A team of philanthropists from Norway led by Bård Stranheim has on Tuesday 26th March 2024 paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Social Welfare Honourable Mrs. Melrose Karminty at her New England Ville Office in Freetown.

The visit according to the team lead Bard Stranheim was to update the minister about the work they have been doing especially in the area of entrepreneurship and helping vulnerable groups as well as their support during the period of Ebola, mudslide in Freetown 2017 and lately covid19.

He added that, during the last 17 years, approximately one hundred thousand United States dollars (100.000USD) has been spent for various projects adding that some of them also contributed to establishing businesses, with environmental impact as the leading motivation. He said his passion has always been to help young people grow by conducting different programs for them to reach their potential. This he said is visible in their program for the orphans after the mudslide, where they designed a program combining entrepreneurial training and financial kickstart for the caretakers. Bard said that their philanthropic work has expanded to five hundred (500) pupils, including a farming project to secure a meal for them.

The  Minister of Social Welfare Honourable Mrs. Melrose Karminty warmly welcomed the team to her ministry and by extension the country as she expressed her delight hearing the experiences shared by the team as well as the work they have been doing to support vulnerable groups.

She explained the mandate of her ministry which is to empower and transform the lives of vulnerable and underprivileged persons or families including young people, women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities. This she said is done through coordinated development and implementation of laws, policies and programmes that promote their welfare and safeguard their rights including religious tolerance.

She mentioned the ministry’s recent work and interventions on issues like drug and substance abuse, human trafficking and disability issues.