By Foday Moriba Conteh
Partnering to Serve Humanity Consortium, which comprises Tzu Chi Foundation, Healey International Relief Foundation, Lanyi Foundation and Caritas Freetown has on Monday 21st December, 2020 held an interfaith dialogue and later on distributed 8400 bags (10 Kilograms) of rice to 2,800 the less privileged within the Freetown Municipality. The event took place at the Jesus is Lord Ministries Compound on Tower Hill in Freetown.
Giving the purpose of the gathering, Executive Director of Caritas Freetown, Rev. Father Peter Konteh, said that the world has faced a lot of bad news but they are making efforts to bring good news to the world regardless of the difficulties ranging from COVID-19 pandemic, economic crisis etc.
He said that the consortium thought it fit that every year they should have an interfaith dialogue and distribution of rice to the less privileged people within the Freetown Municipality as a clear manifestation of their continuous support towards the course of serving humanity, adding that as religious bodies they have active components that look at charity and compassion out of which the activity is organized.
Project Coordinator of the Sierra Leone Muslim Missionary Union, Sheik Fomba Abubakar Swaray, expressed gratitude to the consortium for organizing the interfaith dialogue and undertaking the distribution of rice which he described as not only important but very timely.
He said Sierra Leone is a religious tolerant country which he said is as a result of the configuration that had been done by religious leaders to reject any religious war in the country.
He noted that the interfaith dialogue exemplifies the religious tolerance in the country, furthering that Sierra Leoneans should not tolerate any disunity among religious sects in the country.
Founder/General Overseer of Jesus is Lord Ministries, Apostle Dora Dumbuya, said that the love that has been demonstrated by the consortium is an example set by God Almighty adding that in the Book of John 3: 16 it is stated: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
She said the bible preaches peace, unity and in that regard she encouraged all Sierra Leoneans, regardless of religion, to embrace each other as demonstrated in the bible.
In his keynote address, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Mohamed Haji Kella, said that through the leadership of President Maada Bio and the entire Government he is very pleased with such an event that is geared towards preaching unity among Sierra Leoneans and also helped the less privileged in the country.
He said Sierra Leone is one country that is proud of not having any form of religious division saying we should be proud as citizens and in that regard he applauded the religious leaders for the tremendous work they have been doing in maintaining peace and unity among all citizens.
He took the opportunity to express appreciation to the consortium for the gesture and said as a Government they are in it together and their strides are well appreciated by Government.
The Deputy Social Welfare Minister also admonished all to strictly practice what the Government, through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and other stakeholders, have put together in terms of the protective measures that have been outlined stressing that we must treat with all amount of seriousness the advices that the experts are churning out in order to combat the spread of the virus in the country.
One of the beneficiaries, Fatmata Bangura expressed appreciation to the consortium for the gesture which she described as very timely, adding that as it now things are not really easy.
She narrated how she normally sells just to put food on their table, but said with the donation received it will help them greatly. She also called on other humanitarian organizations and individuals to follow the footsteps of the consortium during a crucial moment like this.
