All Works of Life Development Association (AWOL) has provided food support of Le50 million to vulnerable people across the country during the second three- day lockdown announced by the Government of Sierra Leone (3rd-5th May 2020). Using the nationwide structures and personnel of the National Youth Council (NYC), AWOL delivered food to helpless people in six districts (Western Urban, Bo, Bombali, Tonkolili, Kenema and Koinadugu).
The NYC received the sum of Le50 million from AWOL and distributed to the selected districts through the District Youth Councils (DYC). Each DYC received Le 8.2 million to feed the needy.
In Western Urban Area, the distribution was done at the Disabled Persons’ Camps at Pademba Road and Wilberforce Street, Freetown.
In Bo, the distribution was in three locations: the Amputee Resettlement Home at Mattru on the rail, Bo No. 2 extension and Nduvuibu.
In Koinadugu, the School for the Blind and Amputee Camp were the beneficiaries.
In Tonkolili, the poor and needy converged at Maporta Junction, where they received their food.
In Kenema, four centers benefitted: School for the Blind, the OTC Centre, Turan and Norwaygian Refugee Camp.
And in Makeni, Bombali District, food was distributed to people at Magbenteh and Pamlap Camp by Fulla Town.
According to NYC officials, the distributions went on successfully during the lockdown and beneficiaries expressed gratitude as the food came in when they needed it most.
AWOL decided to deliver through the NYC because the Councils have leaders right across the country with very solid governance structures. The NYC is a structure set up by the Government of Sierra Leone, and it operates at the national, district, chiefdom and village levels.
The food donation is part of a Le150 million AWOL support to the national fight against COVID-19.
On 2nd May, 2020, AWOL presented a cheque of Le50 million to the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) to support its operations, which has now been decentralised to all 14 districts of Sierra Leone.
AWOL also invested the sum of Le50 million in the production of customized face masks for distribution to selected sections of the vulnerable population in support of the government’s Mask-Up campaign.
To ensure transparency and accountability, a team of AYV and local journalists witnessed the distribution of the food items in all the locations and reported.
