<
https://www.positive.news/environment/agriculture/sierra-leone-programme-helps-amputees-rebuild-lives-in-sierra-leone/>
"A farming programme in Sierra Leone is helping amputees gain skills,
independence and a path to income. Founded by pastor-turned-farmer Mambud
Samai, the initiative teaches people with limb loss how to farm sustainably,
enabling many to grow their own food and launch small commercial plots.
Samai was forced to flee the country during Sierra Leone’s 11-year-long civil
war, during which many civilians suffered life-changing injuries. The conflict
is estimated to have left almost 30,000 amputee victims across the country,
with many still waiting for reparations, finding it difficult or impossible to
get work, and left with no other option than to beg on the streets.
“Historically, this community has been left with very little support from the
state, few work opportunities, and very little dignity,” said Samai.
After spending two years in a refugee camp in the neighbouring country of
Guinea, he decided something needed to be done to help other victims of the
conflict.
Initially, he decided to use football as a means of building community for
amputees, setting up the Single-Leg Amputee Sports Association in 2001. This
idea found success, with leagues established not only in the capital city,
Freetown, but against four other provinces, allowing both men and women to
play. “We still run the association today, using the power of the beautiful
game to help communities find hope.”
However, Samai felt that the amputee community still needed something more. In
2018, he travelled to the Asian Rural Institute in Japan, completing a course
in community development and organic farming practices and learning skills to
bring back to Sierra Leone, where he immediately set up
Farming on Crutches.
The scheme runs from a small farm which operates as a ‘classroom’; participants
are brought onsite from across the country, where during the duration they
live, work and learn. They then take knowledge back to their own villages and
are encouraged to set up their own agricultural practices."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
