Caritas Freetown has been Awarded the Best Non-Governmental Organization For 2022
The Sierra Leadership Award is a yearly award given to NGOs, Ministries, Agencies, Business partners, and across Sierra Leone. CARITA FREETOWN, as one of the leading organizations with charity work across the country, has always been nominated for such awards; and the Executive Director as well. For the past three consecutive years, Caritas Freetown has awarded such accolades to humanity work in Freetown and across the country. Last year award was organized at the Radisson Blu hotel, where awardees were present including representatives from Caritas Freetown. At the presentations of awards, Caritas emerged as the leading NGO working towards humanitarian services and outstanding commitment and contribution to the social and economic development of Sierra Leone. Also, in the NGOs category, the best executive award for NGOs, was given to Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh for his Lead-ership and outstanding performance over the years and commitment to excellence and socioeconomic growth, and human development in Sierra Leone.
Carital Freetown Intervention in Electoral Process and Non-Violence
Rev Fr. Peter Konteh Executive Director Caritas Freetown and team talked to key actors, including in the National Government Administration, and took the lead in conven-ing what is known as an open-air dialogue. This gave peo-ple representing all sides the chance to air grievances and start finding solutions. The young people got to speak out about some of the things that were being done in the coun-try that they felt were really fueling the conflict between police and young people. He added that, “We already know the problem which make us to organize a Dialogue Session between the two parties as election is here”. He further noted that the dia-logue is indeed timely as it comes during an important pe-riod, when the country is preparing for General Elections in 2023. He continued by saying bringing the two sides to-gether is geared towards promoting dialogue and greater understanding among the Police, the Electoral Commission and Youth on their roles and responsibilities to prevent and manage violent election related conflicts in order to ensure an enabling peaceful environment is achieved be-fore, during and after the elections. He maintained that during electoral processes and elec-tions, the security forces, especially the Police have a cen-tral role in providing security and ensuring safety during voter’s registration exercises, political rallies and events, transportation of election-sensitive materials and keeping peace on Polling Day. The Youth also have an indispensa-ble role to play in determining Sierra Leone’s progress to-wards a more peaceful, democratic and prosperous coun-try” Aminata Finda Massaquoi station manager Culture Radio who also serves as the Chairperson for the Dialogue ses-sion stated that, the youth are the leaders of tomorrow, they need to refrain from violence and look for what they can do to bring change in their communities. She added that social media is one of the causes of violence, saying most of the violence that has happened in the country is due to wrong information young people get from social media which is not true. Lansana Fofanah, Head of Operations of the Special Division (OSD) of the Waterloo Police Station said, they police have listened to all the concerns and recommendations generated at the open-air dialogue, emphasizing that Police are not their enemies, and should not be seen as targets. He stated that they are carrying weapons as a protection for themselves and not to harm anybody but to serve the people stressing at the end of the day, they are all civilians and the Youths must work together with them to push the country forward.
COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Implemented in The Western Area Urban and Rural District
The project “COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign implemented in the Western Area Urban and Rural District” objectives seek to improve access to Covid-19 vaccine across the regions in Sierra Leone. Also, to increase Covid-19 vaccine awareness and uptake at all levels and strengthen coordination of the COVID-19 vaccine program at national and district levels. Awareness raising and radio programs were also organized on the benefits and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines. Some of the key achievements of the project are as follows:
Police And Youth Dialogue Session
Caritas Freetown, with support from Trocaire, AGIAMONDO, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and Ziviler Friendensdienst Civil Peace Service celebrates International Day of Peace 2022. As we celebrate the International Day of Peace with theme: “Stop Election Violence, Build Peace”, Caritas Freetown, with support from Trocaire, AGIAMONDO, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and Ziviler Friendensdienst Civil Peace Service, has on the 20th September, 2022 organized a one- day Police and Youth Dialogue Session, targeting personnel of the Sierra Leone Police, Youth Affairs, Political Parties Representative, Bike Riders and Journalist. The event took place at Kondi Hall, Yam’s Farm in the Western Rural District. The relationship between Police Officers and Youths have been strained throughout the years. But this was how many young people in Sierra Leone felt when the relationship between police and the youth were at their lowest point, especially during the August 10 accident that took place in some part of the country which led to destruction of properties and loss of innocent lives. As the appeals from young people to intervene grew, the consortium of five NGOs worked to broker a truce between young people and the police by celebrating the International Day of Peace 2022 with a one-day dialogue between the Police and youths in Sierra Leone. Young people were saying they were always suspects. They are often harassed by the police, arrested and being rounded up and put behind bars when reporting crime, instead of being listened to. Stories like these were the catalyst for change. A baseline study in the past years had showed that police harassment of young people, between 18 and 35, was one of the drivers for violent extremism in the country based on their approach. Mohamed Turay, Chairman of the Bike Riders Association East said one of the causes of conflict between the parties is that the Police Officers see the Youths as a threat, emphasizing that as riders, they suffer too much harassment from the Police. He further stated that “Young people were being rounded up from their bikes, which has led to so many accidents or just for being in groups in their community.” Rev Fr. Peter Konteh Executive Director Caritas Freetown and team talked to key actors, including in the National Government Administration, and took the lead in convening what is known as an open-air dialogue. This gave people representing all sides the chance to air grievances and start finding solutions. The young people got to speak out about some of the things that were being done in the country that they felt were really fueling the conflict between police and young people. He added that, “We already know the problem which make us to organize a Dialogue Session between the two parties as election is here”. He further noted that the dialogue is indeed timely as it comes during an important period, when the country is preparing for General Elections in 2023. He continued by saying bringing the two sides together is geared towards promoting dialogue and greater understanding among the Police, the Electoral Commission and Youth on their roles and responsibilities to prevent and manage violent election related conflicts in order to ensure an enabling peaceful environment is achieved before, during and after the elections. He maintained that during electoral processes and elections, the security forces, especially the Police have a central role in providing security and ensuring safety during voter’s registration exercises, political rallies and events, transportation of election-sensitive materials and keeping peace on Polling Day. The Youth also have an indispensable role to play in determining Sierra Leone’s progress towards a more peaceful, democratic and prosperous country” Aminata Finda Massaquoi station manager Culture Radio who also serves as the Chairperson for the Dialogue session stated that, the youth are the leaders of tomorrow, they need to refrain from violence and look for what they can do to bring change in their communities. She added that social media is one of the causes of violence, saying most of the violence that has happened in the country is due to wrong information young people get from social media which is not true. Lansana Fofanah, Head of Operations of the Special Division (OSD) of the Waterloo Police Station said, they police have listened to all the concerns and recommendations generated at the open-air dialogue, emphasizing that Police are not their enemies, and should not be seen as targets. He stated that they are carrying weapons as a protection for themselves and not to harm anybody but to serve the people stressing at the end of the day, they are all civilians and the Youths must work together with them to push the country forward.
Caritas Freetown Awarded Best Non-Governmental Organization
The Sierra Leadership Award is a yearly award given to NGOs, Ministries, Agencies, Business partners, and across Sierra Leone. CARITA FREETOWN, as one of the leading organizations with charity work across the country, has always been nominated for such awards; and the Executive Director as well. For the past three consecutive years, Caritas Freetown has awarded such accolades to humanity work in Freetown and across the country. Last year award was organized at the Radisson Blu hotel, where awardees were present including representatives from Caritas Freetown. At the presentations of awards, Caritas emerged as the leading NGO working towards humanitarian services and outstanding commitment and contribution to the social and economic development of Sierra Leone. Also, in the NGOs category, the best executive award for NGOs, was given to Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh for his Leadership and outstanding performance over the years and commitment to excellence and socioeconomic growth, and human development in Sierra Leone.
Caritas Freetown Emergency Response Team
Caritas Health Pillar Extends Support to Flood victims in the East End part of Freetown city. The forgotten Flood victims by the 14th August, 2017 flooding received attention from Caritas Freetown in partnership with the Government Comand Centre in East End Freetown.“The camera never paid attention to us the suffering masses of Culvert/Kolbort community” lamented a community activist”. Wellington and Mountain Cut and Culvert communities were ravaged by the flooding. No death was reported but the human calamity meted by the vulnerable women and children was severe for human account .A command center was set up at the John F. Kennedy School, Cline town in the east to coordinate affairs of the flood suffering masses in the eaat end of Freetown. Caritas Freetown in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy command center have started providing medical support to children, women and all affected population.Caritas was welcome and appreciated by the Deputy Minister of Health 2, Mrs Madina Rahman who additionally provides three Medical Doctors in support to Health team. A mobile health center was set up at the Municipal Junior Secondary School, Kissy treating all minor injuries and health disturbances to residence of Culvert and its environs.On the other hand, the Culvert Community is provided with (Wet feeding) or daily cooked food being prepared by their women. The food is same like the normal local food they eat in their homes.The food and medical interventions will continue until the precatious human situation is brought to normalcy. Speaking to Madam Fatu Turay, a victim of the flood disaster who volunteer herself to head the cooking, she narrates about the heavy damages incurred by all, that includes loss of mattresses, cooking utensils, businesses, cash, clothings, and other values.The community appreciate the on going intervention on food, medical and psychosocial support from Caritas. The Wet feeding continuous, whilst other intervention benefiting affected school going children and women household heads will be considered