Celebrating UN at 78 with the residents of the Freetown Cheshire Home

Certain places are special in our lives, where memories intertwine with the walls and corridors. One such place for me is the Freetown Cheshire Home. This was founded in 1962 to support and raise people with disabilities. It came to be after the Second World War after a man called Leonard Cheshire witnessed the destruction caused by war and drew pity to save and give a new future to those extremely affected by the war. 

Recently, I embarked on a nostalgic journey to revisit this cherished abode. This time, it was to celebrate the 78th Anniversary of the United Nations with the lovely residents of the home. As is now a permanent fixture in the calendar of activities of the UN in Sierra Leone, each time the day is observed, the anniversary cake is donated to a facility for children and young people. Thus, when my colleagues at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, where I now work as a Partnerships and Knowledge Management Officer, asked for suggestions on where to donate the cake this time, my former home came to mind. I did not think twice. I suggested, and they accepted. The next day, we meandered our way through the traffic east of the city for Race Course, the home of Cheshire Home.  

On my return, what we discovered was a captivating blend of emotions, reminiscence, and personal growth. 

As I stepped through the familiar entrance, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. The scent of an aged cotton tree in front of the girl's quarter and the beautiful flowers greeted me, instantly transporting me back to a time when this place was my sanctuary. The boarding home, once bustling with life, now stood in a tranquil stillness, waiting to reveal its uniqueness and hope. 

My first memory of the Cheshire Home was as a day scholar when I was enrolled in Class One two decades ago. I was brought to town from a village behind Kabala that I cannot remember now. I could not speak Krio, let alone English, and the latter was the only means of communication in the school where deviants were punished with the Black spot – a coin given to one caught speaking Krio and where the last person with the spot on the day is sentenced to the cleaning of the girls' dormitory. During my formative years, I was found wanting a number of times.  

Meeting the current residents, who now call this place home, was a heartwarming experience. Listening to their stories being told by the chairperson and caregivers, I discovered common threads that connected me back to my days in the home. The Freetown Cheshire home had become a bridge between the past and the present, a testament to the enduring spirit of community and belonging. It has transformed the lives of so many physically challenged people in the country who are now serving in different spheres of life, ranging from doctors, lawyers, managers, teachers, and the like. 

Amidst the success of the home, it is now faced with great challenges that cannot be overlooked if we want to impact the lives of the young pupils of the home. 

Currently, the home is constrained with food to feed the children, both resident and non-resident, amounting to a hundred persons.  Years back, which I can vividly remember, the home used to get food donations from Rome-based donors and other NGOs, which was a big aid to the home, but according to the chairperson, Dr. Abdulai Dumbuya, all this support stopped a while back, leaving him to scramble his way out to feed the children. 

Noting the challenges, Dr Abdulai mentioned the effect of late government subventions, which, according to him, has caused a lot of constraints in securing his staff and effectively taking care of the children.  According to him, most staff who came with a determination to support the children had to quit their jobs because of late salaries since it normally takes some time for the home to pay them. He disclosed that the home is left now with workers passionate about serving these children, but deep within him, he is not pleased with the situation as he believes in decent work for all.  

The home has no disability-friendly vehicle to transport the children to their various schools. According to the chairperson, the government shortlisted forty homes that would benefit from the fifty disability-friendly buses that would be given to these homes, but Freetown Cheshire Home was omitted. He added that the home only has one vehicle, which was donated by the World Bank years ago. Whenever that vehicle had serious maintenance problems, it became challenging to support the children at their different schools. 

As I glanced through the familiar spaces and faces, I could not help but reflect on the lessons this home had taught me. It was here that I learned the value of independence, resilience, and adaptability. Living among diverse individuals from different backgrounds, I discovered the beauty of embracing differences, finding common ground, and looking beyond my disability. This home had prepared me for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. 

Returning to this place allowed me to appreciate the journey I had undertaken and the person I had become, and I realised that every child deserves equal opportunities and a chance to thrive. 

By addressing these challenges, we can make a significant impact on the lives of these children and the staff of the home.