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We wish happiness and blessings to our Muslim friends as they celebrate the end of Ramadan.

SLIP will be hosting a zoom call to mark and celebrate 60 years of Sierra Leone Independence. The details of the site are below. You can register for the event on Eventbrite. The details of the zoom meeting are:

Topic: Sierra Leone Ireland Partnership – Sierra Leone Independence Day Event
Time: Apr 27, 2021 06:30 PM Dublin
Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/84870022325?pwd=cGJhbWI0YWhYYjZGK25NM3YxeDlsQT09

Meeting ID: 848 7002 2325
Passcode: 665626

To all our Muslim friends we wish you a blessed month of prayer, charity and renewal.

RAMADAN MUBARAK

As reported earlier a fire in Freetown has led to thousands being left homeless with little support. The following article outlines some of the assistance that is being given by the Don Bosco Fambul to those affected by this terrible tragedy

https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/12531-sierra-leone-urgent-aid-for-hundreds-of-children-who-have-lost-everything–in-a-fire

On March 31^st 2021 a delegation from SLIP met with Colm Brophy T.D. Minister for Overseas Development and the Diaspora to discuss the future of Irish involvement in Sierra Leone.

The discussions afforded us the opportunity to present some of our concerns in relation to strengthening the political, economic and cultural ties with Sierra Leone. 

We are very cognisant of the long tradition of the Irish missionary presence in parishes, schools and medical facilities which are now staffed by local personnel, and the Irish missionary presence has declined. In the light of this, and with a view to more overtly profiling Irish people’s continuing financial support to SL we sought increased support for a Salesian Order project, Don Bosco Fambul Bus.  

This social welfare project in the community supporting adolescent girls and boys in the poorer areas of Freetown provides food, clothing, education and on-going support until the young people are re-united with their families.  Providing increased funding for the ‘bus project’ would strengthen its impact by improving its outreach. 

SLIP proposes that this project be given special status and recognised as an Irish Aid ‘Special Partnership Project’, with dedicated funding.

The Minister gave a commitment to continuing support for SL which is already the recipient of important grants from Irish Aid. He is particularly committed to the cause of education for girls which was one of the themes of the SLIP Seminar on Education in Sierra Leone held last year in conjunction with the Dept of International Development in Maynooth University. Arising from the seminar, online meetings have been held between the Teaching Council in Ireland and the Sierra Leone Teaching Commission with the aim of strengthening teacher training in Sierra Leone.

We also spoke of the issue of obstetric fistula a condition which can be caused by early pregnancy and lack of access to medical care.

Minister Brophy said he would like to visit Sierra Leone when travel restrictions are lifted. He reiterated his commitment and determination to stay involved in Sierra Leone.

We thanked him for his interest and support and look forward to continuing the dialogue.