Helfende Hӓnde

The Swiss-Sierra Leone Development Foundation recently welcomed friends from the German organisation, Helfende Hӓnde. This would be the fourth visit to Makeni for founding members; Eckhard, Margitta and Eveline, and the SSLDF Fundraising Team were eager to show them both new and existing projects.

On the list of visits included the Magbenteh Community Hospital, Magbenteh Community Boarding School, Bai Bureh Hospital in Lungi and Masanga Leprosy Hospital.

During their time in Makeni, a ceremony was held at the Seventh Day Adventist School for the handing over of three new classrooms funded by Helfende Hӓnde, with the support of SSLDF. It was a wonderful occasion with speeches from the Head Boy and Head Girl, alongside a representative from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The guests were also entertained with cultural dance and song, as well as a drama about girls’ education.

Prior to coming to Sierra Leone, Margitta and Eveline knitted a beautiful array of children’s hats, blankets, shoes and clothes, which they distributed to patients in the Children’s Ward and Under-Fives Clinic, as well as new-borns in the Maternity Ward and expectant mothers attending the Antenatal Clinic. All beneficiaries were thrilled with the handmade gifts and sang ‘Tell God Tenki’ in delight.

In Germany, Margitta had also knitted items and sold them as part of her own personal fundraising initiative to provide medication for the Children’s Ward and the treatment against malaria, typhoid, anaemia and malnutrition. We are very appreciative for her hard-work and support in providing quality health care for the youngest and most deprived population of Bombali District.

Before leaving, Helfende Hӓnde presented a very generous donation to SSLDF for drugs and medical supplies at Magbenteh Community Hospital. We are extremely grateful for the long-standing support and commitment of Helfende Hӓnde to SSLDF’s work and we look forward to welcoming them again in the near future.