Having now returned from a week in Sierra Leone, I felt it necessary to update my fundraising page. The week and various visits have really opened my eyes for the need to give, especially in Grafton at Melrose' orphanage. This incredible women in a wheel chair cares every day and night for the 22 children with very little help. One of her helpers is a 17 year old young man who has been cared for by Melrose since he was around 7 years old. He is now giving something back by staying at the orphanage and helping raise the other children. Since A Call to Business' last trip to Sierra Leone earlier in the year, there is one new child in the orphanage. Even though the small house cannot take anymore children, this particular baby had to be taken in. Abandoned, beaten and then left to die in a hut, this 6 month old baby was rescued and taken in by Melrose. Unfortunately these situations arise often so there is a real need for expansion or a move. Another thing that struck me in Africa was the high level of happiness in the children. These children are ill, in wheel chairs, crawling along the floor with burns on their knee's, yet they are smiling. I was overwhelmed when handing the kids their football shirts (see photo and thank you to all my friends that donated one or ten in some cases! 60 were taken out in total!), something so insignificant to us really made their day. Unfortunately due to some locals taking advantage of Melrose' good nature, the orphanage isn't as safe and secure as we would like so we are now exploring the possibitlies of re-locating the orphanage. A Call to Business are already building a brand new school and training centre at a site thirty minutes away from Grafton. This is a massive project where land is being developed to grow crops so once the site is complete, it can run its self with no further financial input required. The site has a newly built house and will be run by volunteers interviewed through A Call to Business. Possibilities of moving Melrose to this site are now being explored so as much financial backing as possible is required. In the short term, all your funds will contribute to new beds, the repair of the well as no fresh water is currently going through to the orphanage and ultimately a re-location. If anybody would like further information or would like to speak to anybody on the team regarding donations and involvement, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will put you in touch with the right people.
Between 6-9 Dec 2008 myself & Richard Fearons will be driving a 1977 Lancia Montecarlo Spyderin in the LeJog (Lands End to John O'Groats) Rally to raise money for the Melrose Orphanage in Grafton, Sierra Leone.
We hope to raise in excess of £2,000 which we will give to the charity 'A Call to Business' (www.acalltobusiness.co.uk) to distribute to the Orphanage. Besides individual sponsorship we are also looking for corporate sponsors whose name will be sign written onto our car & displayed throughout the event & on & around the winner's podium!
The Melrose Orphanage is run by Melrose Kamara who is herself a polio victim & is the carer & advocate for 22 children ranging from 5-21 years of age. Melrose's love & determination that those in her care have a good quality of life has been a lifeline. It is a very sad fact that many families in Sierra Leone abandon disabled children due to lack of social welfare facilities & the poor economic climate. She is in desperate need of additional space to continue to provide adequate care & take in more children in the future when space & funds allow. In the main the monies raised will be used to renovate & add an extension to the orphanage.
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