Shelter For Africa - Projects and Activites

Projects and Activites
Today in post-war Sierra Leone, the destruction of the country is not only physical, but includes the destruction of the people’s way of life. Therefore our activities have diversified to tackle the various and often acute problems that disadvantaged and vulnerable groups are facing.

Our goal has now shifted to provide the opportunity to these people to become economically self-reliant. We aim to engage people in income-generating activities, or even to help them set up independent small-scale businesses.

Building Material Production
Shelter for Africa runs a Building Material Training Centre in the Kono district, east of Freetown. At the Centre, people are trained in the production of affordable building materials such as:

– stabilised soil blocks
– fibre concrete roofing tiles
– “Hydraform” interlocking blocks

In Sierra Leone, Shelter for Africa advocates the use of locally produced building materials using Appropriate (or Intermediate) Technology. In 2002 the organisation acquired a hydraulic block machine from South Africa that produces “Hydraform” interlocking blocks. Shelter thereby introduced a new building technology into the country that requires far less imported cement than the current conventional materials used in housing construction. To demonstrate the advantages and convenience of these blocks and their associated construction method, Shelter for Africa built a Youth Centre at the National Stadium in Freetown, and donated it to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The Youth Centre was completed in October 2003. All the materials used on the building were produced locally by Shelter for Africa.

Fish Market and Food Distribution
Shelter for Africa is setting up a central fish processing plant for women, who have traditionally carried out this work for their families. The fish production will enable the trade of food with communities that lie away from the coast. The trade will secure a steady income for this target group and strengthen the women’s self-confidence.

Shelter for Africa has already purchased an acre block of land at Kissi Town, about 2 km from the Tombo Fish Wharf, the largest fish wharf near Freetown. A machine for the production of shaved ice, operating at a production capacity of 800kg a day, has been acquired and installed. From the generated income, 10% will be put into a common development fund. After one year Shelter for Africa will use the funds to build two houses. One house will serve as the living quarter for those women who have contributed over the duration of the project. The other house will be a refuge centre and short-term quarters for young girls, mothers and their children, who have become victims of domestic or sexual violence, genital mutilation or who flee from forced marriages. After completion of the project there will be a transition period into a commercially operating business. The women will have the opportunity to set up their own independent operations and trade.

The goal of the project is to provide employment and business opportunities, as well as to create role models for young women in the community, who live under threatening and degrading circumstances. The trade will further stimulate economic activity, and provide for distribution of food across a larger number of communities.

Operation Fet Dorty Fet Po
In the year 2005 Shelter for Africa initiated an environmental clean-up project, and organised for young boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 14 years living around the Soja Town to engage in cleaning up their community. Sierra Leone does not have an effective waste collection and management system. Huge piles of garbage are found in the main streets of Freetown, at almost every street corner. Using a snow sweeper machine and dumper, the youths remove and bury the garbage. The owners of the houses from where the garbage has been collected pay a little sum of money for the service. From this money the youths are able to pay their school fees and buy food for lunch. The project is named “Fet Dorty Fet Po” (fight dirt, fight poverty) as an initiative for environmental protection and poverty alleviation. It also encourages citizens, especially the youth, to feel responsible for keeping their own environment clean and healthy.

Other Activities
Other Activities are ongoing, and are also being expanded as further resources become available to meet the high demand. These include:

– trauma counselling and self-help seminars for victims of the War
– providing people with basic computer training at the Shelter for Africa Administration Office in Freetown
– maintaining affiliations and cooperation with other NGOs working in the sector of poverty alleviation and skills training.

www.shelterforafrica.de