With financial backing from Trocaire under the SIOBHAN EDUCATION FOR ALL PROJECT, the Welfare Society For the Disabled in Sierra Leone has launched a comprehensive needs assessment targeting children aged 0 to 15 with disabilities in Pujehun.

Project coordinator Mohamed Sillah underscored the organization’s dedication to working alongside, for, and by individuals with disabilities, emphasizing the mission to enhance their quality of life and foster a sense of belonging and significance within society.

Originally established in Kambia district in 2004, the organization has expanded its reach to Pujehun district, committing to long-term efforts to uplift and empower persons living with disabilities.

Sillah elaborated on the one-year timeline for the current project, which builds upon a prior mapping exercise conducted last year to identify over 100 children with disabilities in the township of Pujehun.
The ongoing needs assessment aims to pinpoint the most vulnerable children within this group, with a particular focus on supporting an initial cohort of 20 children as a foundational step.

The project’s primary objectives include providing comprehensive support to the selected children through the provision of educational materials and other essential resources. Moreover, the project seeks to empower and assist the parents or caregivers of these children to ensure sustained and effective care. Scheduled for imminent launch in Pujehun, the project holds promise for expanding support to encompass other segments of the disabled community in the future the capabilities and potential of every individual, regardless of their physical or cognitive challenges.