Finally! We're back in Golu...Installing the digital library.

After a long year of battling Ebola, Sierra Leone is just over two weeks since the last reported Ebola case. They have started the 42 day countdown to be declared an Ebola free country. Fingers crossed things stay on track. Since the country is on the mend we are now able to get back to Salone and continue our work. Our last visit to Sierra Leone was almost two years ago and now we're back in town to install Golu's first ever solar powered digital library! This library will provide access to free educational resources for the whole village and surrounding villages.

Take a look at the library so far. It consists of a solar powered custom made server that is preloaded with online content that will be updated on a monthly basis and 3 solar powered custom made desktop computers. Thanks LamTech for your expertise and installation!

The Image Hollywood Created of Africa (Video)

Children's Ebola Recovery Assessment: Sierra Leone

A report by:  Save the Children, World Vision International, Plan International and UNICEF.

"Nearly half the population of Sierra Leone is under the age of 18 years and the impact of the Ebola crisis on their lives now and on their future opportunities has been far-reaching: no school; loss of family members and friends to the virus; and changing roles and responsibilities in the home and the community.

While the priority now remains meeting the goal of zero cases, the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) is also developing a comprehensive strategy aimed at supporting communities to recover from this crisis, to put the country back on track to meet development targets. The Ebola Recovery Strategy – currently being finalised by the GoSL – represents a potentially transformative framework to support the immediate recovery of children from the crisis and to ensure their place in the future development of Sierra Leone.

To date, there has not been a formal process for children to outline their own priorities for recovery to decision-makers. In mid-March 2015, child-centred agencies conducted a Children’s Ebola Recovery Assessment (CERA) in nine districts across Sierra Leone to create a mechanism for more than 1,100 boys and girls, to discuss issues of concern; assess the impact of the crisis on their roles, responsibilities and future opportunities; and to formulate their recommendations for recovery.

The findings of the CERA powerfully demonstrate the diverse and inter-connected impact of the outbreak for children living through the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone. Children identified four issues of concern:

1. The impact of school closure on their learning, social interaction and protection and their desire to return to education;
2. The many and varied direct impacts Ebola has had on their lives, including grief, fear and anxiety;
3. Limited access to healthcare for common health problems; and
4. The wider economic impact of the crisis on their families and communities, including access to food and family livelihoods.

Overwhelmingly, children viewed the closure of schools as the issue of primary concern for them and were unanimous about the potential impacts this could have on their futures opportunities. Across all nine districts, children reported a direct correlation between school closure and increases of child labour and exploitation, exposure to violence in the home and community, and teenage pregnancy. Children also described taking on new roles and responsibilities to supplement household income.

As Sierra Leone emerges from one of the most challenging crises in its history, boys and girls have clear views on what they need, want and expect from decision-makers in the community and government. Education, access to healthcare and a safe environment in which to grow up rank top of the list for children’s recovery from the legacy of Ebola in Sierra Leone." READ MORE

Learn about TVL's Radio Education Program.

UPDATE: Radio Education & Tutoring Program In Golu Is Off To A Great Start!

The Radio Education & Tutoring Program has only been launched in Golu for just over a week and we're so pleased with the progress and participation so far! The community has really come together and made this program into something special.

Since 85% of the adults in Golu are uneducated, the resource center committee held a meeting with the parents to discuss sending the children to the village school building, along with their radios. This way the village can provide a classroom setting to aid in the learning process. The parents and resource center committee unanimously agreed that this would be the best approach to set the children up for success and get the most out of the program. In addition, the committee confirmed volunteer participation from the teachers in the community to spend daily time with the children, providing guidance during broadcasted class lectures. During the meeting they also agreed that the children should have a schedule, which will be to attend school Monday to Friday.

Even though school is not officially back in session, in the traditional sense, the community has really stepped up and come together to utilize the radios and supplies TVL provided. They have created a structured school environment, giving the children a chance to continue their education and succeed in this program. TVL is so proud of the people of Golu and how well the community has worked together on taking advantage of the tools and resources we provided. Take a look at our most recent photos of the program below.

Daily Life In Sierra Leone Amidst The Ebola Outbreak

Daily life in Sierra Leone has drastically changed for residents with the growing fear of Ebola and all that comes with this terrible viral invasion. People have had to learn how to operate daily tasks amongst this fear. Running normal everyday errands such as getting groceries, has become a risky activity. For example, in the last few weeks random check points throughout Freetown have been set up to measure body temperatures in an effort to prevent the spread of Ebola. If you're selected to be tested you are first asked to clean your hands. Then, your body temperature is measured with a non-contact laser thermometer that gets a reading from your forehead. If you have a fever, you have no choice. Immediately you are taken into quarantine until it is determined if your fever is from Ebola or not. People are avoiding the hospital and roads even if they are sick due to other illnesses, such as malaria, in fear they will contract Ebola from being near an infected person or seized and taken from their loved ones without notice. These random check points for Ebola symptoms has made moving around the city a risk. Restrictions on traveling throughout the country have been in place some time, affecting the already fragile economy. Worse, borders have been closed preventing commerce. With people staying inside they are unable to go shopping, leaving the countries families and individuals feeling the financial stress of lower incomes.

Despite this bad news and worrisome situation, we are happy to report that as of now Golu has no reported cases of Ebola. What we've learned over the past few months is that education about this virus and how to avoid spreading it, is the most useful tool in prevention. The residents of Golu have been well educated on how to prevent the spreading of Ebola and have been exercising these precautions to keep their community safe. Though it is good news to hear Golu has no Ebola cases, they too have fallen victim to the other challenges that come out of preventative care and country wide travel restrictions.

In Golu, one of the primary sources of income and resources is going to the weekly market in the nearby junction town, Gerehun and  to the closest city, Bo, to buy and sell goods and food products. Gerehun has no reported cases of Ebola but a nearby village, Jebehun, has one confirmed case. Bo now has 31 confirmed cases of Ebola so this has scared many Golu residents from making the trek to Bo's market. Unfortunately, fear as well as the prevention and quarantine practices are leaving this small community with fewer resources and income. In addition to this, it's rainy season so the community resource center's main source of revenue - cell phone charging stations - are moderately being used due to lower solar power reserves and financial difficulties making communication in and out of the village difficult.

Overall throughout the country everyone is feeling the affects of this terrible virus and all the other issues and challenges that come along with it. This country has been through so much and somehow the people of Sierra Leone are able to remain positive and have proven to the world time and time again that they are resilient when faced with challenges that would most likely devastate many other countries. We know that Sierra Leone will bounce back from these hard times and pick up where they left off. The Village Link remains committed to helping the countries underrepresented communities to gain self-sufficiency once again.

Below are the current facts and figures for Sierra Leone according to the CDC and WHO, along with a couple interesting videos on the virus.

• The Ministry of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone and WHO reported a cumulative total of 1026 suspect and confirmed cases, including 935 laboratory-confirmed cases, and 422 deaths.

• Cases have been confirmed in 11 of 12 Sierra Leone districts.

2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa - Outbreak DistributionMap