Sierra leone: Nehamahim Orphanage compound in Grafton: Blessed and United Sisters, a Christian charitable collective from Sierra Leone, donated food and household essentials. The items which were donated on the 3rd April, 2026 included bags of rice, gallons of groundnut oil, palm oil, sugar, detergent, onions, provisions, snacks, and cartons of diapers. The ceremony unfolded under the oversight of the Ministry of Social Welfare's Family Welfare Unit.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the group consists of 23 women from various Christian denominations, including Catholic, Methodist, Pentecostal, and Anglican churches. Despite their different worship practices, unity remains their cornerstone. For nine consecutive years, they have reaffirmed their dedication to community service and national development, transforming shared faith into tangible action.
Vice President Patricia King addressed the attendees, explaining that the collective mission stems from gratitude and the desire to uplift vulnerable populations. She noted that their kindness reflects their faith and emphasized how small acts of giving can reshape lives nationwide. President Philippa Sesay elaborated on their past outreach efforts, which have included support for schools for blind and deaf children, elderly homes, the Dorathy for the Aged project, the Sick Pikin Project, and healthcare facilities.
Sesay acknowledged the challenges they face, but affirmed that their resolve never wavers. Their annual tradition includes gathering in churches for thanksgiving and reflection. Sesay confirmed ongoing expansion plans, clarified that their operations receive no government funding, and welcomed broader support. She formally presented the supplies to the orphanage representatives on behalf of the sisterhood.
Madam Workia Conteh, Director of the Family Welfare Unit at the Ministry of Social Welfare, commended the gesture as commendable. She stressed the importance of establishing hope-focused homes, describing such facilities as valuable complements to government support systems.
Reflecting on her personal journey through social welfare work, Conteh noted that consistent commitment to this home draws inspiration from the legacy of Mama Melrose Hawa Mboyawa, whose service ethic continues guiding efforts. Despite resource constraints and difficulties caring for children, collaboration and community backing have yielded meaningful progress.
Proprietor Melrose Mboyawa expressed deep gratitude to Blessed and United Sisters and staff. She shared how her late mother's compassion for disabled individuals sparked the orphanage's creation. During post-Civil War struggles, many abandoned persons faced bleak prospects. Skeptics doubted whether such a vision could succeed under harsh conditions, yet her mother's determination built something concrete through small-scale trading, absent structured assistance. Initial pleas for government or national help saw limited success.
Community-driven initiatives gradually emerged in shelter construction and collaboration with social welfare groups. Melrose emphasized her mother's final encouragement before death as a driving force: improving the lives of others remains her unwavering pledge. She called for ongoing participation from wider society to sustain the home's mission.