CHC AND THE KWAMA COMMUNITY

Aware of the facts and needs of Sierra Leone, the association’s commitment has gradually expanded over the years, and the local community has strengthened up. At present there are 16 villages, all in the rural hinterland of the capital: the Community of Kwama, named after the main village, later formalised in the Community Based Organization (C.B.O) called Kwama Community Development Programmes (KCDP), became our partner on the territory.

Over the years the commitment has grown:

• due to the hygienic-sanitary needs, each village has been equipped with a well for drinkable water and toilets for schools.

• a vocational training center was created for tailors, carpenters, blacksmiths and bricklayers

• a multipurpose community center was built for social life (baffa)

• a showroom for the sale of local products was created and launched

• support was given to the activities of the medical clinic in the village of Crossingi

• agricultural activities have been promoted thanks to training measures and supply of agricultural inputs through micro-credits

• equipment for cultivation was purchased: a small tractor, machines for the cultivation of rice and cassava, together with seeds, fertilizers and pesticides

• a pick-up was bought for the coordinator, so as to facilitate transportation and trade between villages

• after Ebola, a foster home was built to host 10 little orphans left on the streets (Bethany home)

• more recently, the commitment with schools has increased: construction, renovation, furnishing, scholarships, etc

• At present, the Community of Kwama gathers about 10.000 people who live in 16 villages: 20 community farms were created for 400 farmers. Furthermore, a common economic fund has been set up, fuelled by community activities and used for the priorities given by the village leader after consulting the inhabitants.
  The local coordinator, Mr Clement A. Kanu, has been our contact person for the last 15 years, and is perfectly integrated into the community where he lives together with his family. Moreover, after the departure of the Xaverian missionaries, we cooperate throughout the territory with Fathers David, Francis and Valery of the African Mission Society (SMA Fathers), in liaison with Freetown’s Archbishop, who constantly accompanies the action of the association.

More recently, at the request of friends from Sierra Leone but living in Lombardy, we started projects in two other villages, in the center and north of the country: Makonday and Mamanso Sanka, investing mainly in schools (see Community Hope School).

Sierra Leone is far away but, once a year, one of us goes to visit our friends. We reinforce friendship, we evaluate the progress of our projects and we listen to their needs for future actions. But now our friends are nearer: thanks to smart phones we get in touch very often and it feels like we are there.