The World Health Organisation estimates that disabled people in Sierra Leone (SL) make up approximately ten per cent of a population of 6 million, but the actual figure is likely to be much higher, due to the impact of ten years of a brutal civil war. Disabled people are often stigmatised by society, and with severely limited access to education and economic opportunities in the country, it is not surprising that they constitute a significant percentage of those living in abject poverty.
But people really can help make a difference! Take my story, for instance … Disabled from early childhood and with a somewhat bleak future in SL, I received anonymous sponsorship to study in the UK. Several years later, I completed my A-Levels and a BEng (Hons) in Engineering, Diploma in Technology Enterprise and subsequently gained a PhD. This life-changing generosity has given me the opportunity to become independent through gainful employment, working for the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and so make a contribution to society. Later, when I learnt, after Dorothy Springer’s death in 2003, that she had been my anonymous sponsor, I was so overwhelmed by her kindness it inspired me to set up the Dorothy Springer Trust (DST) in her memory.
For me, personally, the DST is a way of giving something back, because somebody gave me hope! We are now looking to raise £20,000 to change the lives of many disabled people in SL. I feel so passionate about the charity that I am taking a break from my job in the UK (with the kind permission of my employer) and returning to Sierra Leone in October 2009 to run our second project (the first being the donation of 100 used computers) of, initially, training five disabled people in ICT. As the DST is a small charity with limited resources, all monies raised will go directly to the training programme and I will be supporting myself through part-time employment.
Please support us by giving what you can to help us advance the prospects of disabled people in SL. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. Thank you for your support. Abs Dumbuya.
Please visit our website: www.dorothy-springer-trust.org.uk!
