By Mackie M. Jalloh
At a press confrence held on 11th November 2022 at the Ministry of Agriculture Conference room at Youyi Building in Freetown, one of the founders of the Terri Foundation, Dr Terri Grant, and Madam Sofia Baker, also founder of Baker Foundation, expressed joy in visiting Sierra Leone. They told journalists that they are proud to be in the country and would be having a base here soon.
Speaking during the meeting, Madam Sofia said that she is an Evangelist and her Husband, Dr. Baker, is a Pastor, and both Terri and Sofia are from the USA and have been involved in humanitarian work, heping young kids and helpless people. Both Sfia and Dr. Grant disclosed that they have been around the world giving help to disadvaraged people and teenagers, and that their visit to Sierra Leone is to have first-hand information about the needs in the country and see how they can help. They maintained that Sierra Leone has a young population and are hopful that in time, this will eventually result in the country becoming one of the developed countries in the world.
Madams Sophia and Grant said that they feel at home here and that the country seems different from other places they have been to, furthering that their passion is to help kids who are in need, and have been helping teenagers and kids in Jamaica, Uganda etc. Sofia also disclosed that she had worked with different humanitarian organisations across the world and had travelled a lot, but they have now decided to pickout places where they could go and help people. Sierra Leone came up in their minds, and they want to make this country a base for both Baker and Terri Foundations, furthering that they dont just give handouts, but help the people in agriculture etc. They both pledged their support to help Sierra Leone.
In his contribution, Mahmoud Barrie, National President Of the Children’s Forum Network, expressed happiness in welcoming the team to Sierra Leone, adding that he had heard a lot about their humanitarian work and is hopeful that same can be replicated here. He disclosed that they went to the Approved School, a school established by law fir children in conflict with the law to be rehabilitated and reformed, but lamented that the condition they met was deplorable, and that the kids wre merely prisoners. He noted that the facility was not meant to be a prison but one that will be used to reform the kids. He noted that the said school had no government teacher, and was struggling with feeding. He furthered that they also visited orphanages, many of the kids being orphanned as a result of the war, ebola and now covid, adding that a lot of kids will be happy that terri foundation can help in that area.
In closing, Peter Timothy, Coordinator and Country Rep for Terri Foundation, disclosed that the foundation has been doing a lot in rural areas, but now feel they want to have a hub in Sierra Leone and now they want to be part of the great development of the country. He welcomed them to Sierra Leone and hoped that they will have a wonderful stay and enjoy the beautiful country.
