By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of an aim to decentralize its activities with regards providing support to the less privileged in society, especially the Aged, the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA), a charitable and Non-Governmental Organization that advocates for the needs and rights of the aged with support from Padi & Friends of Dorwontony, has on Thursday 10th December, 2020 fed and doled out used clothing to the Aged in Bo District during a ceremony that was held at the St. Andrew Secondary School in Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone.
The event was followed by the official launch of the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA), Bo branch.
Speaking during the event, Founder of Dorwontony Organization for the Aged, Dorren Barrie, expressed appreciation to stakeholders of Bo District for the reception she furthered thanked Padi & Friends of Dorwontony for their support.
She disclosed that DOFA was founded this year in order to serve as the voice for the needs and rights of the aged across the country, adding that old people should not be considered as liability to society, but rather that they should be given the care they deserve, because they are the backbone of any peaceful society.
She added that as an organization they are committed to ensure that they support old people not only in Freetown but the entire country which is why they have embarked on a nationwide engagement with the Aged starting with the Bo district an exercise that will be rolled out in other districts.
She revealed that the organization having established its branch in Bo District will look at and deal with issues affecting the Aged in the district.
CEO Barrie furthered that the Organization has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board, where the Legal Aid Board will provide free legal support for the Aged, stating that in most cases, these old people do suffer injustices in the country, but with this partnership, it will ensure that these old people get justice.
She called on the Government, private sector and non-governmental organizations to support them in order to secure a Home for these vulnerable people who are homeless, adding that they are very important people in society and should not be neglected.
Regional Manager, Legal Aid Board, South, Martin Paul Moriwai expressed gratitude to DOFA for the initiative, noting that as an organization working in the interest of vulnerable people in the district they will give their support in giving justice to the Aged, furthering that with the MOU being signed between the two organizations older people have unhindered access to legal aid services provided by the Board, which will enhance their access to justice, which, he furthered, will entail DOFA channeling all legal aid needs and challenges of the aged to the Board.
He stated that the Legal Aid Board of Sierra Leone was established with the responsibility to provide free legal aid services for the poor, including legal representation, advise, assistance, legal and community based outreach, alternative dispute resolution etc. He said they are currently in the 14 Districts across the country, giving justice to the people regardless of tribe, region, age etc.
AIG South, William Fayia Sellu, also expressed appreciation to DOFA for thinking about the Aged as they are very important people in society.
He assured all that they will ensure that issues of old people are treated seriously. In that regard he called on all old people of Bo District to report issues affecting them of which he assured them that they will work closely with DOFA in order to support the development of the Aged in the district.
Fatu Moriba, a beneficiary, expressed gratitude to the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged for the gesture, which she described as not only important to them, but timely, noting that this is the first time they are experiencing such care and love from an organization in Bo District.
She called on other organizations to follow the footprint of the Dorwontony Organization in supporting the aged with food and other basic necessities, with the thought that they too are very important in society and they should be cared for.
