A Very Urgent Plea

Today I received an urgent plea from two small organisations in Sierra Leone, West Africa that we are in the process of forming formal partnerships with. What follows is not short by any means as this is an extremely urgent plea for a most urgent and desperate need.

Today I am going to concentrate on one and provide the information and details received by the first of them. I will share about the second organisation in a day or two so that you all have time to digest one at a time.

There is nothing worse than an overload of information and both organisations equally and as urgently need our help.

The first charitable organisation provides counselling for the civil war victims, children, young adults and adults in East and South Sierra Leone.  

Many of the people that  FaMHA-SL treat are either women and young girls that have been horrifically raped and maimed, had their limbs and body parts hacked off with machetes or knives and left to bleed to death. Children through to adulthood that have watched their entire families get butchered in front of them in the most horrific ways that we just simply cannot comprehend and much, much more.

This wonderful group of deeply caring professional people, have been picking up the pieces from the most horrific atrocities imaginable for several years now, and with very little support or funding what so ever.

Against all odds they are doing an amazing job but they are now in a critical situation and dire need of our help right now.

As well as the normal duties that this extremely dedicated team of professionals perform, in bringing normality and healing to the people that have been so brutally tortured and abused in the most horrific manners, they have also been needing to deal with the Ebola Crisis. They have watched so many of their people, doctors and nurses die as a result of this horrific virus. They no longer have the financial means to purchase the materials needed to continue the relentless battle against the Ebola Virus.

What Aid is available now in West Africa is situated in the Urban areas and not in the rural areas where the poorest people reside and are dying in unacceptable numbers. The number of children being orphaned by this terrible virus in inconceivable for us but this team sees and deals with the aftermath each and every day.

As time passes now these people are facing a new threat. The threat of starvation from lack of food as people are being confined to their homes to prevent the spread of the disease. Some families ar so weakened by the virus that even if they had the money and were able to leave their homes, they no longer have the strength to do so.

The result of this is that children are suffering needlessly and parents are forced to watch their beloved children fade away and die before their eyes, helpless to do anything to prevent the inevitable.

The major charities pulled out of Sierra Leone about three weeks before the Ebola Virus hit. For some of these organisations there just wasn’t the media exposure there any more for them, yes you just read right. So they pulled out and went to Syria, leaving West Africa alone and in total devastation when the Ebola struck.

Our charity is in the formal process of partnering up with both of the charitable organisations that I will be profiling here over the next few days.

I have placed several pleas over the Internet for the past three months on behalf of these two organisations, but not a single person has come forward to help whatsoever.

So we are trying once again to reach out to kind hearted people in the desperate hope to seek help for these people in whatever way, shape or form you are  able to give or help.

Just so that you know that I am legitimate to begin with, and to show that this is not a hoax or a scam of any description, here are our charity credentials:

The name of our legally registered Charity is:

Academy of Alpha To Omega Homesteader Inc. (The Academy)

“Helping Those Most In Need Within Our Communities and Beyond.”

We began in a minor way in 2001 and then sought to secure our formal position in January 2013. We were then  granted our official Charity registration on the 7^th November 2013.

Our Official Government Registration Number is:

Charity ABN 58347139938

We are registered on the official Australian Government site:

www.acnc.gov.au

We are a very small and fledgling charity at this time but you can see on the above site that we are registered for and as:

Advancing Education

Public Benevolent Institution

Advancing Social or Public Welfare

Advancement of Education

Relief of Poverty, sickness or needs of the aged

Our Charity Benefits the following persons:

Aboriginal or TSI

Aged Persons

Communities overseas

Ethnic Group

Gay, lesbian, bisexual

General community in Australia

Pre/post release offenders

People with Disabilities

People at risk of homeless

Unemployed persons

As well as:

Veterans or their families

Victims of Crime

Victims of disasters

Women

Youth

Men

We are also endorsed as a DGR (Deductable Gift Recipient) with the Australian Taxation Department. We are also governed by a strict reporting system which enables us to remain totally transparent.

We do not have a fancy ivory tower to maintain nor do we have hundreds of auxiliary staff, so any funding we receive goes directly into providing assistance and training for those that come to us in dire need.

The purpose of our charity, is to reskill and retrain underprivileged and disadvantaged adults in Work and Life Skills so as to enable them to become independent once again and no longer dependant on government or outside assistance. Our program will be ongoing so that those that come to us never have to think they are left to cope alone once their course has been completed, as we operate an open door policy. Any one that attends our courses will be able to have the security of knowing that they are never alone, and that they will still be able access and get advice if needed for as long as they require it via our in house Forum.

Now to the most urgent part and the whole reason for this posting. Here is a short Profile on the first organisation that we are seeking help for here over the next few days:

 Facilitation and Monitoring of Healing Agency – FaMHA-SL

Motto:

 Healing for an unending Development

Facilitation and Monitoring of Healing Agency (FaMHA-SL) is a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) established in 2010 in Kenema District at the Eastern part of Sierra Leone. Its establishment came as a dream from five psychosocial counseling professionals that worked with the International Rescue Committee(IRC)/ Centre for Victim of Torture(CVT) in the early post war  recovery program in Kailahun District, Eastern part of Sierra Leone.

FaMHA-SL focuses on psycho-social counseling of the emotionally affected population in the most affected communities of the East and Southern part of Sierra Leone where the past eleven year civil war had its greatest devastation.

It also embarks on guardian and counseling serves in schools for pupils and students that go through the challenges of learning at home and in the institution. 

FaMHA –SL is legally registered with the Ministry of local government and the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affaires (MSWGCA) in the Kenema District, Sierra Leone.

FaMHA-SL has a team of trained and qualified Psycho-social counselors, experienced and dedicated management and development staff in charge of the day -to- day operations of the organization. The management team is governed by functional and talented Board members whose time and supports are immensely contributing to its progress.

FaMHA-SL is in close contact with international clinicians in Africa (Kenya) and the USA who provide regular technical support and consultancy services to the team in Sierra Leone. At national level, FaMHA-SL closely collaborates with Community Association for Psycho-social Services (CAPS) operating in Kailahun district and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affaires (MSWGCA) in the operational districts.  

Concept of depression: text graphics - stock photo

Victims of trauma need psychosocial empowerment!!!!

Vision

Community with Healthy Minded Persons that gears towards sustainable development through supportive psychosocial services and empowerment

Mission Statement

Change in the mindset of affected communities and stakeholders towards trauma healing and   inclusion of the marginalized population into developmental agenda.

Aims

 Partnerships and networking with national and international charity and psychosocial focused organizations and donors in order to re-instate hope in victims of traumatic related issues in Sierra Leone.  

Objectives

• Improved  access to psychosocial services at all levels of the communities in the East and Southern regions of Sierra Leone

Children and social worker in session

• Ensure socio-economic empowerment of victims/survivors of trauma in Sierra Leone

Children drawing their stories

• Provide  supportive  activities which empower trauma victims for  integration  into the  societies

 CONTACT DETAILS:

No. 8 Ellie Street, Sembek Section, Kenema City, Eastern province, Sierra Leone – West Africa

Mr.Omenga A. Kormoh

Executive Director 

Mobil: +23288526390/+23276905283

E-mail: koinduomenga@gmail.com

E-mail: famhasl85@gmail.com

Now to the critical part, What is needed in the way of help:

The Ebola situation is not easing and people are still dying in large numbers throughout West Africa and Sierra Leone especially.

This dedicated team have been working tirelessly out in the rural sector of Eastern and Southern Sierra Leone bringing education and what relief they can to the rural people of this region.

Below is the plea of what is required and needed by this one organisation alone at this time and received at my office today.

The Executive Director outlines their immediate needs as follows:

SUPPORT TO THE NEEDY FOR LONG LIVE IN SIERRA LEONE -EBOLE THREATH

FaMHA-SL EBOLA RESPONSE NEEDS FOR THE NEEDY

Facilitation and Monitoring of Healing Agency (FaMHA-SL) is a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) established in 2010 in Kenema District at the Eastern part of Sierra Leone. Its establishment came as a dream from five psychosocial counseling professionals that worked with the International Rescue Committee(IRC)/ Centre for Victim of Torture(CVT) in the early post war  recovery program in Kailahun District, Eastern part of Sierra Leone.

FaMHA-SL focuses on psycho-social counseling of the emotionally affected population in the most affected communities of the East and Southern part of Sierra Leone where the past eleven year civil war had its greatest devastation.

It also embarks on guardian and counseling serves in schools for pupils and students that go through the challenges of learning at home and in the institution. 

FaMHA –SL is legally registered with the Ministry of local government and the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affaires (MSWGCA) in the Kenema District, Sierra Leone.

FaMHA-SL has a team of trained and qualified Psycho-social counselors, experienced and dedicated management and development staff in charge of the day -to- day operations of the organization. The management team is governed by functional and talented Board members whose time and supports are immensely contributing to its progress.

FaMHA-SL is in close contact with international clinicians in Africa (Kenya) and the USA who provide regular technical support and consultancy services to the team in Sierra Leone. At national level, FaMHA-SL closely collaborates with Community Association for Psycho-social Services (CAPS) operating in Kailahun district and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affaires (MSWGCA) in the operational districts.  

We stand strong to respond to the needs of the needy people during the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. The needy people are dying every day due to lack of necessary preventive support to the needy during the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in Sierra Leone. The well to do homes have got necessary preventive kits to fight the spread of the Ebola virus in their families but that is not the case for the needy people.

We are seeking support on behalf of the needy families in Ebola epicenters in Sierra Leone such as Kailahun, Kenema and Pujehun. We want to receive help from volunteer families, charities and donors who can help us with necessary viral sanitizers and other hand washing kits.

We are always accountable to people who donate materials and funds through our orgaisation. We shall ensure documentation of distributed materials and take photos of the distribution processes in order to share with people who donated goods or funds to us.

We Please ask that you donate:

• Hand sanitizers (For hand clearing)                                                                   
• Rubbing spirit
• Soap (for hand washing)
• Hand washing bowl (to store wastage water)
• Water bucket/rubber (to keep water for hand washing)
• Drinking rubbers (Most needy families don't have)
• Drinking cups (People share drinking cups)
• Spoons (people rotate spoons when eating, which is not good)

Child afraid of Ebola and maxed himself

The availability of the above items will help the needy/poor homes to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus. It has been evident that most Sierra Leones mostly do not apply the hand washing ethics and so the virus is spreading every day. Even after the outbreak, we would like to maintain the hand washing and necessary sanitation ethics in Sierra Leone.

FaMHA-SL will continue to facilitate hand washing training and sensitisation in public areas like schools, market, clubs, bars, and football  and athletic grounds. Counselling of survivors and other  victims of the Ebola virus will also continue as ongoing activity.

Also, the Ebola outbreak is currently contributing to food shortage in Sierra Leone due to the long life sperm of the virus. FaMHA-SL will admonish food  contributions from charities, well wishers, individuals and donors in order to support the needy people during the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

We welcome food donations such as:

• Rice
• Bulgur
• Corn Meal
• Flower
• oil
• and other necessary food stuff

Team ready to help Ebola victims and fight the virus up close and personal.

Please if anyone has it within their hearts to help make a difference and help these people continue the brilliant work that they are doing not just now, in the midst of the Ebola Crisis but will continue to do far into the future, then please contact the organisation directly via:

CONTACT DETAILS:

No. 8 Ellie Street, Sembek Section, Kenema City, Eastern province, Sierra Leone – West Africa

Mr.Omenga A. Kormoh

Executive Director 

Mobil: +23288526390/+23276905283

E-mail: koinduomenga@gmail.com

E-mail: famhasl85@gmail.com

Or you can email me via our charity email Academy of Alpha To Omega Homesteader Inc. Email: info@academyhomesteader.org and I can then pass your details onto the organisation on your behalf.

We are only acting as the messenger here with this plea, so any donations whether financial or in goods will done directly between you and the organisations you choose to assist.

Please help if you are able so that these people can help prevent the further spread of the Ebola virus and also enable them to assist the victims left in the aftermath, especially the little innocent children.

K. Barnes

Founder of

Academy of Alpha To Omega Homesteader Inc.

“Helping Those Most In Need Within Our Communities and Beyond.”