Emergency response

Sierra Leone has experienced difficulties in recent years, with the Ebola outbreak in 2014 - 15 and floods and mudslides in the Freetown area in 2017. EWA responds quickly to these emergencies, liaising with our local contacts to find out what the problems are and how we can help.

Ebola

During the Ebola outbreak, we sent funds to Bo and Freetown which were used to provide hygiene equipment such as chlorine, buckets and sanitisers for the schools, and rice to be distributed to needy pupils. Our local contacts distributed these and reported back to us. Several headteachers contacted EWA to express their thanks.

Freetown flooding

Several schools in Freetown were badly damaged by floods and mudslides in 2017.

At Annie Walsh school, the whole ground floor of the main building had about two feet of water when they arrived in school on the Monday after the floods. Small steps have been built to avoid more flood damage in the future.

At Bishop Crowther school, a large cotton tree fell on the toilets and passageway.

At Bishop Johnson school, floodwater caused the pipes to break.

EWA provided funds to enable these schools to carry out essential repairs, so that the children’s education could continue without hindrance.