Emergency Mudslide Relief in Sierra Leone

MEET THE FREETOWN FIRST RESPONDERS

The Freetown First Responders is a group of 30 young people from communities affected by last year’s mudslides in Sierra Leone, which claimed the lives of hundreds in August 2017. The floods came just as Sierra Leone was beginning to recover from the 2014-2016 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak. Now, these 30 leaders undergo training with IsraAID staff on Disaster Risk Reduction and Psychosocial support, to bolster resilience and lead their communities should a disaster occur in the future.

Moses, a resident of Kamayama Freetown, wanted to serve as a member of the armed forces of Sierra Leone. He was rejected from joining shortly before the mudslide, which he remembers as a dark time in his life. During the mudslides, Moses worked as a member of a rescue team in his community, “I assumed everything was fine with me, until after a few days I started to experience nightmares.” He credits the support of his friends and families with his recovery from these mental health challenges. “With this training, I have gained increased knowledge and I feel well equipped to provide care and support in case of emergencies in my community,” says Moses of the Freetown First Responders program.

Fatu has lived in Kamayama since she was 12 years old. She describes the mudslides as her “worst moments,” when her uncle lost 12 members of his family. “The grief was too heavy to bear, and I lacked the necessary skills to comfort and restore hope to my uncle and the rest of my relatives,” explains Fatu, describing her motivation to join the Freetown First Responders program. At the start of the program, Fatu says she was shy, quiet and reserved, and had always struggled with managing her anger. “I can confidently say I have benefited from some tips on anger management, as well as conflict resolution, psychosocial support, self-care, and symptoms of burnout,” she adds.

“My name is Aiah, and I am a change maker.” Aiah recalls difficulty during the first sessions of the Freetown First Responders program. “I experienced anxiety and fright,” but quickly, learned to utilize the coping mechanisms taught in the program, like deep breathing exercises. “My favorite part has been establishing trust, ensuring an environment conducive for participants. As a team, we look forward to implementing these skills and techniques.”

Thank you for your ongoing support, which helps us amplify our reach through these inspiring community leaders!