Background

For nearly ten years the Sean Devereux Institutions in Liberia (Devereux FC, SDCEP, SDT, VOS) and other organizations (SDB, Catholic Health Secretariat, Charity Sisters, Mother Patern College, Sr Carman/Buchanan St Peter’s Claver Clinic), ordinary Liberians, and schools have received enormous and essential support from the SDCF UK in form of much-needed materials sent to Liberia on containers. The containers were sent in collaboration with Feed the Children/Global Hearts for Children UK, and local support of Sr Barbara, Catholic Archdiocese, and a team of Liberian volunteers.

Assorted but very useful items included rice, tin food, computers, school materials, agricultural inputs, vocational tools, laundry soap, printers, sports materials, used clothes, cartridges, and many others. The items enhanced our work and supported the poor and needy, assisted schools, helped the sick including HIV/AIDS people, and importantly put smiles on the faces of children.

In July 2012, SD Liberia and other organizations mentioned above again received items on the SDCF UK 40ft container that were very critical to our work. This report summaries the use and impact on beneficiaries of the container materials.

The Report was originally due for October but because schools were open a month later, and due to bad road conditions for people to travel upcountry where some of the container items were taken for distribution, this report was postponed to December 2012.

This report reflects items received only by the SD Liberia institutions. Reports from other organizations (Catholic Health Secretariat, Mother Patern/Sr Tharva, St Peter’s Clarver Buchanan/Sr Carmen, Charity Sisters, Pastor Joseph and Jerome Pedersen (supported by Dr Keith) have not been received, and will be sent to UK when received.

Cheers
John T. Monibah
Coordinator/SDL

Read the rest of John Monibah’s report and view photos from Liberia in this PDF download. (12.7 Mb)

The following memories of Sean were left on the original Facebook group “Sean Devereux – Aid worker & Teacher”, which Paul Castledine set up and managed until our official Facebook page was set up. If you have memories or photos of Sean from school, his teaching position or in Africa, please feel free to send them to us at ku.gr1369383728o.xue1369383728reved1369383728naes@1369383728ofni1369383728. Read the rest of this entry »

Suzanne Lambert wrote to us over the last couple of days to let us know that a canoe journey along the River Wye was a great success, and that the money raised will go towards the school project at Dodi Island.

Thank you to everyone who supported our canoe trip down the Wye. It was remarkably sunny and bright but very cold. The intrepid explorers made it from Glasbury to Hereford in three days, covering over 330 miles. (Actually just remove the last digit!!) Joseph and Benedict managed 6 miles each and didn’t moan once!! (Some poetic license here in the name of the charity). So the funds you have donated are going to a very good cause… to help continue the project on Dodi Island, where people canoe for their livelihood.

The school is now built but needs qualified teachers and proper sanitation before the Ghanaian government will take it over. This money will help us to start the next phase of the project, whilst also introducing some small business ideas into the local community. In the long term sustainability is the key but the journey to this point requires support and guidance. Thank you for being part of that journey.

We have managed to raise over £2000 towards some of these costs so a big thank you to the canoeists, family and friends and all those who take time out from their day to share Sean’s motto:

“While my heart beats, I have to do what I think I can do – and that is to help those that are less fortunate”

If you would like to find out more about the fund and the project on Dodi Island, we’ve just added a new page to the website here: if you can help or if you’re interested, take a look. Whatever you are able to do is always appreciated, even letters to send to the children, or second-hand sports kit! You can even organize your own event: the wetter and wilder the better!!

It’s not too late to add your donation to the pot: Suzanne has sent us the link to the participants’ page at Bmycharity: remember to gift aid your donation!

Introduction

This document is a progress report in relation to the work done and proposed in relation to the malaria control project at Don Bosco School (DBS) Didia.

BACKGROUND

There are four key strands to the control of malaria at DBS. These are:

Education
Spraying and treating key areas
The proper use of nets and netting
Malaria treatment

This report considers these four areas both in terms of work done to date and also future work. Read the rest of this entry »

The day starts with a blast of Ghanaian Hip life, bounced off two radios. The sound goes right through my hammock and I know it’s soon time to wake up. The rhythmic “shush, shush” or the broom, dragged over the sandy floor lets me know that one of the small boys is up. I open my eyes and it’s still dark outside, the moon clearly visible. Two dark faces appear at the edge of my mosquito net “Sir, fishing!” They exclaim with excitement, clearly looking forward to taking a visitor on the boats. I swing my legs out of my hammock, throw on a shirt and we’re off walking towards the beach. I have with me a bottle of water, some flip flops and that’s all for the next few hours. Read the rest of this entry »