Emergency Response
Standing Together in Crisis
At We Yone Child Foundation (WYCF), ensuring the safety of our children and their families means responding swiftly to emergencies and providing critical relief. Having worked in Kroo Bay and George Brook for years, we have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of extreme, sometimes life-threatening situations—floods, fires, disease outbreaks, and economic hardships that leave families vulnerable.
Ebola Outbrake In Sierra Leone
In May 2014, Sierra Leone confirmed its first case of Ebola, marking the beginning of a devastating outbreak that severely impacted communities across the country. Among the hardest-hit areas were George Brook and Kroo Bay, where residents faced not only the direct threat of the virus but also the harsh consequences of prolonged quarantines, economic instability, and rising costs of living.
SupportFlash Floods
Kroo Bay sits on a beachfront and is therefore prone to flooding events. The people living in this community have grown accustomed to this and have adopted a number of habits to cope. However, the level of danger increases at night-time when families are asleep and don’t always realise the water level is rising rapidly around them. When Kroo Bay floods, day or night, all people can do is stand in the highest, safest places they can reach and simply wait it out.
On the 16th September, 2015 WYCF responded to one of the most extreme flooding events that has struck Kroo Bay and other communities in Freetown in recent years. We provided relief by delivering food, clean water, clothes, learning materials and counselling to 302 households. Sadly, this was only one of the many times WYCF has had to intervene in face of similar occurrences.
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Addressing the Impact of the Ebola Crisis in Sierra Leone
The restrictions placed on movement and trade led to widespread unemployment, worsening conditions for already vulnerable households. With schools forced to close indefinitely, child labor and exploitation became increasingly prevalent, as children were pushed into informal work and, in some cases, even prostitution, just to help their families survive. The crisis also fueled an increase in criminal activity, as economic desperation drove some individuals to engage in unlawful means to provide for themselves and their loved ones.
The outcomes
- 7,000 people reached in 17 different communities in Freetown;
- 5% of people surveyed decided to change their behaviours in favour of Ebola prevention;
- 10% of those surveyed placed under quarantine at some point between May 2014 and January 2015;
- Emergency relief received by 400+ quarantined individuals in the form of food and water;
- Two separate community wide relief days conducted by WYCF in partnership with Street Child during nationwide quarantines, feeding up to 1,000 people.
Our Response
To mitigate the far-reaching effects of the Ebola outbreak and support affected communities, we implemented a comprehensive intervention strategy focused on education, community engagement, and emergency relief.
- Ebola Education Programme We partnered with Fight for Peace to design and implement a community-based Ebola awareness campaign. This initiative aimed to dispel myths, promote accurate health information, and equip residents with the knowledge needed to protect themselves and their families from infection.
- Community Outreach through CBOs – Recognizing the importance of local leadership, we collaborated with ten community-based organizations (CBOs) to extend our reach and ensure that vital information and resources were effectively disseminated.
- Training Community Educators – We facilitated intensive training sessions for two representatives from each of the ten CBOs. These sessions were conducted by an Ebola specialist from Connaught Hospital in Freetown, ensuring that community educators had expert guidance and factual information to share with residents.
