By Jonathan Hindolo Kurabu
Over the weekend, the Executive Director, Tommy Vandi and Staff of the Community Development Initiative Sierra Leone (ComDI-SL) donated a huge consignment of food and non-food items to the people of FanimaFoya Village in the Bo District.
Bags of rice, veronica buckets, cartoons of Maggie, facemasks and liquid soap for hand washing were among the donated items.
From what was learnt the donation came in the wake of a visit by Reverend Father Von Tucker during one of their outreach sessions to vulnerable communities in Bo District.
Tommy Vandi said the donation was part of their organization’s unflinching support towards the fight against the deadly corona virus which, he said, has already caused considerable number of deaths in Sierra Leone and the world at large. He used the opportunity to educate the people about the dreadful nature of the COVID 19 and in one of their responses, the beneficiaries said he is the first person apart from radio programmes to sensitize them about the transmission and precautionary measures about the corona virus.
Mr.Vandi intimated his audience that as an organization, they are privy to some ailing concerns of the community people among which he said included lack of toilet and hand dug water facilities in the entire village.
This, he stressed, is a dire concern that needs to be addressed immediately and promised all and sundry present to be of further assistance to them when funds are available and also urged them to take all necessary precautions towards protecting themselves and their families.
One of the ComDI–SL Board Members, Mr. Williams encouraged the beneficiaries to make good use of the donated items and to help join in the fight to ensure a corona free community.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the community, Town Chief, Francis Sandi, profusely showered thanks and appreciation on the ComDI-SL entourage for the gesture which, he said, was least expected yet widely appreciated. He stressed that their community is predominantly a farming community where the residents eke their living through subsistence farming which he further stated has been disturbed following the outbreak of the Corona scourge.
He lamented over the deplorable state of affairs in the village which he said is further worsened by the lack of clean drinking water, lack of toilet facilities and urged the Executive Director to always consider them where possible.
The ComDI-SL Executive Director also made similar donation to the Youths at Y-Junction.
Demonstration on the proper use of face masks and hand washing climaxed the ceremony.
