Project SIerra: a Family and a Future

Project SIerra: a Family and a Future has been the focus of Soroptimist International for the quadrennial 2007-2011. Soroptimist clubs all over the world have raised funds for this venture, based in Sierra Leone - the target is £1 million.

Crosby’s Soroptimists have made and sold bags (their ‘Baggatelles‘) in aid of the project.

Project SIerra saw Soroptimist International working in partnership with the charity Hope and Homes for Children. This organisation, in turn, works ‘on the ground’ with HANCi-SL (Help A Needy Child In Sierra Leone). Locally-based expertise ensures effective action – the project’s funds are directed where they are most needed.

Sierra Leone is recovering from a long, devastating and bitter civil war. As a contribution towards the challenge of community reconstruction, Project SIerra has concentrated on alienated and marginalised children and families. The project has had three components. Firstly, it supports young mothers, many of whom were trafficked into sex slavery during the conflict, and were then estranged from their communities because of the stigma of having an illegitimate child. Secondly, the project works with street children in towns, helping them to return to a caring family environment. Thirdly, it is setting up integrated child and family support for vulnerable families, enabling them to become self-sufficient and thus to face a positive future. 

Rick Foulsham, Chief Executive of Hope and Homes for Children, stresses the “legacy” of this partnership project – there will be benefits for years to come.

For further information on Project SIerra visit www.projectsierra.org