Aiming to reduce the devastating impact of flooding during the rainy season, the Tzu Chi Foundation, in partnership with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and Caritas Freetown, has launched a six-day flood mitigation campaign targeting some of Freetown’s most vulnerable slum communities.
The cleaning and sensitization exercise, which began on Tuesday, 15th July, is being carried out in Kroo Bay, Dwarzark and Susan’s Bay; areas often hardest hit during heavy rains due to clogged drainages and poor sanitation infrastructure. The initiative will run daily until Sunday, 20th July 2025.
At each location, 45 community volunteers are participating in the cleanup activities, operating under the supervision of NDMA’s Community Disaster Committees (CDCs). The volunteers are focusing on unblocking drainages, cleaning culverts and removing waste from public spaces all of which are critical to preventing flooding and waterborne diseases.
The Tzu Chi Foundation has equipped the volunteers with a complete set of cleaning tools and protective gear, including shovels, wheelbarrows, head pans, rakes, gloves, rain boots and raincoats. In support of the public education aspect of the campaign, the Freetown City Council’s parrot vehicle is broadcasting messages throughout the targeted communities on proper waste disposal and disaster risk reduction.
This marks Tzu Chi Foundation’s third community-based cleaning initiative in the same communities over the past three years. Beyond physical cleanup, the Foundation has also provided financial assistance to residents and local leaders to help strengthen livelihoods and promote long-term resilience.
Speaking at the campaign’s launch, Margaret Bassie, Tzu Chi’s representative in Sierra Leone, emphasized the organization’s proactive approach to disaster prevention. “Tzu Chi does not believe in simply reacting after disasters occur. Our focus is on working with communities to prevent such events in the first place,” she stated.
Ishmeal Alfred Charles, the Foundation’s liaison with Government and institutions, echoed the importance of community leadership and accountability. “This campaign is about more than just cleaning—it’s about empowering communities to take ownership of their development. After this exercise, it will be the responsibility of residents and their leaders to maintain the drainage systems and report anyone dumping waste in them,” he urged.
The Foundation’s Liaison further advised volunteers to focus on high-risk zones, such as waterways and key public infrastructure that are frequently overwhelmed during heavy downpours.
In addition to the physical cleanup, the campaign includes a strong sensitization component. Community members are being educated on proper waste management practices and encouraged to care for the tools provided so they remain available for future use.
Residents of Kroo Bay expressed gratitude for the intervention and called for more frequent engagements during the rainy season. “Floods here are worsened by poor drainage and water coming from the hills. This kind of help is very important and we hope it continues,” said one local resident.
The NDMA’s Western Region Coordinator, Gerald King, praised the collaboration, describing Tzu Chi as a reliable partner in both emergency response and disaster risk reduction. “Tzu Chi has consistently stood with NDMA in delivering humanitarian support and promoting disaster preparedness in the Western Area,” he said.
With the campaign ongoing, there is hope that a cleaner environment and stronger community awareness will lead to fewer disasters and improved public health outcomes across Freetown’s most at-risk communities.
