Caritas Freetown with joint support from Trocaire and UNPBF Project through C.R.S supports the Ministry of Social Welfare with two Live Media Coverages to Commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disability
Caritas Freetown, with joint support from Trocaire, and the UNPBF project through C.R.S. are partnering with the Ministry of Social Welfare and collaborating with Partners of Disability to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2023. The event took place at the Miatta Conference Centre Car Park, Youyi Building, Freetown, with live TV media coverage. Adopting the global theme of “United in Action to Rescue and Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for and with Persons with Disabilities,” the localized theme for this commemoration is “Employment and Economic Justice for the fulfilment of the Big Five Game Changers for Persons with Disability.” The event aims to advocate for inclusive employment opportunities and economic justice to empower persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone. Caritas Freetown has been supporting persons with disabilities (PWDs) through its work and various projects to promote their social status and livelihood. At the end of the event, the PWDs showcased their various talents to the attendees.
Caritas Freetown in Collaboration with Civil Peace Service (C.P.S) Commemorates 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a globally recognized campaign, observed from November 25th to December 10th each year. It serves as a critical platform for raising awareness, mobilizing communities, and advocating for effective measures to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) against women and Girls. Caritas Freetown, a prominent humanitarian organization dedicated to serving the vulnerable in Sierra Leone, has joined hands with numerous other organizations to mark this year’s event. As part of our activities Caritas engaged staffs from different departments to participate in this year’s activity. The staffs were able to identify different activities ranging from the development of Key messages, Radio Discussion program, sensitization in different schools and different communities and the event was climaxed in one of our project locations encompassing four communities who came to grace the occasion. RADIO DISCUSSION PROGRAMThe radio discussion program took place at the culture radio in Grafton Community on the 2nd of December 2023 at 3:00 pm. The panellist were members from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, the Police, representing the Family Support Unit in Grafton Community and Few Caritas Staffs who were able to discuss the role of Caritas and our partners in salvaging Gender Based Violence in the country. SENSITISATION Firstly, Sensitization was done across our different offices raging from our Kingtom office, Syke street and Savage street Office respectively. Berners were hung at the entrance of the three main offices depicting the theme of this year’s 16 days of Activism.The team later targeted the St. Edward’s Secondary School and the St, Joseph’s Secondary School where we were able to talk to over 900 pupils, sensitising them on the importance of the 16 days of Activism and the role of every individual to combat gender based violence in our homes and communities. Similarly the team of staffs continued with their sensitisation in the Western Rural Communities targeting the Waterloo community, Sattia, Mosseh, Tissana and Gbankoh Community respectively. Climax of activity The 16 days of Activism organised by Caritas Freetown was climax in the Western Rural community on Friday the 8th December 2023. Hundreds of people were gathered across four different communities; Sattia, Tissana, Gbankoh and Mosseh who assembled at Sattia community being the center of these four villages for the concluding activity of the 16 days of Activism. Among the community people were the Village head men and other stakeholders representing each community. Partners were invited from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, the Police; mainly the Family Support Unit, and members from other humanitarian organisations to grace the occasion. Different speakers made their contributions at the event, climaxed by the key note speaker Doris Webber from the Women’s Advocacy and Agricultural Development Organization. In her keynote speech, she commended the donors for supporting Caritas to organize such an activity that complements the effort of the Government.
Caritas Freetown Justice and Peace Commission Hosts Dialogue Session To Enhance Collaboration Among Vawg Service Providers and Strengthen Referral Pathways
Caritas Freetown Justice and Peace Commission, with support from Trocaire, organized a pivotal one-day dialogue session on Tuesday, December 13th, 2023, at Twin Hall, Hastings. The session centered around the critical theme of Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), brought together 30 dedicated VAWG service providers and stakeholders from both Western Urban and Western Rural Areas. The aim was to foster a platform for sharing successes, challenges, and lessons learned in the implementation of action plans. Facilitating the discussion, Mr. Andrew Kponeh, the Lead Paralegal emphasized that the dialogue’s purpose extended beyond the recounting of successes and challenges. The session sought to illuminate the need for strengthening collaboration and coordination among VAWG service providers, pinpointing institutions actively involved in women and girls’ issues within communities for potential linkages. Mr. Kponeh highlighted that this session continued the momentum from the previous gathering in August, which delved into establishing a Standard of Operation (SOP) for response mechanisms on VAWG issues at organizational and institutional levels. Participants actively engaged in reflections and shared their experiences dealing with VAWG cases, delving into the challenges faced and lessons learned. A central message emerged – the hindrance posed by poor coordination and a weak referral system between various support services, acting as a barrier to WAWG survivors’ access to justice and essential services. While a national referral protocol exists, its rollout lacks standardization, leading to cases being dismissed in court due to insufficient evidence or procedural improprieties. Recognizing this, the participants underscored the importance of engaging law enforcement bodies, the judiciary, and other service providers to fortify collaboration and the referral system, ultimately enhancing services for survivors of VAWG. Providing an update and feedback on the action plan developed in the last coordinating meeting held in August, participants were divided into groups for a service mapping exercise at district and community levels. This exercise focused on mapping out services for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors, capturing key details such as the institution’s name, location, services provided, operational hours, focal person, and contact information. As the dialogue session drew to a close, it was evident that the collective efforts of VAWG service providers and stakeholders are integral in addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by survivors. The commitment to enhancing collaboration and strengthening referral pathways reflects a collective determination to provide improved and more effective services for those affected by violence against women and girls.
Inter-School Climate Change Awareness Raising Quiz and Art Work Competition, Organized by Caritas Freetown with Support from Trocaire
On Wednesday, December 20, 2023, a remarkable event unfolded at St. Edwards Secondary School Hall in Kingtom. It was the Inter-School Climate Change Awareness Raising Quiz and Art Work Competition, organized by Caritas Freetown with support from Trocaire. This event marked another significant step in their ongoing initiative to raise awareness and advocate for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the western urban and rural districts of Freetown. Eight schools enthusiastically participated in the competition, with four representing the Western Rural district and the remaining four from the Western Urban district. The primary objective of this event was to educate and sensitize pupils about the far-reaching effects of climate change and the urgent need to protect our communities and the world from its detrimental impacts. The competition began with the Quiz segment, where pupils showcased their knowledge and understanding of climate change-related topics. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as the participants demonstrated their expertise. St. Francis School from Newton emerged as the winner, impressing the judges with their comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Holy Family School at Calaba town secured the second position, closely followed by St. Benedict School from Low Cost community in third place. Simultaneously, the Art Work Competition took place, allowing pupils to express their creativity and convey powerful messages through their artwork. The hall transformed into an exhibition space, adorned with vibrant and thought-provoking creations. Werner Holzer from Allen Town, from a talented young artist, claimed the first position with his captivating artwork that depicted the fragile state of our planet and the urgent need for collective action. We Yone Primary School from Kroo Bay community secured the second position with their visually striking piece, while Withernsea Int. Jr. Secondary School from Grafton thoughtfully crafted artwork earned them the third position. The top three schools for both the quiz and Art competition were awarded certificates of merit and cash prizes. The school administrations are expected to use this money to buy equipment that will help reduce the impact of climate change in their schools. All the pupils that participated were also awarded certificates of participation for their outstanding performances. Following the competition, the organizers arranged for the best debaters from each school to visit a local radio station (Epic Radio 99.3). This platform provided them with an opportunity to discuss the event and how it had transformed their lives. The pupils passionately shared their newfound knowledge about climate change and the importance of taking immediate action to mitigate its effects. Their articulate speeches and heartfelt stories captivated the listeners, inspiring them to join the cause and work towards a sustainable future. The Inter-School Climate Change Awareness Raising Quiz and Art Work Competition proved to be a resounding success in fostering awareness and engaging the younger generation in the fight against climate change. The event not only showcased the talent and intelligence of the participating students but also instilled in them a sense of responsibility towards the environment. It was a day that would be remembered as a turning point in their lives, as they left the event with a renewed dedication to protecting our planet and spreading climate change awareness in their communities and beyond.