Soroptimist International visits FOCEM beneficiaries in Bo

By Mariama B. Bah

In their joint effort to help children affected of ebola, Soroptimist International paid a courtesy called on the Foundation for Children of Ebola Affected Medical Workers (FOCEM) beneficiaries in Bo.The visit took place on the 24^th September 2016 at Wan Word link in Bo Town.

Madam Cole, Mrs Emsley and team

Admin Officer of FOCEM, Andrew S. Coomber said the purpose of the visit was for FOCEM and Soroptimist International to map out ways they can collaborate and sponsor the beneficiaries by providing them with educational assistance.

Mr Coomber recalled that, FOCEM was founded in 2014 by philanthropists like Andrew Keilie, Sam Zoker, Winstanley Bankole Johnson and others.

He disclosed that FOCEM is operating in five Districts in Sierra Leone namely Bo, Kenema, Bombali, Kailahum and the Western Area and FOCEM  currentlycaters for 100 beneficiates: Bo 21, Bombalie 10,  Kailahun 38, Kenema 16, and 15 Western Area.

He went on to mention that the Soroptimist and FOCEM are responsible for the funding of the projects that relate to the children.

“Soroptimist International is providing support towards the scholarship for 36 beneficiaries, 15 are in Freetown and 21 in Bo District.”

He explained that there are more affected orphans who are not included in the program because of lack of funding.

Mr Coomber wasted no time to call for more support,

“We are looking for more sponsorship to help rescue these children so that they can become very successful in life, instead of leaving them to suffer.”

President of Soroptimist Sierra Leone Mrs. Natalie Cole said they were in dire sympathy with these affected children.

She said as an organization, they are trying to help women and girls in various communities and they will support them in various ways such as education, providing sanitation and the like.

She added that they have an agricultural project and they are working with women and girls that have farms which Ebola have affected.

She went on to say, “…this present time we can’t only support the women and girls but we will support the men and young boys as well.”

According to Natalie Cole their main focus is the educational aspect of the children. She added that majority of the children lost their parents during theebola crisis.

“It will be difficult for them to continue their education;we are doing all what we can to help. All the funds we are getting to sponsor these children are raised by ourselves; we are doing all sort of things to raise funds for them.”

She disclosed that they have sister clubs in the United Kingdom that are helping them but for their partnership with FOCEM they have two clubs that are helping them.

Madam Cole disclosed further that they are not an NGO but are working very hard to support the people they have decided to sponsor.

She said they want the children to pay great attention towards their educationby doing that they can sponsor all those orphans that are performing well in their academic work.

Madam Colesaid their challenges are great but they think as organization to do more but without money, it’s difficult.

Madam Cole encouraged the children to take their education seriously to become very successful in life.

Guest Speaker for the ceremony Madam Margret Emsley President Soroptimist UK gave a background of the organisation.

Mrs Emsley who is visiting Africa and Sierra Leone in particular for the first time was moved by the manner in which the children welcomed them. 

“I am impressed by the children’s welcome and I am also impressed by the entire project that the children are doing. I appreciate the fabulous gifts the children presented to me and Iwill always remember the children at all times. I am very much pleased to meet you.”

Mrs Emsley pointed out that she has visited majority schools where they are sponsoring children and the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police to help stop violence against women and girls in Sierra Leone.

She mentioned that the children should thank members of Soroptmist because the members are the ones providing financial support them.

“In the UK we are very much aware about the ebola crisis. We sent our support financially through the Emergency Relief Fund which is a charity that Soroptimist is supporting in Sierra Leone to help in the Ebola crisis.”

She went on to say, they can’t do it all as an organization because it has to do with lots of people.

She described education as the paramount key to success because if the children are not educated they can’t have a future like, they can’t get good jobs to help support their families.