Santa Dash in aid of Laughter Africa

Jacs Thompson is raising money for Laughter Africa
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Liverpool Santa Dash · 1 December 2024 ·

Laughter Africa has been operating in Sierra Leone since 2015. We're not here to just provide handouts, we support the children to fulfil their aspirations and bring about positive change in their lives. How do we do this? We start with our Outreach program, where our local Social Workers meet the children living on the streets. It's a chance for them to get to know us and for us to deal with any immediate needs they have such as medical treatment, food, water and to provide counselling. Our aim is to encourage children to leave the streets behind, but without forcing them; it has to be their choice. When a child decides they want to leave the streets, they stay at our Interim Care Centre (ICC) whilst our Social Workers track down their family and ensure it is a safe environment for the child to return to. We provide counselling to the family and child, in the hope that the original issues that led to them turning to the streets are resolved. Once the child has returned to their family, we continue to check-in on them and pay for their schooling or vocational training. We also offer other support such as medical treatment, home essentials, support to start a business, whatever is needed to keep the child at home and off the streets.

Story

Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

Once again we are completing the Santa Dash and this year we have decided to join forces to raise money for Laughter Africa.

Laughter Africa was established by local lad James Tyrrell in 2015. Prior to this, James worked for CAFOD for five and a half years. Charity work has always been in his blood and James relocated to Sierra Leone to work with street children. The aim and mission of Laughter Africa is to help street children fulfil their aspirations and bring about positive change in their lives.

One of the ways that Laughter does this is by paying for school fees to help the children receive an education. They currently have 900 Sierra Leonean kids ready to go to school however school costs are approximately £50 per child.

If you are in a position to donate, you'd be helping children like:

• Karim, a 12 year old orphan with a disability who recently overcame cancer. With a renewed sense of life he's determined to advance his education and set his life up for success.

Success story:

Adama turned to the streets after the death of her mother, and suffering maltreatment from her Aunty. She lived on the streets of Freetown for three years and faced many challenges, all whilst raising a child, Abubakarr. Aubakarr is now 6 years old!

This week, Adama received her new business start-up kit after recently graduating from vocational school in tailoring.

She reflected, "Ever since I met Laughter Africa, my life turned around for the best. They paid vocational school for me and that has changed my life in so many ways. I want to express my deepest gratitude to Laughter Africa. You guys have no clue what you’ve done for me. How you have changed my life and the life of my son. For the first time in his life, he is really proud of his mummy and that is what I am most happy about. Abubakarr has not had an easy life so far but from now on I am determined to give him the world. Thank you for making this possible!"

If you would like to help other young people achieve their dreams like Adama, then please donate.

Love from 5 Dashing Santa's

❤️💙❤️💙❤️

xxxxx

Donation summary

Total
£575.00
+ £118.75 Gift Aid
Online
£575.00
Offline
£0.00

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