UK Summer, Sierra Leone Rainy season

Dear ~Enable the Children~ supporters,

Here in the UK I think Summer might be with us or at least on it's way I hope!  While in Sierra Leone the rainy season is certainly with them.  Despite being English, I had never seen rain like it does in SL... heavy, torrential, very wet and for days on end, and all that with no proper drainage for sewage or roads, steep mountainsides and communities on the edge of the sea where all the water wants to head.  You can imagine the chaos!  Sadly houses are swept away, lives are lost, sickness is hightened and life is not all that enjoyable.

Please remember our vulnerable disabled children during this dangerous season.

You can read below a final update from Sarah Withers, our Occupation Therapist who has just returned to UK.  She has faithfully poured out her life to serve with ~Enable the Children~ for which we are very grateful.  She has supported Abu and Ambrose and kept the project going through many hard times.  Sarah has been an amazing blessing, and we long for her to settle back into UK life and work well.

Also below is the story of Baby Hannah, who is actually 4 years old, not a baby, though because of her developmental delay had never even learnt to sit up for herself until we got involved  This is a child Abu and Sarah have been involved with and have been encouraged by her progress, character and determination, despite the death of her mother.  These children really do have to cope with so much, we cannot just walk away, but instead we show our love and encouragement.  Read more of what your support helps us to achieve.

Finally all that is left to say is that WE NEED MORE THERAPISTS - physiotherapists, occupational therapists, play therapists or anyone else who has experience with disabled children.  Abu and Ambrose are overun with work and still we are getting new referrals every week.  We'd love to train up another Sierra Leonean worker, but cannot do this without trained professionals.  Therapy is not taught in SL so there is no workforce already trained that we could work with.  PLEASE help up to enable more Sierra Leoneans to 'enable more children'.  If you know of anyone who might want to work with us, please give them our website info, or put them directly in touch with me. 

We are so grateful for our partnership with you. 

Have a great summer, and we'll be in touch with more news soon.

With love,

The ~Enable the Children~ Team

Vez and Rob

Abu, Ambrose, Mr Molai and Sarah

The SL Exec Board

Baby Hannah's Story

“Whilst working at SOS Home for the Physically Disabled in May 2012, I met a very sickly woman bringing her 4 year old for assessment at the home. The child, named Baby Hannah, was unable to sit independently or walk. Because of the severity of her disability she was not eligible for a place at SOS.

Her mother was very discouraged. ~Enable the Children~ workers visited Baby Hannah's home to assess her disability and make a therapy treatment plan. Baby Hannah had profound difficulties with her co-ordination and balance. ~Enable the Children~ were able to assess Baby Hannah and teach her mum how to do daily exercises.

On a follow-up visit 2 weeks later her aunty informed us that Baby Hannah's mum died and the child was now in her care. As ~Enable the Children~ continued to work with Baby Hannah we have seen improvement in her sitting balance and trunk extension. We have provided her with a special supportive chair with table for sitting, eating and playing in. We also recently provided her a special commode for toileting. When we first visited

Baby Hannah, it wasn't unusual for her to be sat in her own urine as her new family did not always help her to the toilet in time. The provision of a commode means she is no longer dependent on waiting for her family to assist her with toileting and there are less incidences of incontinence.

In spite the fact that she lost her mum she continued to improve and is now independently sitting, eating and pulling up to sit on chair from the floor by herself, standing with support and stepping along a bar. Praise be to God for her life and her improvement.”

Written by Abu