A couple of months ago, I made to a slum a few miles south of Freetown (Sierra Leone). I went to see the work of of a group of nuns and the orphanage they run. Their efforts and impact were impressive, and many children in this slum community were empowered with the opportunity to choose when and how they would live.
During the visit, I was greeted by eight-year-old “Kora (short for Korana) who gifted me a handmade parrot and followed me with a small but persistent request for the chance to have a look at my laptop. Her voice was amplified by her mother and other nuns in that community who, while highly appreciative of my presence and the few gifts I had with me. The theme of our discussions revolved around education and the general consensus was that without an education, their children would have little chance for a better life. I left that community inspired by the successes of the orphanage program, but haunted by Kora’s plea and curiosity about my laptop.
Kora’s request was heartbreaking, because the slum families feel there is no possibility to send their children to school. Her slum community is unregistered and without access to many government services. The families expressed difficulties accessing the government school and said a nearby private school was not affordable. And, Kora, like many other children in this community, was a victim of this.
My visit to this slum was a eureka moment for me. I realised that for 500 pound sterling, I could purchase 5 solar powered laptops which though few in the eyes of the western world, would be of great help to this impoverished community. I also realised that for extra 500 pound sterling, approximately 40 children would have access to elementary education. As of today, 80 children in this community have started to attend school and are receiving free school lunch, 49 have received books, and 7 have received uniforms and a bag. The Eden Foundation through its many friends has not only raised several more solar powered laptops for this community but has also embarked that no child is left behind in accessing the benefits of education. For more information about how to help, visit http://www.edendervan.org
