Disaster Response Sierra Leone Project #17671

Empowering Ebola Orphans in Sierra Leone

by Develop Africa, Inc.

Project Report | Sep 29, 2015
Dual Emotions

By Sylvester Renner | Project Leader

Geraldine, Dorcas and Joshua - outside the Home

Dear Project Supporters,

We delight in the opportunity to reconnect with you.

This update comes to you with dual emotions.

On one hand, Sunday, September 13th marked 1 year anniversary of the passing away of Ruth. Ruth, a nurse, was actively involved in our Ebola sensitization campaigns. After Ruth contracted Ebola at work, she and her husband passed away. Geraldine and Dorcas, her daughters, live in the Dream Home. On this 1 year anniversary of Ruth’s passing away, Geraldine and Dorcas received encouragement and moral support from a wide range of people.

I had the opportunity to chat with Geraldine and Dorcas on the phone. We briefly discussed the upcoming anniversary of her mother's death. I offered a word of encouragement to them - letting them know that their future would be better - would be colorful and bright. I encouraged them to keep doing their best at school and focus on their studies.

On the other hand, we have so much to be thankful for. Geraldine and Dorcas asked me to express their gratitude to each of YOU who have helped support them and the 20 other kids in the Dream Home. Thanks to your support, we have been taking care of them since their parents passed away and also the other kids in the Dream Home since May this year.

We are also very thankful for Aisha, one of the kids at the Dream Home. She is very friendly and helps to take care of the younger kids. In this video she expresses her appreciation to you all for your support. In this video Aisha, an orphan at the Dream Home for Ebola orphans says thanks for the support. She explains that they are well fed and have resumed school.

YOU made this happen! Thank you so much for your continued support.

Best Regards,

Develop Africa team

Aisha - orphan at the Dream Home

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Jul 8, 2015
The Ebola Orphans Are Thriving!

By Sylvester Renner | Project Leader

Raincoats - its rainy season now

Dear Project Supporters

We are super excited to bring you this progress update. Since our last report, 22 orphans have taken residence in the Dream Home. The number of new Ebola cases continues to decline and the government of Sierra Leone is working hard to bring an end to this crisis.

According to a published report, over there are over 3000 Ebola orphans who lost BOTH parents. We are currently taking care of 22 orphans. This means that there are hundreds and hundreds of orphans who need help. We know from experience because we have had to turn away many kids - as we are at capacity now.

Going forward, our efforts and this project are going to be focused primarily on post-Ebola activities - taking care of Ebola orphans. With this in mind, we have set up a special website available here.

The kids have been involved in a wide range of activities. The BBC Media Action team visited the Dream Home and you can listen to the interview here - BBC Media Action Visits Develop Africa's Dream Home. In the interview, the kids discuss how they are happy with life at the home and learning at school. They kids have received gifts and toys from several groups. On June 16th, they took part in activities celebrating the Day of the African Child.

Through YOUR support we have provided solar lights to help them study at night. Your donations are helping to meet their everyday needs - from food, clothing, medical care etc.

We would like to invite YOU to take the next step by signing up for a recurring donation for $20 or more. "It takes a village to raise a child". We would like to invite you to join The Dream Home Village. This will help us plan and provide consistent care.

Save The Date: On July 15th, starting at 9:00 am Eastern US Time, while matching funds are available, donations to this project on GlobalGiving USA and GlobalGiving UK will be matched at 50%.

Additionally, If you also have not yet donated to this Ebola project during the Ebola matching campaign, then we will get an additional 100% match (up to $1,000) from the Ebola matching fund. This will be a total of 150% match!

In other words, this would be an ideal time to make your donation go even further. Your $50 donation will go towards providing scholarships for these deserving kids.

Thanks so much for your support.

Warm regards

The Dream Home Team

orphan at school

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Apr 1, 2015
Building Almost Complete and Doubled Donations Today - Hurry!

By Sylvester Renner | Project Leader

Dorcas and Geraldine - 2 orphans holding posters

Our Dear Project Supporters

Thanks to YOU and a grant from GlobalGiving, the new Develop Africa Orphanage is almost complete - see photos. We are putting the finishing touches to the renovation.

We are super excited as this new orphanage - called the Develop Africa Dream Home - will be complete by the end of April. We are sooo very excited - as we will now be able to house and take care of up to 24 Ebola orphans.

We hope to restore the dreams and hopes of these kids - who have lost their parents through Ebola. What better way to be a blessing to humanity!

All this would not have been possible without your support. YOU helped make this happen and we are so grateful to you.

We will be adding special inspirational posters to the rooms - see the photos for a couple example - held by the kids outside the building.

As we prepare to launch, we would like to ask you - how would you like to be involved? We welcome your suggestions in taking care of these orphans. What should we be sure to remember and do? Let us know - we are eager to hear from you.

Other Great News - GlobalGiving is currently matching all donations at 100%. Currently there are still matching funds available - so please rush and make your donation today. This is a great time to join us in taking care of Ebola orphans.

Your donation of $25 will be doubled to $50. $100 will be doubled to $200.

Let's do this together and make this home a true Dream Home for these deserving Ebola Orphans.

If you have already donated, please forward this email to your friends or share the following link on Facebook - http://goto.gg/17671 - inviting them to donate towards this worthy cause.

Thanks so much for your support.

With gratitude
The Develop Africa Team

Dorcas holding a Poster about Destiny

Alfred a volunteer - painting orphanage

Building nearing completion

Beautifully tiled steps

We are connected to the grid - power / electricity

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