NOSLINA PRESS RELEASE - RECENT DONATIONS!
Kwame Fitzjohn
WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 23, 2018: Great news! Just last month, in January, 2018, the National Organization of Sierra Leoneans in North America (NOSLINA) received $10,000 from USA for Africa (donated $5K) and the Second Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (donated $5K) for victims of the recent mudslide catastrophe in Sierra Leone! Ms. Jeannine Scott, Founder & Principal, America to Africa Consulting, LLC, liaised between Ms. Marcia Thomas, President of USA for Africa and Rev. Jonathan L. Weaver, Pastor of Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church of Bowie, MD, to make the donation possible. NOSLINA was asked to allocate the funds in a manner that would ensure that those who are most in need would receive support. To that end, NOSLINA identified three organizations on the ground with specific needs, and they allocated the funds accordingly. The following entities have thus already received funding from this $10,000 donation:
The Rural Health Care Initiative (Tikonko), Birth Waiting Home: RHCI supports a 24‐bed birth waiting home (with ongoing plans for expansion) that serves pregnant mothers who live far away from a health care facility. RHCI provides medical attention, space for community bonding, support, and mother‐to‐mother mentorship - particularly for first pregnancies -; and provides a place to stay after giving birth for mothers to learn more about well-baby care. RHCI also monitors children via “at home” visits from healthcare workers. Donor funds were specifically used to purchase high powered/industrial quality refrigerators, a freezer, water pump, and generator for the facility (please see attached pictures). RHCI Founder Alice Karpeh and Executive Director Carol Nelson said the appliances will be very helpful for their operations in food provisions, and providing light at night. "This especially uplifts the nutrition aspect of our program ... Without support from NOSLINA and the donors, RHCI would not be able to continue its life-saving work in Sierra Leone," they stressed.
Kings and Priests Court International (KPCI) Ministries' - City of Light Clinic, Lungi: KPCI's City of Light Clinic is currently being built in Lungi. The clinic is to include a water tower, pump and well. The donation to them will fund the digging of the water well, provision of electric poles, meter and material for the water tank needed to complete the clinic. Upon completion, the clinic will provide healthcare needs for Sierra Leoneans in the Lungi area. As KPCI Senior Pastor, Dr. Abdul K. Sesay puts it, "As a church, our desire is to reach the lost and needy at all cost and with NOSLINA's help we are guaranteed to do so. God bless NOSLINA for its continued support to our ministry."
Further, NOSLINA Executive Director Suna Nallo was able to secure a major donation for the City of Light Clinic from a Washington, DC luxury boutique hotel. Earlier this month, on behalf of the clinic, KPCI received over 500 sets of sheets and pillowcases, and over 3,000 pieces of toiletries (soaps, lotions, shampoos, body washes, etc.) valued at approximately $7,000 from the hotel. According to Dr. Sesay, the donations will be shipped to Sierra Leone in time for the clinic’s opening in April. (Attached is a picture of one of the bins full of sheets, pillowcases, towels, etc.).
Global Relief for African Communities in Emergencies, Sierra Leone (GRACE/SL): GRACE/SL is a local nonprofit organization, begun in Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis to raise awareness about the public health epidemic. On the inception of GRACE, the organization's first project was to benefit teenage orphans who lost their parents to the epidemic. These teenagers are taking care of their younger siblings; yet they want to continue their studies and go to school. GRACE is helping them to pursue their education. GRACE also operates a micro-business program to generate money for the young people. The donation from NOSLINA to GRACE is being utilized for their Mudslide Kids Initiative – by supporting the education of children, including providing school materials and feeding during the school year; training for parents of child victims; and short-term petty trading business grant to the “child parents”. In expressing gratitude for the donation, GRACE/SL Board Chair Hassan Kamara noted GRACE hopes to execute their program in a way that will enhance future collaboration. "We will now start identifying recipients based on our criteria," he said.
NOSLINA is thankful to USA for Africa and the AME Church for their wonderful gesture. The confidence bestowed on NOSLINA by the donors shows that the community (within and outside of Sierra Leone society) have utmost trust in the organization and appreciate the fact that NOSLINA officers are worthy stewards of their hard-earned dollars! NOSLINA does not take that confidence lightly and will continue to uphold the ideals and initiatives for which it was founded, as well as positively promote the noble causes that has earned the group a stellar reputation in Sierra Leone and in the global community.
ABOUT NOSLINA
For nearly 20 years, NOSLINA has served as the leading Sierra Leone Diaspora organization in the US. NOSLINA strengthens links between the Diaspora and homeland - specifically, the group has been supporting community projects and other initiatives at home in such areas as education; health and sanitation; cultural arts; advocating good governance and citizenship; and publicly recognizing individuals of Sierra Leone descent, friends of Sierra Leone and related entities in the Diaspora for their professional accomplishments and distinctive contributions to Society.
