to consider them as their biological children.
The Social Welfare Officer said the Ministry will closely monitor the way and manner these children were being handled and impressed on them that the Ministry reserves the mandate to withdraw any child that is noticed to have been maltreated.
He was buttressed by Madam Mariatu Songo Kanu who deputised for the Senior District Officer in Port Loko. She analysed the disastrous effects of early marriage which she maintained has often resulted in the untimely loss of lives.
Mohamed Doso Sesay, a foster Parent from Sanda Magbonlonton and Fatmata Bintu Sesay, another foster parent who doubled as Chairlady of the Mothers’ Club, assured the gathering that they were going to exhibit fair treatment to the children.
In their separate statements, the foster parents said they were mindful of their responsibility to these children and remained very much conscious of what it means to be separated from one’s biological parent or be orphaned altogether. Mohamed Doso Sesay singled out his chiefdom as one of the most remote in the district and appealed for a better attention so that the rights of children in such deprived rural settings could be protected.
The orientation was climaxed by a ‘One off Support in Cash’ with funds from UNICEF which enabled the organisers to provide each participant with a minimum of Le400,000. This amount is intended to serve for the caring and protection of the children in their care.
By Hassan Bruz, Credit SLENA
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