<p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Andy's film highlights the poverty faced by fishing communities in Sierra Leone. Every day is a struggle to find enough fish to feed, clothe shelter and keep healthy the families of local fishermen. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sierra Leone has a life expectancy of just 49 years and has one of the highest rates of maternal and child mortality in the world. 80% of Sierra Leoneans live in poverty, with over half of all residents undernourished. The situation is worse still in Bonthe district&mdash;where Mania is located. The World Food Programme found in 2007 that 94% of households in the district faced &lsquo;serious difficulties&rsquo; growing or securing enough food for their families. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp;quot;">To tackle these problems, Christian Aid works in Sierra Leone to develop secure livelihoods. This includes funding a food security project in the Sherbro River&mdash;the area where Andy&rsquo;s film was made. Run by a local partner, the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone (MCSL), the programme can provide funds to buy;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp;quot;">- Larger boats to accomodate 15-20 fishermen</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp;quot;">- Outboard motors </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp;quot;">- Nets and Fishing Gear</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp;quot;">- Fish-smoking ovens</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp;quot;">- Other community projects for fishing families</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Together, these items make fishing and fish processing more profitable, safer and more stable for communities in the Sherbro River. Small loans can be provided and the money is repaid over a four-year period, allowing MCSL to provide it to new communities.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp;quot;">Your support for this valuable project will make a meaningful difference for the fishing communities in the Sherbro River.&nbsp;</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>