LAUGHTER AFRICA
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Mission Statement
We work with street-connected children in Sierra Leone, to help them fulfil their aspirations and to bring about positive change in their lives.
About This Cause
We work with street-connected children in Freetown, Sierra Leone. We work with girls and boys, aged 6 to 18, who primarily live on the streets. Many of the children we work with have suffered violence and exploitation. We believe in giving each child the dignity of a safe and secure place, where their basic needs can be met. We believe in access to education. For each child we help, we commit to sponsoring their school or vocational fees until they complete their final exams. We follow a three-phased approach: Outreach work: Our social workers meet the children living on the streets through night surveys, or through our mobile outreach project, which runs across several districts of Freetown. Here, we get to know the children and they to get to know us. It’s about building a mutual trust. The first priority of our outreach work is dealing with the immediate needs of the children. They may be hungry. They may be ill and need medical care. They may have been assaulted or beaten. They may be in trouble with the police or judiciary and need someone to advocate on their behalf. Sometimes, they are lonely or grieving and just need a listening ear. We stand with them side by side on the frontlines of street life. While we want to encourage the children to leave the streets, we do not force them to do so - it has to be their choice. The incentive behind our mobile outreach project was the death of two children, Augustine and Mohamed, who tragically died on the streets in 2016. We hope that by having such a project in place children like Augustine and Mohamed will get the health care that they need, instead of dying on the streets. This project is in memory of them. Interim Care Centre: The Laughter Africa Interim Care Centre is a safe place for children to temporarily live while attempts are made to trace family members and relatives. Food, clothing, health care, education, counselling, support and other essentials are provided. Activities such as drama, music, sports, cultural dance, arts and crafts, games and cookery are also available. The centre is a place where the children can simply be children and learn to laugh again. Home-tracing and family reunification: This is an integral part of Laughter Africa’s approach, whereby social workers trace the child's family members and relatives in the hope that the parties can be reunited. Reunification with family is dependent on whether the family situation is safe and secure. If this is not the case, then an alternative long-term home will be found. Before reuniting a child with their family, we provide mediation services to work with both parties to understand the reasons that led to the child turning to the streets. Our goal is to ensure that the child feels happier and the original issues that precipitated their move on to the streets are resolved. School Fees Sponsorship: Once the child has returned home, we provide continued support and we pay for the child's school fees (and other school costs, such as uniforms, bags, stationary) until the child finishes their final exams. Our social workers keep in touch with each child and their family to check on their progress and make sure that all is well. For instance, if a child is sick, we will pay their medical treatment. If a child is sleeping on the floor at the family home, we will buy them a mattress. Social workers visit the children at home at least once a quarter or more often if necessary. Advocacy and Campaigning: We carry out a lot of advocacy and campaigning work for the rights of street-children in Sierra Leone. In particular, we have built relationships with the following stakeholder and decision-making groups, where we advocate for the rights of street children in Sierra Leone: - Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs - Ministry of Planning and Economic Development NGO unit (SLANGO). - The chief/headsman in the local community - Freetown City Council/ Western Area Rural District Council - Other organizations and community groups (Police unit, other NGOs, etc.)