Caritas Freetown, with support from CAFOD and in partnership with Community Disaster Management Committees (CDMCs), on Thursday, 9 July 2026, successfully carried out a community cleaning and fumigation campaign in Kolleh Town and Cockle Bay as part of its ongoing Conservation and Livelihood Project aimed at reducing flood risks and improving environmental sanitation.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen community resilience during the rainy season by preventing flooding, improving public health and encouraging greater community participation in environmental conservation.
The exercise brought together 30 community volunteers, comprising 15 participants from each community, who worked alongside Caritas Freetown project staff to clear blocked drainage systems and clean public spaces. The collaborative effort highlighted the commitment of local residents and project partners to safeguarding their communities against the impacts of seasonal flooding.
In Cockle Bay, volunteers cleared one major drainage channel, three smaller drainage channels and surrounding public areas, removing accumulated waste and debris that had obstructed the free flow of rainwater. In Kolleh Town, the team cleaned a 544-metre drainage channel that has historically contributed to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.
Following the clean-up exercise, fumigation activities were conducted in both communities to reduce mosquito breeding and other disease-carrying pests, contributing to a healthier and safer environment for residents.
The Chairman of the Community Disaster Management Committee in Kolleh Town described the intervention as timely, particularly at the height of the rainy season. He also informed the Freetown City Council (FCC) about the exercise and mobilised additional community youth to support the clean-up efforts, further demonstrating the strong sense of community ownership and collective responsibility fostered through the project.
To facilitate the exercise, Caritas Freetown provided essential cleaning tools and protective equipment, including wheelbarrows, shovels, pickaxes, head pans, gloves and other safety materials. Those resources enabled volunteers to carry out the work safely and efficiently while improving sanitation across both communities.
Project officials noted that the exercise significantly improved drainage flow by removing blockages that could have contributed to flooding. The fumigation campaign also helped minimize the risk of mosquito-borne and other vector-borne diseases, thereby promoting healthier living conditions.
Beyond the immediate environmental and public health benefits, the initiative strengthened collaboration between community members, local leaders and Caritas Freetown. It also reinforced community ownership of environmental protection measures and enhanced local capacity to respond to the challenges posed by seasonal flooding.
Caritas Freetown reaffirmed its commitment to working with communities and development partners to promote sustainable environmental management, disaster risk reduction and resilient livelihoods across vulnerable coastal communities in Sierra Leone.
