#AfterEbola
Necessity is the mother of invention
Necessity is the mother of invention – we can see this proverb come to reality during times of crisis, particularly in the actions and initiatives that come from the NGO and Aid communities. A few weeks ago, the West African Medical Mission (WAMM) took in some of our students to be trained in a variety…
Read MoreTraditions, Rites, and the Deadly Virus
‘Safe and dignified burials’ have been a top priority of the international and government agencies of the past months; with more reports of insensitivity by government burial teams – a lack of clarity as to grave locations, and a lack of religious formality to ceremonies – it is becoming a point of contention at both…
Read MoreEducAid today: 31st October 2014
Sierra Leone – an update Firstly, an update on the Ebola figures for this week. These figures are accurate for the 20th and 29th October, and the new cases only pertain to that day only. 20th Oct 29th Oct New Cases Kailahun 0 0 Kenema 0 4 Kono 0 0 Bombali 0 11 Kambia 0…
Read MoreEbola: Distrust and Misinformation
Distrust and misinformation have been prominent throughout the Ebola outbreak, and something that we have touched on in previous blog posts. Distrust for the government and international community, and a lack of clear information about the sources, the transmission, and the care for Ebola. It can be difficult for an outsider to fully understand the…
Read MoreEducAid today: 23rd October 2014
Continuing on from last week’s update, here is a fresh one for today. To begin with, we have an update from Sierra Leone today, it reads: Due to the number of new Ebola cases in Western Area, Western Area is now considered an Ebola High Transmission Area. This means that certain measures have been put…
Read MoreEbola and a politicised media: hindrance or help?
We’ve noted in previous articles that the situation in Sierra Leone has been exacerbated by the lack of clear health information circulating through both domestic and international media. Now that the situation has matured, the information has levelled somewhat. However, we would still like to address several points of contention regarding Ebola contagion, as well…
Read MoreEducAid fighting Ebola: Augustine Bundor
Times can be tough in Sierra Leone, and this is one of them. With Ebola rife throughout the country, and the population panicked about contracting this deadly disease, education can seem secondary to survival. This is not the case. Our mission statement says that the education of young women and men is essential to unlocking…
Read MoreEducAid today: 16th October 2014
Since the first case was confirmed in Sierra Leone on 25th May, the swift acceleration of the Ebola virus across the country and Western Africa has seemingly caught both governments and the international community off-guard. Ebola has claimed around 1183 lives in Sierra Leone, and 4493 world-wide, and has one of the lowest survival rates…
Read MoreEbola & Our Response
At EducAid we have been fighting to protect ourselves from Ebola from the very beginning. We are in the fortunate position that the majority of our school compounds are generally self-contained and stable. Under the guidance of our Country Director and Trustees, the staff have implemented strict protocols that restrict the movement on to and…
Read MoreThe Thoughtful Sierra Leonean
EducAid is working on the production of educational radio programmes for distribution across the country while the ebola State of Emergency keeps schools shut and children away from their studies. If we have learned nothing else during this latest crisis, we have learned that the lack of basic education has left the population so terribly…
Read MorePhoto Exhibition –
Please do come along and bring everyone you can. It will be a great event. Beautiful photographs and inspiring speakers, followed by drinks and a grand auction. Thursday, 23rd October 2014 6:30pm for 7pm St Michael’s Church, Chester Square London SW1 9HH £20 recommended donation on entry or online: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/educaid/186452 We look forward to seeing you.…
Read MoreEducation on the move with EducAid!
So….since the declaration of the State of Emergency, there is a complete ban of all gatherings of more than five people except for going to church, or the mosque or ebola sensitisation meetings. One of the most significant consequences of this, is that schools and colleges cannot open. Even summer school classes were cancelled throughout…
Read MoreDispelling Ebola Myths
Jungle trek across 4 flooded rivers, up hill and down dale to reach some of our more rural communities. And what an emotional roller-coaster this one is. I can go from desperate sadness to frustrated anger to laughter to pride to fear in a matter of minutes. Hearing the confusion and panic as people ask…
Read MoreGreat news from Augustine Bundor (EducAid’s first Dr to be)
Augustine in his lab coat in class. Augustine has just got in touch to say that he has received his end of 4th year results from the College of Medical and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS). He is promoted to his 5th year studies with a credit in medicine! Augustine came to EducAid, having left school…
Read MoreEducAid Position Statement on Recent Cases of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in Guinea and Sierra Leone
Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola HF) is a Viral Haemorrhagic Fever. It is a severe, often fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). President Ernest Bai Koroma has declared a state of emergency in response to the current outbreak of Ebola HF in West Africa. It is essential that all…
Read MoreIssa Fowai – Civil Engineer
This is surely why we do what we do. When we have hard times, it is great to remember some of the highlights and Issa’s successes and attitude have to be among the best of those: Dear Miriam,I have finally got my Degree today. I’m a Civil Engineer now. A feeling I can’t express in…
Read MorePhoto Exhibition – Save the Date
Really happy to announce a photo exhibition organised by some of our most committed volunteers. The event includes a stunning photographic exhibition on EducAid’s work inSierra Leone, with a focus on the obstacles faced by girls and womenin the country. The talks originate from interviews held with girls in SierraLeone about their experiences, and the…
Read MoreOur World, Our Eyes, Our Imagination
In June and July 2012 the students of EducAid Lumley, EducAid Rolal and EducAid Maronka took part in a project to learn photography. The stories of their lives in Sierra Leone along with their ‘snaps’ have been published by one of our most valuable volunteers, Irena Przybyl, in a book entitled .Our World, Our Eyes,…
Read MoreComing soon: a new face of EducAid Sierra Leone
So….. it’s still the same old EducAid working in the same ways: High quality education for the most vulnerable in Sierra Leone; Great value for money; Destroying poverty with education; A values led approach to all we do etc etc. but we are getting a new face. The website may have served its purpose for…
Read MoreBig big thank you to Nick Nixon for running for EducAid
A couple of weeks ago, cousin Nick Nixon, egged on by his sister in law, Lucy, took to the streets and ran a half marathon to raise money for EducAid. In his words: There was a combination of factors which inspired me to take part in the Half Marathon and raise money for EducAid. Firstly,…
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